This is almost a "guilty pleasure" type of book. It was a quick read but had an interesting storyline. Shapiro did a great job researching informationThis is almost a "guilty pleasure" type of book. It was a quick read but had an interesting storyline. Shapiro did a great job researching information for this book to make it sound almost possible. My main complaint is the romance aspect.....but more on that later.
This is the story of Claire Roth - a skilled "reproducer" of famous artworks. She is commissioned to reproduce "After the Bath" for Aiden Markel, a gallery owner, who has a client interested in buying it. Problem is, this is one of the works stolen in the Gardner heist - a real crime committed in 1990 that has never been solved. I had previously read a non-fiction account of this event, which was excellent, so this was an interesting "anecdote" to the real story. Anyway, much happens along the way including double crossings, fake paintings, etc. it was a very well crafted book. But, I do find it difficult to believe that a young woman could have discovered the truth about the Degas painting when lots of experts couldn't, a bit baffling. But, as is said in the book, probably many forgeries are hanging unknowingly in galleries all over the world. Strange to consider.
As good as Shapiro is at plotting a story, her attempts at romance writing I found to be annoying. Maybe her editors told her she needed to spice things up a bit in order to appeal to a wider audience. Who knows. But these lines seemed so cliched: "I want him, I have for a while..." And when she is leaving Markel's, she looks up at the window and sees, "a wistful smile on his face. He places his palm to the window with a gesture so full of longing..."
So, I did like the story, but enjoyed the REAL story more....more
What a deliciously good book! I can see why it has been on the bestseller list for so long. I loved the writing, the length of the chapters, the charaWhat a deliciously good book! I can see why it has been on the bestseller list for so long. I loved the writing, the length of the chapters, the characters, the story, and the ending! This book wasn't in the same category of greatness as some IMPORTANT books, but for a good read, it doesn't get much better than this!
The story takes place in Australia, at a rather exclusive kindergarten. In the beginning of the book, we learn that someone has been murdered, but we don't know who. Throughout the chapters, we read "excerpts" of witnesses' reports to the police investigating the crime. We know the murder happened during trivia night at the school. Different sections of the book reveal events that took place so many months, weeks, days, or hours before the trivia night occurred.
There are three main families/characters. Jane - a single mom and her son, Ziggy. We know Jane is young and kind of mysterious. Madeline and Ed have three kids, but the oldest, Abigail, is the child of Madeline and her first husband, Nathan, who now has moved back to the area with his new wife and they also have a kindergarten age child, Skye. Then there is Celeste and her husband Perry, who have twin boys. There are many petty things that go on among the parents, but also major challenges are dealt with. I have to say - as I got closer and closer to trivia night, I got more and more uncomfortable . I had no idea who was going to die, or how it was going to happen. And was it possible that the author could structure the ending in such a way that it wouldn't be a letdown? She DID!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved this description of Madeline: She "thought she was cute and funny when perhaps she was just annoying and tacky..." And Madeline and Abigail and Abigail's stepmom Bonnie had such great, believable feelings and interactions. Madeline finds it hard to believe how Abigail is so impressed with Bonnie's philanthropical ideas and thinks: "This must be how Jennifer Aniston feels whenever she hears about Angelina and Brad adopting another orphan or two."
I'm actually disappointed that I finished the book. It really was riveting.
I really enjoyed this book. The subject matter was fascinating, and Kline did a great job with her research into the Orphan Trains that existed in theI really enjoyed this book. The subject matter was fascinating, and Kline did a great job with her research into the Orphan Trains that existed in the early 1900's. Part of me wanted to give this book 5 stars, because of the interesting story, but I guess I've now become more of a book snob and found a few too many little things to pick at, preventing me from absolutely loving this book.
There are two interwoven stories here. Molly, in 2011, is a teenage foster child, having lived with a few too many families already, and who has a bit of a chip on her shoulder. Her current foster parents aren't generally horrible, but don't really care all that much about her. She has a community service assignment to help 90 year old Vivian clean out her attic. Vivian's life, as one of the many orphans on the orphan train,is alternately told with Molly's.
There were a couple of good quotes. Vivian describes heaven as "a place in the memory of others where our best selves live on." Molly describes a feeling: "...it kind of feels nice to nurture her resentment, to foster it. It's something she can savor and control, this feeling of having been wronged by the world."
I enjoyed the characterizations of Molly and Vivian, but I did feel as if their personalities or capabilities changed a bit too much over too short a period of time to make them actually believable. Vivian manages to learn how to use the computer at her age a bit too rapidly. And Dina, the foster mom, was drawn a bit too mean. Kline has her "cackling" when she makes a rude comment, and that just annoyed me!
I'm also not a fan of contrived situations..... and the" Dutchy" storyline was too easy.
So - the story WAS fascinating and was a great summer, easy read. But - I just wish it had a bit more depth to it....more
Neil Gaiman is such an excellent author! I love his imagination and style of writing. Stardust is an adultish fairy tale. It is the story of Tristan TNeil Gaiman is such an excellent author! I love his imagination and style of writing. Stardust is an adultish fairy tale. It is the story of Tristan Thorn, part human/part fairy, who goes on an adventure to bring back a falling star for the woman he loves. Along the way, he encounters others who are also looking for that fallen star and has many adventures. This was a very quick, fun read. And I'm anxious to see the movie!...more
You know, if I didn't read so much, I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more. As it is, I have become a lot pickier about the books I read nYou know, if I didn't read so much, I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more. As it is, I have become a lot pickier about the books I read now, and tend to enjoy books with a lot more substance. Perhaps I was not the target audience for this book......
Robins is such a nice person, and this is such a nice almost G-rated book that I hate to complain. But, it just felt like it needed more to happen. The story is about Sid, a 20-something guy with a nice girlfriend, who owns a deli in Sacramento which he inherited after his father died a few months back. Sid sees everyone as resembling someone famous, which was cute at first, but tiring after a short while. anyway - someone has been shooting at famous landmarks in Sacramento and has been dubbed by the media as the Capital Shooter. For some reason, there must not have been much going on news-wise in the city, because it was a constant BIG news item. A PG-rated part of the story came when it was discovered that the Humpty Dumpty landmark in Fairytale Town was shot in the crotch.
Sid is not overly ambitious or overly smart, just an ordinary guy who wants to get to the bottom of this mystery. Which he does, but I find it hard to believe the police could have been so negligent.
This was a quick read, and it was fun to read about Sacramento in the 70's, and Robin's sweetness came through in his writing, but it just wasn't for me. ...more
Well.......maybe 3.5 stars. Parts of this book were really interesting. Just having this close look at the lives of the rich was fascinating - for a wWell.......maybe 3.5 stars. Parts of this book were really interesting. Just having this close look at the lives of the rich was fascinating - for a while. At the end, though, I just thought, "and why is this important?"
I wasn't a big fan of the organization of the book. It kept jumping around in time, and covering many of the same things over and over again. The "Tell-all" is about Huguette clark, the daughter of WC Clark, a self-made multi- millionaire, who died at the age of 104(?). She was often in the book described as a little odd, collecting and playing with dolls, not wanting to visit with people, living for over 20 years in a tiny hospital room, giving millions of dollars away.....
The parts I enjoyed most were about her father, and her early years. I do think the book could have been much condensed. It was odd, too, that on my.kindle, at the end of the book it showed that I was only 70 percent done with it...... But all the rest of the book was pictures and footnotes.
There appeared to be the brewings of a big scandal at the end, with the will of Huguette, Evidently, her nurse (who already had received gifts of millions of dollars) was a big beneficiary, as were her lawyers.....and Huguette didn't leave anything to her distant relatives, who filed a suit. Yes, there were many suspicious things with the people surrounding her.....and it was amazing to read about some of the comments and dealings of the hospital staff and lawyers......but overall, no one will ever know what made her tick. Was she odd? Yep! Manipulated? Very likely. But....in the end....I'd rather read about something/someone more important...more
I LOVED this book. It was so long, which made it feel like I had been on quite a journey by the time I finished reading it. The story was captivating,I LOVED this book. It was so long, which made it feel like I had been on quite a journey by the time I finished reading it. The story was captivating, the characters were well-drawn, I highlighted many sentences, and there was a lot to ponder. One of the the things that indicates a great book, to me, is my ability to make mental pictures as I read. And I definitely had a picture of Hobie, Pippa, and Boris, and the time spent in Las Vegas and Amsterdam.
I was always anxious to pick up the book to find out what would be happening next. I definitely couldn't imagine how it could end - other than the fact that I had actually seen The Goldfinch at the DeYoung last year, so I knew that part would come out ok!
Theo is a youngish boy who has been suspended from school. He and his mother are on their way to the school in a downpour, and decide to spend a bit of time drying off and wandering around the art museum beforehand. A bomb explodes there, killing his mom. He gets out - and just decides to take away her favorite painting, The Goldfinch. The rest of the story goes into details about how that painting (along with the death of his mother) affected his whole life. There is a lot of sadness in the book - it's hard to believe Theo's experiences with his father, and his and Boris's experiences essentially raising themselves - but I know that some kids end up living like that. And some end up doing ok in spite of all that. I really enjoyed the way Boris was portrayed. Although into a very precarious lifestyle, I could still see a sweetness in him.
I thought Tartt did a fantastic job with her research. Does she speak Russian, or did she just have someone help her with the language? Boris's English sounded very natural. How did she know so much about all the drugs? And she described The Goldfinch with such detail and love....is she also an artist?
A few good quotes: "..maybe even if we're not always so glad to b e here, it's our task to immerse ourselves anyway; wade straight through it, right through the cesspool, while keeping eyes and hearts open." "It's not about outward appearances but inward significance. A grandeur in the world, but not of the world, a grandeur that the world doesn't understand. That first glimpse of pure otherness, in whose presence you bloom out and out and out." "Isn't the whole point of things - beautiful things - that they connect you to some larger beauty?"
I can see how this book could be a bit disconcerting to some people, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I love Bill Bryson. He and John Yemma (editor of the Christian Science Monitor) both have the ability to put events into perspective and show how variI love Bill Bryson. He and John Yemma (editor of the Christian Science Monitor) both have the ability to put events into perspective and show how various people and events are connected. What a talent! And I always feel satisfied and more knowledgeable about the world after reading both of these writers.
In this book, Bryson looks at a variety of people and events that influenced America in 1927. I enjoyed the fact that there were short snippets of one event, and then Bryson would move on to another event, and a few chapters later would show how they were inter-related. At the very end of the book, he relates what happened later to the principal players of his book. The problem was - some of them I couldn't remember... But - it was still interesting.
I learned so much from his research: Prohibition was a major event - a barrel cost $4.00 to make and sold for $55.00. I hadn't known that Strychnine was added to some of the alcohol by the government. Al Capone's oldest brother was a bodyguard to Coolidge! Babe Ruth was a major player in 1927. The power of auto suggestion was coming into popularity. Fordlandia in Brazil, Charles Ponzi, the Dillingham Immigration Restriction Act, Buck vs. Bell, IQ testing.......wow - what a read!...more
When I finished this book I thought, "hmmmm, there WERE a few interesting things in here." If it weren't for the fact that our book group is reading tWhen I finished this book I thought, "hmmmm, there WERE a few interesting things in here." If it weren't for the fact that our book group is reading this, and I purchased it, I would have been very tempted not to finish reading it. This is the story of Anne Morrow Lindbergh - Charles's wife, told in her voice. The story WAS a little interesting, and I learned a few tidbits here and there, but I found the story to be fairly shallow and repetitious. I think it could have been condensed into about half its length. And I think a few of Benjamin's uses of the word "jaunty" could have been eliminated. Her writing reminded me of a teen romance from years ago: "How can I describe how it felt, to have HIM say my name? Oh, it was rubbish, ridiculous, I know, but for once I felt as if I might understand the literal definition of the word SWOON." The descriptions were often sappy, and VERY repetitious. I definitely understand that Charles Lindbergh was almost without feelings or emotions. I understand that Anne was more or less molded by him. But, I got tired of both of them pretty quickly. I wonder where Benjamin got all of her information, and what the Lindbergh's children think of the novel? But, I'm not interested enough to spend time looking it up. ...more
Well, this sure was an interesting book. I think it is so cool when authors present characters or storylines that I never read or even imagined beforeWell, this sure was an interesting book. I think it is so cool when authors present characters or storylines that I never read or even imagined before. This is the story of Sunny - a bald woman - who is married to Maxon - an Aspergersy Nobel Prize winner who is an astronaut headed out to colonize the moon with robots - and their son, Bubber - an autistic four year old. Already an interesting cast of characters. At first, it is difficult to imagine identifying with any of these odd characters, but the author manages to make them seem "normal". Quite an accomplishment! The story goes back and forth and sideways from present time, to both Sunny's and Maxon's childhoods, to their parents' lives - but it was easy to follow, thank goodness. Everything changes for this little family when Sunny is in a car accident, and the beautifully coiffed wig she has chosen to wear falls off. She believed that the wig falling off was a kind of sign - that she shouldn't be wearing it to be someone else. It was actually hiding the "real" Sunny. After that experience, she kind of rejoiced in her baldness. And, as a consequence, she found that other people that she had assumed had "normal" lives, actually had their own sets of problems they were covering up. Maxon's disability was Asperger's - he had difficulty understanding and expressing emotions, and had to follow scripts to know what to say in particular circumstances. This made him almost robotic in nature - similar to the robots he envisioned and created. As he said, "There are three things that robots cannot do....Show preference without reason (LOVE) and then Doubt rational decisions (ReGReT) and finally Trust data from a previously unreliable source (FORGIVE)." I thought the author did a great job showing that there really is no normal to which we need to aspire. Everyone has little secrets they try to hide or control. Many decisions are not easy to make - pulling life support, medicating an autistic (or ADHD) child, being married, having children, going to the moon. And there is no one way to FIX things. And not everything should be "fixed". The book was definitely interesting and different. Not exactly fun, but thought provoking. Maybe the reason I didn't give it five stars was that it had a bit too much symbolism for me and I just didn't want to think that hard. ...more
I had read The Caine Mutiny YEARS ago. I don't remember much about it, other than it was a "classic". So, yes, I was very surprised to learn that HermI had read The Caine Mutiny YEARS ago. I don't remember much about it, other than it was a "classic". So, yes, I was very surprised to learn that Herman Wouk was still around - and still writing at age 97! This book was not what I had expected - but it was surprisingly good! I really appreciate an artist - whether one creates, music, dance, books, whatever - who doesn't rely on past successes, but is continually finding new ways to express art. I believe Wouk is just such an artist. He created a very engrossing story, about himself trying to write one last novel about Moses. A young woman named Margo, is writing a movie script about Moses, and seeks his approval. this is not a traditional story - it is all told through letters, emails, phone conversations, newspaper clippings........and yet most of the characters emerge as "real people". My only complaints about the novel are: 1. there was a lot of Jewish humor/vocabulary in here that went over my head, and 2. I really didn't understand the plotline dealing with the algae. But otherwise - remarkably clever storytelling!...more
Maybe 3.5......I REALLY wanted to love this book. I was prepared to love this book. At first, it reminded me a bit of Shadow of the Wind - a great booMaybe 3.5......I REALLY wanted to love this book. I was prepared to love this book. At first, it reminded me a bit of Shadow of the Wind - a great book about a bookstore. I did love the author's voice - he often made me chuckle as I read, as he not only wrote the story, but also his inner thoughts at times, which were clever. and I loved the setting of San Francisco - it is always fun to identify with a character or locale. My problem, though, was that this book had SUCH potential, but kind of just meandered along. I think it really needed some big conflict, or problem, or enemy, or something! there were hints that something big might come along, but no, the story just kept a nice even keel the whole time. This story also, like the past few books I've read, involved a protagonist who, along with various of his friends, was very good at computers. He ends up working at Mr. Penumbra's 24 hour bookstore, because it was at least a job. Not a whole lot goes on there, but he finds out that there is a mysterious group of the Unbroken Spine who are trying to figure out the key to immortality by decoding an old book. It just sounds as if there should be plenty of possibilities for adventure there........ but like I said, it's very low-key. There were some good quotes, thank goodness: "Simulated light from the simulated windows casts sharp-edged shadows through the simulated store. If this sounds impressive to you, you're over thirty." "Fingers of thought are raking the space behind the cushions, looking for loose ideas, finding nothing." He also described the "cult"..."it might have been designed specifically to prey on bookish old people - Scientology for scholarly seniors." So, this book was kind of a let-down for me. It was a fairly quick read, but I think it didn't live up to its potential....more
I can't believe everyone who read this book didn't give it 5 stars!!!!!!! I absolutely loved it! In general, I have enjoyed Kingsolver's books anyway I can't believe everyone who read this book didn't give it 5 stars!!!!!!! I absolutely loved it! In general, I have enjoyed Kingsolver's books anyway, but some are definitely harder to get through than others. (Poisonwood Bible - loved it, but not an especially easy read). This book, though, was a fairly quick read, and had some laughable moments! And lots of great quotes along with a fascinating story.
The story began in a very intriguing way. Dellarobia (great character and name) is married to Cub but on her way to have a fling with a younger man. Instead, though, she has a life-changing experience - seeing trees seemingly covered with fire in the forest behind her home, somewhere in Appalachia. The whole story is about climate change, but also deals with issues everyone can probably relate to - like looking back on your life and wondering what might have been, had you not made certain decisions.
I thought the characters in the story were well fleshed out. I can imagine Dellarobia - an intelligent girl, stuck in a school system and small town in which academia is not really valued and who married early because of an unplanned pregnancy. Cub is a nice guy who doesn't really think deeply about anything and goes along with what his parents decide for him. Hester, his mom, is not particularly friendly, but she has her own secrets and is protective of her son. Even Pastor Bobby is well drawn. And Kingsolver definitely is well-versed in the Bible, as are her characters. Dellarobia has some interesting conversations with Hester - and these make her examine herself and what she's become. She believed Hester often humiliated Cub - and was she now ending up doing the same thing?
The information on the migrating butterflies was fascinating. And how true it is that people generally do not want to hear the bad news about the environment, and tend to listen to "news" that corroborates what they already believe.
A few great quotes:
Ovid, the scientist, tells Dellarobia: "Science doesn't tell us what we should do. It only tells us what is."
Dellarobia thinks about her dog, Roy, "...as he hurried to put his small yellow tags on all of the yard's most notable points. The dog version of Post-its."
"Whoever was in charge of weather had put a recall on blue and nailed up this mess of dirty white sky like a lousy drywall job."
This book was a great read. The prose was beautiful, and the story was compelling. Basically, Stedman set the story in Australia in the 1920's, and teThis book was a great read. The prose was beautiful, and the story was compelling. Basically, Stedman set the story in Australia in the 1920's, and tells about a man, Tom Sherbourne, who came back from the war physically whole, but broken in spirit because of what he saw and experienced. He takes a job at a lighthouse on Janus, soon marries a woman from the mainland, Isabel, and the two of them are the only inhabitants of the island. Isabel loses three children either in childbirth or miscarriage, and is despondent. One day, soon after the stillbirth, a boat washes up on the shore, carrying a dead man, a live baby, and a silver rattle. Isabel believes this was God's gift to her, and she convinces her husband not to report it.
I can thoroughly believe the dilemma. What is the right course of action. (well, I THINK I believe that telling the truth is the right course....but are there times when that is not the best thing to do?) I think Tom was a very thoughtful character. He wanted to do what was right - and felt obligated to, because he came out of the war ok, and so many others didn't. As he says, "The quickest way to send a bloke mad is to let him go on re-fighting his war till he gets it right."
Life is hard. The decisions we make help define us. Perhaps we make mistakes - and some mistakes are big. But, we can't change the past, and sometimes that just means to forge ahead in spite of disappointments. Living with regret gets us nowhere....more
This was a really interesting book. I almost hate to admit that I really enjoyed it, as there were so many warning signs that I wouldn't.
First of allThis was a really interesting book. I almost hate to admit that I really enjoyed it, as there were so many warning signs that I wouldn't.
First of all, it is often a very crude book. I personally don't know people who talk like the characters in this book, but I believe there are probably more than I imagine. So, I tell myself that the language used is probably typical of certain people. It would make me uncomfortable to be around people who used language like that, but oh well.
Secondly, very few of the characters in the book are likable. It's usually nice to identify with or at least cheer for someone in the story, but here, there aren't any people I really like.
But, what this novel has going for it, is a great plot line. On the day of Nick and Amy's fifth anniversary, she disappears. We read about this event from both of their viewpoints, in Nick's words and Amy's diary. Did they have the perfect marriage? Was foul play involved? Who is honest? There are a lot of twists, turns, and surprises along the way, and up until the very end, I really didn't know what would happen.
One of the things that really struck me after reading this, was how little you actually know about a person. How often are you seeing the real person, and how often are you just seeing a "character" that they want you to believe they are? And do some people not realize that they are just a fake? Interesting to contemplate.
Also, when we watch a news conference, or a talk show, I don't think I ever thought about how rehearsed those appearances are. Makeup is applied to evoke a certain reaction, answers are rehearsed, grins and sad expressions are minutely planned to get across a particular point of view. (almost like political debates.....) Am I taken in by those appearances rather than the truth?
Anyway, the book was creepy-good, but not for everyone. ...more
4.5 stars I really liked this book! I think the best thing about it is the subject matter. Moriarty relates the fictionalized story of the real Louise4.5 stars I really liked this book! I think the best thing about it is the subject matter. Moriarty relates the fictionalized story of the real Louise Brooks, a silent film star of the 20's; her initial foray into New York with a chaperone, Cora, and her subsequent rise and fall of stardom. It also interweaves the story of Cora, a girl from the New York Home for Friendless Girls, who is adopted by a Kansas family, marries well, searches for her real mother, finds her "brother" and again meets Louise in her later years. Moriarty did a lot of research into that time period. Learning about the orphan trains was interesting, as was learning about the attitudes toward gays in that era. I loved the quote from the preface: "When lovely woman stoops to folly she can always find someone to stoop with her but not always someone to lift her up again to the level where she belongs." (from the Atlantic Monthly 1920) It was interesting to think about what life was like in the 1920's - and as ignorant as some of the attitudes seemed to be, who's to say we would have behaved any differently, given those circumstances. And what would it have been like to have had to have worn a corset?????? also, I had never heard of Lysol being advertised as a "feminine hygiene aid for nervous wives" (a contraceptive).
The book was an easy, quick read, and thoroughly enjoyable. I thought Cora and Alan's (her husband) relationship was very well written and interesting to contemplate....more
This was kind of a difficult book. For one thing, I never really GOT what it was about. It takes place in some Balkan country, and is kind of the storThis was kind of a difficult book. For one thing, I never really GOT what it was about. It takes place in some Balkan country, and is kind of the story of a girl whose grandfather recently died. she ends up learning a bit more of his life through some stories. I definitely got the feeling of the horrors of the war there, but the whole story seemed very scattered. It jumped from one person and time period to another. every time I picked up the book again to continue reading it, I would have to go back a few pages to figure out what had just happened. And not a lot happened in the book. Maybe it was too deep for me, I don't know. I really enjoyed a couple of other "tiger" books - The Life of Pi (which was also kind of weird, but in a more interesting way) and The White Tiger, but I never could quite get to the point where I enjoyed this story. Towards the end, I skimmed a bit more. I was disappointed by the ending, too. maybe I wanted it to make more sense. I wish I would have liked it. There were a few good quotes and ideas in it, but not enough to make it a compelling story. I did enjoy the scene where they see an elephant, and the grandfather tries to get his daughter to understand that it is a special moment to be shared just by the two of them. There are too many other good books around that are thought provoking - this one was just kind of frustrating....more
WOW!!!!!! I know that not everyone will enjoy this book - and, I have to say, it takes a bit of tenacity to get through parts of it - but I LOVED IT!!WOW!!!!!! I know that not everyone will enjoy this book - and, I have to say, it takes a bit of tenacity to get through parts of it - but I LOVED IT!!!!!!! This is definitely one of those books that will stay in my thoughts for quite a while. The writing was superb; Johnson teaches creative writing at Stanford, so that should be telling enough. The story is epic, in that it details the fictional life of Pak Jun Do, considered an orphan, from his early years in North Korea, up to his final escapades with Kim Jong Il. I have to admit - so much happens in this story, that by the time I got to the end, it was almost as if the beginning was a completely different book. Johnson did a remarkable amount of research, and it was interesting to read the interview with him at the end of the book. Although the story is fictional, I do believe that it probably DOES represent a very likely true scenario. After having read this book I found myself more interested in reading recent newspaper articles about the failed missile launch in NOrth Korea. I'm sure I didn't understand the whole story; viewpoints change, characters change, Pak Jun Do assumes another identity, and then there are the frequent Loudspeaker announcements spewing propaganda to all the citizens. Too much happens in the book, but it is paced really well, and I believe it really does capture what life must be like for the regular citizens of North Korea. Some great thoughts/quotes: "The darkness inside your head is something your imagination fills with stories that have nothing to do with the real darkness around you." Jun Do was scared to see South Korea with his own eyes (when his job was digging tunnels) because he really wanted to believe his horrible life was for a good cause. He didn't want to believe there was something better. Dr. Song tells Jun Do that stories are factual in N. Korea. "If a man and his story are in conflict, it is the man who must change." Stories are made up in N. Korea - and told so many times, that they come to BE the truth. Stories were manufactured by those in power to save face. Jun Do believed that in N. Korea, everything was clear and made complete sense. People weren't allowed to think - they were told, and life was easier that way. When Sun Moon, the actress, talks with a female American "captive", she asks, "what plays over the American loudspeakers, when is your curfew, what is taught at your child-rearing collectives? Where does a woman go with her children on Sunday afternoons, and if a woman loses her husband, how does she know the government will assign her a good replacement? With whom would she curry favor to ensure her children got the the best Youth Troop leader? How can a citizen know what is best without a benevolent hand to shepherd her?" I doubt if I will ever read this book again - but it made a BIG impression on me - in spite of some of the violence. And, I even thought that the violence was handled well - it was definitely present, and horrid to contemplate, but not overly focused on. Perhaps life isn't as bad as it is portrayed in North Korea - but as I hadn't known much about this area, it was a real eye opener....more
Wow - what a book! I can't believe I never had to read this in school. This was one of those few great books that has exceptional writing, good characWow - what a book! I can't believe I never had to read this in school. This was one of those few great books that has exceptional writing, good characters, and a timeless story. Although it was published in 1933, aside from some British historical references, it is a very current, thought-provoking story. I'm looking forward to discussing this at our book group. This is the story of Conway - who, along with three others, is "hijacked" to Shangri-La. Shangri-La is a place of moderation; but is it paradise or hell? This was one of those stories that prompts me to mention it in various conversations. The writing was wonderful - these are the quotes I noted to remember:
When Conway thinks about himself: "It was his fate in life to have his equanimity always mistaken for pluck, whereas it was actually something much more dispassionate and much less virile."
Chang, his "guide" tells him: "...the application of a little courtesy all round helps to smooth out these problems."
Chang then adds: "...we believe that to govern perfectly it is necessary to avoid governing too much."
When Barnard - a fugitive - is questioned about his financial crimes, he replies that his "investors" "all wanted something for nothing and hadn't the brains to get it for themselves." Wall Street?????
when talking with Chang, Conway wonders if life actually has any point and confesses: "I've sometimes doubted whether life itself has any; and if not, long life must be even more pointless."
Conway did a lot of thinking in Shangri-La and "Sometimes he wondered which of his two lives were the more real, but the problem was not pressing; and again he was reminded of the War, for during heavy bombardments he had had the same comforting sensation that he had many lives, only one of which could be claimed by death."
Would I want to live in a place like Shangri-La, where I could do the things I'd like to do - and more - with no limits on time, no arguments........in some ways it kind of sounds like a drug-induced stupor............ and as idyllic as living in a cabin away from the hustle and bustle of real life sometimes sounds tempting - I do wonder if I could really be happy escaping from the world. Maybe the world needs me..... I even enjoyed the ending of this book, and thought the author tied everything together quite nicely. What an enjoyable, thoughtful read!!!!!...more
I loved this book!!!!! This story is so magical and well written and a wonderful love story. And - it is all contained in one volume and does not needI loved this book!!!!! This story is so magical and well written and a wonderful love story. And - it is all contained in one volume and does not need a sequel. This is the story of Celia and Marco - two young people who have been "branded" by their father/guardian at a young age to compete. They both learn magic through different methods. No specific rules are set - the competition develops as time progresses. It was interesting to compare this to the Harry Potter books. I loved those, too, but this story has much less action in it and a lot more description. Thus - much slower moving. I didn't mind it at all. it actually gave me time to enjoy the "scenery". Morgenstern has created a most wonderful circus, unlike anything anyone has ever seen. How did she imagine all these details?????? I would love to talk with her. I highlighted a number of passages in the book which seemed to summarize what the story was essentially about. For example: "People see what they wish to see. And in most cases, what they are told that they see." And, "'Follow your dreams, Bailey," she says. "Be they Harvard or something else entirely. No matter what that father of yours says, or how loudly he might say it. He forgets that he was someone's dream once, himself.'" This book probably would have been better to read in a regular book form, instead of my Kindle, as it would have been nice to refresh my memory as to some of the dates in the chapters. But - oh well. The story unfolds slowly but beautifully as the two magicians learn who they are competing against and the parameters of the competition. and their love for each other is shown in wondrous ways in the circus. Great characters!!!! Anyway - what a completely satisfying read! And one that I will continue to enjoy thinking about!...more
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