The writing is beautiful and eloquent, but I found the book (or what I read) incredibly sad. I'm at a point in my life when I don't need sad, even if The writing is beautiful and eloquent, but I found the book (or what I read) incredibly sad. I'm at a point in my life when I don't need sad, even if I understand the sentiment of the title. ...more
Warning: If you are approaching your "golden years", and/or you've lost someone you love who was elderly and had memory problems, and/or two of your bWarning: If you are approaching your "golden years", and/or you've lost someone you love who was elderly and had memory problems, and/or two of your biggest fears are that memory loss/illness will take your beloved before your or that you will lose all you love along with your own cognition/memory, don't read this book. Cathleen Schine is a skilled, fabulous writer, and she paints a picture that will rip across your heart, reviving all of your deepest fears, reawakening all of your darkest moments. This is not a book for the lighthearted. I can imagine that for those still in the light of health, having never lost someone they love, this could be the "hilarious novel" written about on the back cover. For me, all it made me want to do is curl up and cry. I can't rate it because I can't separate the excellent writing from the black despair of the emotions it evoked.
From the publisher: From one of America’s greatest comic novelists, a hilarious new novel about aging, family, loneliness, and love
The Bergman clan has always stuck together, growing as it incorporated in-laws, ex-in-laws, and same-sex spouses. But families don’t just grow, they grow old, and the clan’s matriarch, Joy, is not slipping into old age with the quiet grace her children, Molly and Daniel, would have wished. When Joy’s beloved husband dies, Molly and Daniel have no shortage of solutions for their mother’s loneliness and despair, but there is one challenge they did not count on: the reappearance of an ardent suitor from Joy’s college days. And they didn’t count on Joy herself, a mother suddenly as willful and rebellious as their own kids.
The New York Times–bestselling author Cathleen Schine has been called “full of invention, wit, and wisdom that can bear comparison to [ Jane] Austen’s own” (The New York Review of Books), and she is at her best in this intensely human, profound, and honest novel about the intrusion of old age into the relationships of one loving but complicated family. They May Not Mean To, But They Do is a radiantly compassionate look at three generations, all coming of age together. (less)...more
I liked the premise of this book: the bond between two women, one gay, one straight, and their climb in an unconventional world. I am intrigued by theI liked the premise of this book: the bond between two women, one gay, one straight, and their climb in an unconventional world. I am intrigued by the art of graphic novels and comics, and had hoped to gain some insight into that art form, as well as animation. As it was, though the writing was excellent and frequently compelling, I didn't engage in the story. There is aa certain type of writing lately that is very brash or hard as in cutting, not difficult. I'm at a stage right now, where i need less harshness in my world, and more gentleness in my reading, so I think that had something to do with my dissatisfaction. My brain needs to be soothed, not rattled.
At one point, I wondered if this might be better suited for a graphic novel, but decided that might be too recursive. I also was frustrated because as each comic, or short, or graphic novel, or cartoon was mentioned, I had to dig in my memory to see if I had an image tucked away, and then also look it up to help round out the story for me. (I do this with any book I read that is based on art, but for some reason, it was more obtrusive to the story for me.)...more
I could not wait to finish reading this book. I felt I owed it to Rowling to see what she did outside the Potter-verse, but really wish I'd just abandI could not wait to finish reading this book. I felt I owed it to Rowling to see what she did outside the Potter-verse, but really wish I'd just abandoned the book early on. The majority of the characters held no appeal to me, and even the few that had momentary sparks of interest for me did not sustain. It is a sad, sad story about a sad slice of life in a sad town. Rounded up because the writing and crafting of the story, and the arcs are good, despite the fact that they are not to my taste....more
To be honest, I got a little creeped out by the obsession and submission in this book. Clinically, I understand what was going on in medical diagnosesTo be honest, I got a little creeped out by the obsession and submission in this book. Clinically, I understand what was going on in medical diagnoses with Katherine and Danny, but the workings of their relationship, particularly as the leaves began to fall in autumn and during the winter, still got to me-- which I guess says "the writing was good."
This book is set in a sacred part of the world (for me) so the scenery came vividly to life, along with the characters. I'm rating the book not on how I actually felt about the story (remember that key phrase in the first sentence? "Creeped out"?) but rather by the power of the story and what the author was trying to do....more
This book fell into my hands somehow, and intrigued me by the jacket blurb, though the cover made my eyes spin. Two threads of the same story, told frThis book fell into my hands somehow, and intrigued me by the jacket blurb, though the cover made my eyes spin. Two threads of the same story, told from opposite directions. Excellent writing, intricate story lines, compelling character detail, enough so that by the end (which is the beginning of the story), I really did not like the central character. But I suppose the author knew that would be a reaction. It then made me wonder about the quality of forgiveness-- how much can one forgive about another's past to be actually able to like, trust, believe, or even love them in the present?...more
Somehow Brock Clarke has flown under my radar until now. It's hard to believe that I have missed a title as delicious as An Arsonist's Guide to WriterSomehow Brock Clarke has flown under my radar until now. It's hard to believe that I have missed a title as delicious as An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England, but I did. However, thanks to a book giveaway by Algonquin Press, I ended up with a copy of Clark's next novel, The Happiest People in the World. That this refers to Danes, and that we'd just had a long discussion with a Danish friend about the virtues of her country, I was eager to read the book.
Remember back in 2005, when a Danish newspaper published a series of cartoons which depicted the prophet Muhammad, and the resulting objection caused protests, riots, and a boycott of Danish goods in some countries? I think there were even death threats made against the artist, but haven't looked that up to verify. Clarke has loosely based this novel around those events. In this case, a somewhat hapless Skagen newspaper artist creates a response cartoon, which results in his home and the newspaper office being firebombed. The end result is that he goes into hiding, ending up in upstate New York (actually Boonville, which actually bills itself as the snow mobile capitol of the world, though not in this book -- the things you learn about upstate NY when you are a reader.) There, he becomes the guidance counselor at the local school, which should have worked out well, except a) the town actually has a recruiting presence for the CIA, b) a hit man is on his way to find him, and c) everyone in the books is a bit off-kilter in how they view life. Oh, and there's a moose head in it. With a camera. And a microphone that doesn't work. Brilliant
This really was a well written, attention getting book, very funny in some parts, but I read it with the feeling of a train going downhill, without brakes. From the beginning of the book, you know true disaster is coming. It's just a matter of who will escape and how they'll survive after. But I read on, waiting for the train wreck, amazed at all that gathered and scattered as it came to the inevitable crash.
I will look for more by this author. Thank you Algonquin Press for sending this book my way. To date, I've never read a publication from Algonquin which didn't get me thinking, and tickle some aspect of my reader fancy. This was no exception....more
On one hand, I'm a Murakami fan, so it's hard to displease me with a novel of his (and the cover of this one is a clever play on something that becomeOn one hand, I'm a Murakami fan, so it's hard to displease me with a novel of his (and the cover of this one is a clever play on something that becomes clearer in the early parts of the book.) But I have to say, despite the fabulous prose, imagery, and character presentation, this might actually be my least favorite Mirakami. I felt somewhat let down at the end, mostly because I needed more closure. There were too many loose ends for me. But, because it's Mirakami, I rounded up from 3.4 to 4 stars.
Plot: 5 friends in high school. In the early days of college, four turn against the fifth, colorless Tsukuru Tazaki. In adulthood, he decides to find out why, and what has become of them. The rest is Murakami.
Ultimately, not as satisfying to me as I'd hoped. It's the author's own fault. She wrote so beautifully, that I wanted to stay with each individual stUltimately, not as satisfying to me as I'd hoped. It's the author's own fault. She wrote so beautifully, that I wanted to stay with each individual story line and follow that for a complete book. As it was, the novel was more like interrelated stories about individuals whose orbits collide and intersect across a scattered timeline. I'm not a big short story gal, because I like to get involved with characters and live with them for a bit. Though I revisited characters in the periphery of other stories, I still didn't get the satisfaction of a follow-through. I know that in life, we don't always have pat endings, but I do like them in my books. Will look for more by this author, though. Loved her writing, even if I wanted a longer story arc....more
Listened to this on audio on a recent road trip. Good story and luckily, a gifted voice actor doing the presentation. I liked the story and the detailListened to this on audio on a recent road trip. Good story and luckily, a gifted voice actor doing the presentation. I liked the story and the details, and, sort of unfortunately for me, cottoned on to what would have been the "big reveal" very early on in the narrative. I guess I just know my amphibians and reptiles too well to miss an early clue. I did like the intermingling of wartime and present day, though reading about the passing of a beloved mother made me sad, and sorry that my own mother hadn't a passel of children surrounding her when she popped off. But she knew we all loved her, as did Dorothy in the story. That works, too.
Dark. Broken. Bent. Depressing. I'm so glad I read this book. Seriously.
I tend to read for comfort and relaxation these days. My reasons for picking TDark. Broken. Bent. Depressing. I'm so glad I read this book. Seriously.
I tend to read for comfort and relaxation these days. My reasons for picking The Panopticon were to challenge myself as a reader, and as a reviewer. Jenni Fagan has amassed some pretty serious credits as a writer, enough so to assure me that despite the huge variations in reviews of this book by other readers, that the writing would be stellar. It was. It sustained me through an incredibly bleak story of fifteen year old Anais Hendricks, which begins with her in the back of a police car, blood on her dress, accused of attempted murder of a policewoman now in a coma. Anais is headed for The Panopticon, a home for chronic juvenile offenders. All-seeing, indeed.
There's not been much that has been good in Anais's life. The number of foster placements she's bounced through is is over 3 times her age. Every adult she's known seems to have failed her, and doesn't look like it's going to get better. But she has carved out some support for herself, not via social workers and such, but through drugs, sex, and living on the sly. This book had more uses of the word fuck thank any other book I have read. It also makes liberal use of other inventive language, some slang that I had to look up, guess, or ask friends from the UK to help translate. Until I caught the rhythm of speech, it was difficult to get into the book. Then, once I found that, the book was difficult to read because of the gritty nature. It was not something I wanted to read at bedtime. But in the light of day, even with all the references to wanking, boaking, conks, rapes and the liberal sprinkling of language I don't normally use, there were some moments in this book that were fabulous. This girl has a horrendous life, but can still come out with observations like:
They dinnae know this, though: I'd die before I'd pick on someone. I would. You dinnae bully people, ever, 'cause all bullies are cowards and I umnay a fucking coward, I never was. (pg 61)
The girl has been beaten so often she should be pulp, but she still isn't down; she has her standards and her beliefs, and a kind of scrappy, cynical optimism that kept me reading through some pretty bleak stuff.
So, did I like this book? Not really. Did I like the characters? Yes. Did I like the writing? F--- yes! Would I recommend the read? Only to readers who are willing to take a dark journey.
Many thanks to Blogging for Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I'm giving it 4/5 stars, not because it made me feel good, or that I really liked it, but it sure made me think about aspects of our society, and also made me think about what, to an avid reader, makes a book worth reading....more
Good solid writing, with two lead characters, who, when fleshed out further, will be the sort to draw people back. The mystery wasn't bad either, but Good solid writing, with two lead characters, who, when fleshed out further, will be the sort to draw people back. The mystery wasn't bad either, but for all the hype, I was a little disappointed. Yes, it was good writing, if this was indeed a first time author. For JK Rowling, it was good writing, too, but not exceptional. The back story the leads was the most interesting part for me. The immersion into the world of fashion and celebrity, I found sad. If another in the series comes my way, I'll read it, but I'm loathe to get sucked into another series otherwise.
The subject of this book is fascinating -- the siege and massacre at Masada. This time it's told through the eyes of 4 women who were there. It's not The subject of this book is fascinating -- the siege and massacre at Masada. This time it's told through the eyes of 4 women who were there. It's not that it wasn't interesting, but the pace dragged for me, and it took me a long time to trudge through. Still, the basic history was interesting, and the interactions of the characters, as well as the story of each woman. The human spirit is an amazing thing.
ROunded up to three stars, because what I liked outweighed what I didn't like....more
Prime Suspect was a marvelous British (produced by Granada Television for the ITV network between 7 April 1991 and 22 October 2006. Prime Suspect 4 thPrime Suspect was a marvelous British (produced by Granada Television for the ITV network between 7 April 1991 and 22 October 2006. Prime Suspect 4 through 7 were co-produced by WGBH Boston for its Masterpiece Mystery anthology series.) production, which starred the amazing Helen Mirrin as Police detective Jane Tennyson, one of the first females to break into that peculiar boys club of non-uniformed police back in the day. We loved the series, making me eager to read the book which I supposed the show to have been adapted. That, however, was not meant to be.
The TV show (according to the bit by the author at the beginning of this edition, or else the acknowledgments -- I don't have the book on front of me so can't check) sprang from a mention at a lunch with the author and some people in the industry. The book, while well written, is an adaptation of a screenplay. As it was an excellent screen play, the book, too, is good. It is very visual, lots of verbal dialogue though little inner introspection, and reads very much, not surprisingly, like a screen play. Very easy to visualize Mirrin speaking and portraying Tennyson. The part suits her.
Though the book was well written, I'll probably give books 2 and 3 a pass. Prime Suspect still rolls around occasionally on the Telly (the American version or any other newer ones have no interest for me) and I prefer, in this case, to view my Jane on the television screen, not the viewing screen in my brain.
Rounded up from 3.5 since I liked the screenplay so much. I do not, however, like this cover, which must be based on a later version of the series....more
I think I'm in the minority when it comes to Jasper Fforde. I can see the appeal, and he does a great job with mixing pun and nursery rhymes, or classI think I'm in the minority when it comes to Jasper Fforde. I can see the appeal, and he does a great job with mixing pun and nursery rhymes, or classic lit characters, or whatever his schtick is for that particular book, but it just doesn't appeal to me. I always find myself humming that old Billy Joel song, "Just the way you are". It's not that "I don't want clever conversation. I never want to work that hard." Sometimes clever repartee is phenomenal. It's just I don't want to feel I'm probably missing something horribly clever, simply because I'm a dunderhead, or culturally deprived. ...more
Beautifully written, with penetrating observations, but not a fast action plot, so will be frustrating for those who want a story. More a study of a fBeautifully written, with penetrating observations, but not a fast action plot, so will be frustrating for those who want a story. More a study of a family in the trying circumstances of daily living.
The title comes from graffiti scrawled on a highway overpass. It becomes a landmark for the family, signifying they're approaching home, and a touchstone for thought for the main character of the book. It reminded me of the restaurant in Syracuse, I think, called Pinhead Susan's. For years, there had been graffiti on an overpass saying "Susan is a pinhead". The graffiti was eventually removed, but the restaurant near the overpass immortalized it in their name....more
I am putting this aside for now. HAve been listening to the audio book. The reader is one I like (he's read other Eco books), the writing is good, butI am putting this aside for now. HAve been listening to the audio book. The reader is one I like (he's read other Eco books), the writing is good, but my lack of Italian history is taking a toll. I also am jsut not that engaged in the main character(s). (Amnesia plays a large part in several of Eco's books, including this one.)
Another problem is that the copy of this that I was listening to was pretty damaged, and thus hunks of the story had to be skipped. I'll wait to find either a print copy or an undamaged audio version and relisten to disks 5&6 to catch up and fill in the blanks....more
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