I never know how to feel after finishing a Franzen novel. I usually walk away unbearably frustrated with the characters and more than a little disgustI never know how to feel after finishing a Franzen novel. I usually walk away unbearably frustrated with the characters and more than a little disgusted and embarrassed with their choices. At the same time, I can't dispute Franzen's fantastic skill as a writer and his ability to get into his characters' heads and motivations, thereby producing all of the cringey and human moments that can be frustrating to read. It all makes for a sometimes uncomfortable, occasionally humorous, read.
While all of this is still true with Crossroads, I found the ideas Franzen explores in this book to be more compelling than his earlier books. That said, I don’t necessarily know if what Franzen has to say about any of those themes is enjoyable for me to read. Hence, the my confusion.
I do love the way Franzen creates tension between the members of the Hilderbrandt clan. Because you go so long inside one character's head, by the time you get to a scene where two of them are finally engaging with each other, it feels apocalyptic. That first argument between Perry and Becky, in a Crossroads coat closet, was absolutely fantastic and hilarious and awful, all at once.
I'm sure I'll forget every detail of this book before Franzen publishes parts 2 and 3, but I'm looking forward to seeing where 1974 takes this very unhappy and very dysfunctional “pastoral” family....more
Just as brilliant the second time around, and even more enjoyable after having met and talked with Jean Hanff Korelitz about her very fun book.
Jacob Just as brilliant the second time around, and even more enjoyable after having met and talked with Jean Hanff Korelitz about her very fun book.
Jacob Finch Bonner is one of my favorite types of narrators: smart, but ordinary, outwardly caring, but privately petty and selfish. All of his internal monologues about writing, reading, publishing, and teaching is pure gold.
The moral question of appropriating someone else’s lived experience to create fiction is fascinating to me, and also one that the rest of the reading world seems to be considering deeply every year. JHK doesn’t give any solid answers in her book, but I really enjoyed the conversation The Plot offers....more
Another brilliant novel from Amor Towles! I found it so funny, but also deeply sad, and, as always, beautifully written. If you're the kind of reader Another brilliant novel from Amor Towles! I found it so funny, but also deeply sad, and, as always, beautifully written. If you're the kind of reader who doesn't like seeing characters thwarted over and over again as they try to do basically anything, this will be a frustrating read for you. I, however, really enjoyed the frenzied, manic-dream plot and all of the locations (both literal and metaphorical) it took me.
Towles uses a lot of Greek, Roman, and American mythology throughout his book in a way that makes the classic traditions relevant and interesting. And even though the world probably doesn't ever need another New York City book, I truly loved this New York City book. Duchess and Wooly are two of the most entertaining and fascinating fictional characters I've ever encountered - even after 600 pages, I still wanted more! 10/10 recommend. ...more
I wasn't sure about this book in the very beginning. I had a hard time adjusting to Lily King's rhythm initially, and I wasn't immediately rooting forI wasn't sure about this book in the very beginning. I had a hard time adjusting to Lily King's rhythm initially, and I wasn't immediately rooting for the narrator. I'm so glad I stuck with it, however, because this ended up being perfect. Casey, the narrator, reveals parts of herself little by little so that by the end, you understand her, love her deeply, and feel her pain as if it were yours. Lily King's writing is simple, beautiful, and funny, and she captures the awkwardness and stress of early adulthood perfectly. It's refreshing and joyful to read a book that ends with a triumphant heroine, and even though Casey's life isn't perfect by the last page, she's well on her way to happiness and safety again. I'm looking forward to reading Lily King's other novels now!...more
How can a book have such a wackadoo plot and yet still be so incredibly boring? It wasn't quite crazy enough to be exciting and it wasn't developed enHow can a book have such a wackadoo plot and yet still be so incredibly boring? It wasn't quite crazy enough to be exciting and it wasn't developed enough to be fascinating. Every single reveal was exactly what I expected it to be and nothing more. The characters were so underdeveloped that the villains weren't at all scary, and all but one of the protagonists were incredibly lame. I didn't want to spend any time with anyone in this book!
The other major issue is that I think the author was trying to tackle too many serious topics, but she just doesn't have the writing skills to do this, so the book's tone is all wrong. It was a really lethal combination of bad plotting, boring characters, unrealistic dialogue, and confusing backstories. I would recommend this book to no one.
So why two stars? At the end of the day, I did want to know what would happen to Roarke (I honestly could not have cared less about Essie) and that's what kept me reading. I wish a different author had written a different novel about Roarke, excluding the entire Hicks family. There was a little kernel of something interesting in his character, and I would have liked to see him developed in a different context. ...more
I can see why this book has largely been forgotten by the reading public, despite coming from a former National Book Award winner. The characters, setI can see why this book has largely been forgotten by the reading public, despite coming from a former National Book Award winner. The characters, setting, story, and writing were all fairly forgettable, without offering any great insight or uniqueness. While there was nothing to actively dislike (except maybe the plodding pace), I can't identify anything to praise either. I definitely wouldn't reread this and I don't think I'd recommend it either....more
I read up to page 75, but am not connecting at all with the characters or their story. I feel so distant from the narrator, and can’t tell if that’s iI read up to page 75, but am not connecting at all with the characters or their story. I feel so distant from the narrator, and can’t tell if that’s intentional or not. If so, it’s off-putting and alienating.
I may come back to this novel at another time, because the writing is very good, but the pace is incredibly slow and I don’t feel a sense that Ondaatje is building up to something that I need to stick around for.
Thank you to the publisher for this free Goodreads copy of Warlight!...more
I reacted to House of Glory similarly to most other books on Mormonism or religion in general — I love and am moved, uplifted, and encouraged by the cI reacted to House of Glory similarly to most other books on Mormonism or religion in general — I love and am moved, uplifted, and encouraged by the content, but am never overwhelmed by the writing style. That being said, House of Glory is a clear and concise explanation of why Mormons build temples, how important the worship is that’s done there, and the innumerable blessings that can come from attending temples.
S. Michael Wilcox has an obvious skill for interpreting and explaining scripture, and I found his insights on ancient scripture fascinating and inspiring. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking to increase their understanding of LDS temples, either from s spiritual or educational perspective....more
Second read, and this book is just as marvelous as I remember it being. This time around, I was moved by the many different types of love Fatima MirzaSecond read, and this book is just as marvelous as I remember it being. This time around, I was moved by the many different types of love Fatima Mirza explores and how all of those relationships inform someone's identity and place in the world. Her emphasis on familial relationships is so nuanced and realistic, and her portrait of this American family's struggle to be both a unit and unique individuals is fascinating and heartbreaking.
I was also struck by her brilliant pacing and structure. We see different events in this family's life from multiple points of view, and each layering reveals something new to the reader. Somehow, Mirza does this without becoming repetitive or cliche. Instead, it's enthralling.
What a gift this book is! Here are just a few quotes that stood out to me, although the whole book is full of brilliance and honesty:
"Recently, Amar has begun to feel as though he had been born into a world not made for him. What did it matter that his birth certificate was from a hospital in this very city, that the only house he had ever lived in was here. . . . Even at mosque, when listening to the speaker lecturing from the pulpit, he pulled little threads from the carpet and felt that none of this moved him, or was made to include him."
"And it is in these moments that the fabric of my life reveals itself to be an illusion: thinking that I am fine, we all are, that we could grow around your loss like a tree that bends around a barrier or wound. . . . That the reality of our life as it is now is the best that we could have done and the best we could have hoped for."
"Don't make the mistake of confusing a sad state with an interesting life."
"Maybe it was the exceptions we made for one another that brought God more pride than when we stood firm, maybe His heart opened when His creations opened their hearts to one another, and maybe that is why the boy was switched with the ram: so a father would not have to choose between his boy and his belief. There was another way."
************************************************************** Perhaps the best novel I’ve read about the beauty and strength of family, the challenges of living a faith-centered life, and the struggle of fitting oneself into a community while still maintaining individuality.
Every single character in A Place for Us is sketched so brilliantly and realistically that I’m not ready to say goodbye to any of them. So much of this novel centers around the pain of leaving, the joy of returning, and the fear of not being able or willing to find your way back. I feel like I joined this imperfect, but real family and now am heartbroken to part with them.
Fatima Faeheen Mirza’s language is simple, but so truthful. She cuts to the heart of human emotion without artifice or melodrama and lets the reader in on this family’s religious and cultural reality in a way that is both revealing and normative. Her dialogue is smart, her pacing is excellent, her structure brilliant. I can’t praise A Place for Us enough and want everyone to read it immediately!...more
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