Great story and writing by Ann Patchett again. Farfetched, and not her best, but recommended.
Other books by this author:
Bel Canto
Run
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Sunday, November 20, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Book 20 (2011) Officers and Gentlemen**** by Evelyn Waugh
Everyone who everyone whoever thought about war being necessary or righteous or doubted the harm it does to the individual and society must read this book. First read Crete by Anthony Beevor, the history of the fall of Crete during WWII, then read this book, the barely disguised experiences of Waugh as a British officer in the same incident.
Waugh's writing is of course unmatched and each paragraph can be read aloud.
At once humorous and deadly serious, this book will stay with me as few books have.
Waugh's writing is of course unmatched and each paragraph can be read aloud.
At once humorous and deadly serious, this book will stay with me as few books have.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Book 19 (2011) A Widow for One Year (zero) by John Irving
537 pages --- how did I finish this book?
Funny, entertaining, good plot, -- I'll give it that. Now I know the reason why I stopped reading Irving years ago --- typical American male writer of the era --- funny, lots of way out sex, unbelievable characters (also Philip Roth, somebody else??)
Characters --- interesting, but exaggerated --- always the more beautiful, the most or best or most amazing whatever.
But although several main characters are women, they did not ring true. I could not identify with any of their feelings, actions, or experiences.
The whole plot is a giant male sexual fantasy, every boy/man's dream come true.
I read this immediately after I read After the Falls by Catherine Gildiner, in which she describes sexual experiences that really happen to people and most important, the aftermath of these typical experiences. Maybe that's why this book seemed so phony.
Funny, entertaining, good plot, -- I'll give it that. Now I know the reason why I stopped reading Irving years ago --- typical American male writer of the era --- funny, lots of way out sex, unbelievable characters (also Philip Roth, somebody else??)
Characters --- interesting, but exaggerated --- always the more beautiful, the most or best or most amazing whatever.
But although several main characters are women, they did not ring true. I could not identify with any of their feelings, actions, or experiences.
The whole plot is a giant male sexual fantasy, every boy/man's dream come true.
I read this immediately after I read After the Falls by Catherine Gildiner, in which she describes sexual experiences that really happen to people and most important, the aftermath of these typical experiences. Maybe that's why this book seemed so phony.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Book 18 (2011) After the Falls Coming of Age in the Sixties **** by Catherine Gildiner
My first encounter with this author was at the writers' festival in Vancouver, when she was completely unknown, and had just published her first memoir, Too Close to the Falls. She was the hit of the festival, like none other since, and catapulted herself immediately into the limelight by the strength of this one hilarious, witty, pithy talk. She became instantly famous in Canada and I have always thought of her as Canadian. However, she grew up in Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York.
Being a similar type of person and having similar experiences, I found the book redeeming. But more important, this is an extremely well written, extremely funny, and extremely real memoir.
Read it. Then read Too Close to the Falls. Better yet, read in reverse order.
Being a similar type of person and having similar experiences, I found the book redeeming. But more important, this is an extremely well written, extremely funny, and extremely real memoir.
Read it. Then read Too Close to the Falls. Better yet, read in reverse order.
Book 17 Run *** by Ann Patchett
This is another stunner from Ann Patchett of Bel Canto fame. I hadn't expected it to be so riveting.
The setting is Boston and the theme is the everlasting American theme of race. The story takes place over a few days, the dysfunctional family (the white Irish major adopts two black kids, wife dies, birth mother stalks them, car accident, hospital, 11-year old girl heroine).
The setting is Boston and the theme is the everlasting American theme of race. The story takes place over a few days, the dysfunctional family (the white Irish major adopts two black kids, wife dies, birth mother stalks them, car accident, hospital, 11-year old girl heroine).
Book 16 A Traveller's History of France * 1/2 by Robert Cole
This is the 8th printing --- and still the book is a mess, from the font choice, to the headings, to the copy editing, which fails to fix even the weakest and commonly acknowledged writing and style issues. Worse, the books takes fascinating material, and turns it into lifeless recitation.
The author is an American, which surprisingly does not seem to affect the slant of the writing, although after reading Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong, I long for an opinion here and there. The best we get is the odd wry, forecasting, structurally twisted sentence.
The narrative gets interesting only in the lead up to the Napoleonic era and from there on is quite riveting.
There are a number of deadening appendices that could be updated.
The author is an American, which surprisingly does not seem to affect the slant of the writing, although after reading Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong, I long for an opinion here and there. The best we get is the odd wry, forecasting, structurally twisted sentence.
The narrative gets interesting only in the lead up to the Napoleonic era and from there on is quite riveting.
There are a number of deadening appendices that could be updated.
Book 15 Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong **** by Jean-Benoit Nadeau & Julie Barlow
This was the perfect book to read in France. Extremely well-written essays on various aspects of France's history, culture, and economy, focussing on what makes France different from the US or Canada.
Each chapter builds on the thesis of why the French people accept extreme standardization and centralization of government in every aspect of life.
Each chapter builds on the thesis of why the French people accept extreme standardization and centralization of government in every aspect of life.
Book 14 (2011) The Imperfectionists ** by Tom Rachman
I was surprised that this Canadian (Vancouver) writer was not recognized in Canada until at least a year after the book was published in New York.
The book has a unique (?) structure of short stories about connected people, knitted together into a very satisfying novel. The premise is an international English language newspaper, headquartered in Rome, started by a wealthy man who needed a hobby business to add to his conglomerate. To start with, the premise is very interesting, as are all the characters. I really enjoyed the book, but all the while I was reading it, I kept thinking --- is this good writing or is it better than good.
The book has a unique (?) structure of short stories about connected people, knitted together into a very satisfying novel. The premise is an international English language newspaper, headquartered in Rome, started by a wealthy man who needed a hobby business to add to his conglomerate. To start with, the premise is very interesting, as are all the characters. I really enjoyed the book, but all the while I was reading it, I kept thinking --- is this good writing or is it better than good.
Book 13 I Am Hutterite ** by Mary-Ann Kirkby
A slim volume, unique in telling the childhood story of a Hutterite girl whose family ultimately left the colony. Fascinating details of life in the community, happy, sharing, free of cares, with allusions to deep human frailty in the leaders of the community, and the price paid by the men and women who give up a separate identity, life, hopes, and ambitions for never having to worry about food on the table or making decisions. The price ---- not taking your sick child to the doctor without permission and not being able to marry without permission.
The first part of the book is so badly written --- every cliche of a harlequin romance or low quality true crime story --- but later it changes (two authors?, and intrusive editor?) to good writing --- voice, prose, structure, plot.
The first part of the book is so badly written --- every cliche of a harlequin romance or low quality true crime story --- but later it changes (two authors?, and intrusive editor?) to good writing --- voice, prose, structure, plot.
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