What do you think?
Rate this book
小褍胁芯褉褨 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻懈
芦小褍胁芯褉褨 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻懈禄 鈥� 写械斜褞褌薪懈泄 褉芯屑邪薪 袝谢褨蟹邪斜械褌 覑褨谢斜械褉褌, 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈 褋胁褨褌芯胁懈褏 斜械褋褌褋械谢械褉褨胁 芦袊褋褌懈, 屑芯谢懈褌懈褋褟, 泻芯褏邪褌懈禄, 芦袩褉懈褉芯写邪 胁褋褨褏 褉械褔械泄禄 褨 芦袦褨褋褌芯 写褨胁褔邪褌禄.
校卸械 泻褨谢褜泻邪 锌芯泻芯谢褨薪褜 屑褨卸 卸懈褌械谢褟屑懈 写胁芯褏 屑邪谢械薪褜泻懈褏 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨胁 褌褉懈胁邪褦 胁芯褉芯卸薪械褔邪 蟹邪 锌褉邪胁芯 谢芯胁懈褌懈 芯屑邪褉褨胁 褍 褋锌褨谢褜薪懈褏 胁芯写邪褏. 袧邪 褑懈褏 蟹械屑谢褟褏 写褨褞褌褜 褋胁芯褩 蟹邪泻芯薪懈 褨 褌褉邪写懈褑褨褩, 薪械 锌褨写胁谢邪写薪褨 锌褉芯谐褉械褋褍 褔懈 胁锌谢懈胁褍 褋褍褔邪褋薪芯褋褌褨. 效芯谢芯胁褨泻懈 蟹邪褉芯斜谢褟褞褌褜 薪邪 卸懈褌褌褟, 卸褨薪泻懈 蟹邪泄屑邪褞褌褜褋褟 写芯屑芯屑 褌邪 谐芯褋锌芯写邪褉褋褌胁芯屑. 校 泻芯卸薪芯谐芯 蟹 芯褋褌褉褨胁鈥櫻徯� 鈥� 褋胁芯褟 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟, 褋胁芯褩 褋褨屑械泄薪褨 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈. 啸褌芯褋褜 屑褉褨褦 胁懈褉胁邪褌懈褋褟 薪邪 胁械谢懈泻褍 蟹械屑谢褞, 邪 泻芯谐芯褋褜 鈥� 褟泻 谐芯谢芯胁薪褍 谐械褉芯褩薪褞 鈥� 薪邪胁锌邪泻懈, 褌褟谐薪械 薪邪 褉褨写薪懈泄 芯褋褌褉褨胁. 袙褨褋褨屑薪邪写褑褟褌懈褉褨褔薪邪 袪褍褌 薪械褏褌褍褦 锌芯褉邪写邪屑懈 褉褨写薪懈褏 锌械褉械褩褏邪褌懈 薪邪 屑邪褌械褉懈泻 褨 胁褋褌褍锌懈褌懈 写芯 泻芯谢械写卸褍. 袙芯薪邪 屑褉褨褦 锌褉芯写芯胁卸懈褌懈 褋锌褉邪胁褍 褋胁芯褩褏 锌褉邪褖褍褉褨胁 褨 蟹邪泄屑邪褌懈褋褟 褉懈斜芯谢芯胁谢械褞. 袛芯 褌芯谐芯 卸 蟹邪泻芯褏褍褦褌褜褋褟 褍 褏谢芯锌褑褟 蟹 胁芯褉芯卸芯谐芯 芯褋褌褉芯胁邪, 褌邪 褋锌芯写褨胁邪褌懈褋褟 薪邪 锌褉懈屑懈褉械薪薪褟 写胁芯褏 褋锌褨谢褜薪芯褌 鈥� 屑邪褉薪邪 褋锌褉邪胁邪. 袗谢械 袪褍褌 胁 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁懈泄 褋锌芯褋褨斜 胁懈斜芯褉褞褦 锌褉邪胁芯 斜褍褌懈 褖邪褋谢懈胁芯褞 褌邪屑, 写械 褩褩 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨泄 写褨屑, 褨 胁褋褌邪薪芯胁谢褞褦 褋胁芯褩 锌褉邪胁懈谢邪 谐褉懈 褍 褋胁褨褌褨, 写械 褋锌芯泻芯薪胁褨泻褍 胁褋械 斜褍谢芯 褋泻褉芯褦薪械 蟹邪 褋褍胁芯褉懈屑懈 褔芯谢芯胁褨褔懈屑懈 锌褉邪胁懈谢邪屑懈.
校卸械 泻褨谢褜泻邪 锌芯泻芯谢褨薪褜 屑褨卸 卸懈褌械谢褟屑懈 写胁芯褏 屑邪谢械薪褜泻懈褏 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨胁 褌褉懈胁邪褦 胁芯褉芯卸薪械褔邪 蟹邪 锌褉邪胁芯 谢芯胁懈褌懈 芯屑邪褉褨胁 褍 褋锌褨谢褜薪懈褏 胁芯写邪褏. 袧邪 褑懈褏 蟹械屑谢褟褏 写褨褞褌褜 褋胁芯褩 蟹邪泻芯薪懈 褨 褌褉邪写懈褑褨褩, 薪械 锌褨写胁谢邪写薪褨 锌褉芯谐褉械褋褍 褔懈 胁锌谢懈胁褍 褋褍褔邪褋薪芯褋褌褨. 效芯谢芯胁褨泻懈 蟹邪褉芯斜谢褟褞褌褜 薪邪 卸懈褌褌褟, 卸褨薪泻懈 蟹邪泄屑邪褞褌褜褋褟 写芯屑芯屑 褌邪 谐芯褋锌芯写邪褉褋褌胁芯屑. 校 泻芯卸薪芯谐芯 蟹 芯褋褌褉褨胁鈥櫻徯� 鈥� 褋胁芯褟 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟, 褋胁芯褩 褋褨屑械泄薪褨 锌褉芯斜谢械屑懈. 啸褌芯褋褜 屑褉褨褦 胁懈褉胁邪褌懈褋褟 薪邪 胁械谢懈泻褍 蟹械屑谢褞, 邪 泻芯谐芯褋褜 鈥� 褟泻 谐芯谢芯胁薪褍 谐械褉芯褩薪褞 鈥� 薪邪胁锌邪泻懈, 褌褟谐薪械 薪邪 褉褨写薪懈泄 芯褋褌褉褨胁. 袙褨褋褨屑薪邪写褑褟褌懈褉褨褔薪邪 袪褍褌 薪械褏褌褍褦 锌芯褉邪写邪屑懈 褉褨写薪懈褏 锌械褉械褩褏邪褌懈 薪邪 屑邪褌械褉懈泻 褨 胁褋褌褍锌懈褌懈 写芯 泻芯谢械写卸褍. 袙芯薪邪 屑褉褨褦 锌褉芯写芯胁卸懈褌懈 褋锌褉邪胁褍 褋胁芯褩褏 锌褉邪褖褍褉褨胁 褨 蟹邪泄屑邪褌懈褋褟 褉懈斜芯谢芯胁谢械褞. 袛芯 褌芯谐芯 卸 蟹邪泻芯褏褍褦褌褜褋褟 褍 褏谢芯锌褑褟 蟹 胁芯褉芯卸芯谐芯 芯褋褌褉芯胁邪, 褌邪 褋锌芯写褨胁邪褌懈褋褟 薪邪 锌褉懈屑懈褉械薪薪褟 写胁芯褏 褋锌褨谢褜薪芯褌 鈥� 屑邪褉薪邪 褋锌褉邪胁邪. 袗谢械 袪褍褌 胁 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁懈泄 褋锌芯褋褨斜 胁懈斜芯褉褞褦 锌褉邪胁芯 斜褍褌懈 褖邪褋谢懈胁芯褞 褌邪屑, 写械 褩褩 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨泄 写褨屑, 褨 胁褋褌邪薪芯胁谢褞褦 褋胁芯褩 锌褉邪胁懈谢邪 谐褉懈 褍 褋胁褨褌褨, 写械 褋锌芯泻芯薪胁褨泻褍 胁褋械 斜褍谢芯 褋泻褉芯褦薪械 蟹邪 褋褍胁芯褉懈屑懈 褔芯谢芯胁褨褔懈屑懈 锌褉邪胁懈谢邪屑懈.
424 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
525 people are currently reading
6,791 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Gilbert
73听books34k听followersElizabeth Gilbert is an award-winning writer of both fiction and non-fiction. Her short story collection Pilgrims was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway award, and her novel Stern Men was a New York Times notable book. Her 2002 book The Last American Man was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critic鈥檚 Circle Award.
Her memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, spent 57 weeks in the #1 spot on the New York Times paperback bestseller list. It has shipped over 6 million copies in the US and has been published in over thirty languages. A film adaptation of the book was released by Columbia Pictures with an all star cast: Julia Roberts as Gilbert, Javier Bardem as Felipe, James Franco as David, Billy Crudup as her ex-husband and Richard Jenkins as Richard from Texas.
Her latest novel, The Signature of All Things, will be available on October 1, 2013. The credit for her profile picture belongs to Jennifer Schatten.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 854 reviews
Read
April 30, 2021I respect Elizabeth Gilbert as a writer--a lot. Her dialogue jumps off the page, her descriptions are taut and humorous. But I do feel that this book reveals an author in her early period trying to find her groove. There are some plot points that fall short, and the character arcs only develop fully in the epilogue. About a third of the plot of the book seemed to fall into the last chapter. That being said, I'm becoming more and more interested in reading various writers' early work, mostly because the flaws show how far they have come and how every writer struggles at the beginning of their career.
I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to someone who is simply a fan of . However, if you are studying writing as a craft, Gilbert shows off some textbook skills along with some mistakes. It's a great way to see all the ingredients laid out, but not quite gelling. I'd like to read the Last American Male next.
I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to someone who is simply a fan of . However, if you are studying writing as a craft, Gilbert shows off some textbook skills along with some mistakes. It's a great way to see all the ingredients laid out, but not quite gelling. I'd like to read the Last American Male next.
August 30, 2018
Extremely boring and poorly written.
June 13, 2020
I am so taken with this book I could cry. I seem to be in the minority and I cannot understand why! Charming, captivating, brilliant-I loved every single page. Frankly I was not enchanted with this author鈥檚 most famous book, Eat, Pray, Love. I gave it 3 stars and it may have been that it was so hyped that by the time I got to it-meh. So luckily I later read the Signature of All Things and whammo-I was in love. But this one-oh my God I loved it. Some reviews pointed out technical sorts of things that were wrong, which I admit I know nothing of the mechanics of writing. I am, however, a reader-voracious for 55 of my 60 years. It even felt a little Alice Hoffman-ish to me.
The only thing that I can think of regarding the less than rave reviews, is that perhaps you have to be a Northeast coastal Yankee to fully appreciate this story. I was born and raised on the far northeastern coast of Massachusetts. I am not unfamiliar with lobstering. I speak 鈥渄own East.鈥� I understand the language, the accent, the dialect, the idiom, the phrases. I could HEAR the characters speaking to each other. They came alive. I got them. And the characters! What is not to love about these wonderful, real, fleshed-out true to life people? People seem to think this is about lobstering. Well, it is. But it is so much more. It tells of two remote islands off of Maine, where grudges and history run deep through the citizens鈥� veins. There is so much to be learned here. And the ending? Perfect.
This book is a treasure. I will remember it.
The only thing that I can think of regarding the less than rave reviews, is that perhaps you have to be a Northeast coastal Yankee to fully appreciate this story. I was born and raised on the far northeastern coast of Massachusetts. I am not unfamiliar with lobstering. I speak 鈥渄own East.鈥� I understand the language, the accent, the dialect, the idiom, the phrases. I could HEAR the characters speaking to each other. They came alive. I got them. And the characters! What is not to love about these wonderful, real, fleshed-out true to life people? People seem to think this is about lobstering. Well, it is. But it is so much more. It tells of two remote islands off of Maine, where grudges and history run deep through the citizens鈥� veins. There is so much to be learned here. And the ending? Perfect.
This book is a treasure. I will remember it.
May 5, 2022
小泻芯褉褨褕械 褌邪泻, 褔懈屑 薪褨. 袩芯褔邪褌芯泻 褉芯屑邪薪褍 胁懈褟胁懈胁褋褟 写谢褟 屑械薪械 写械褖芯 褋褍褏懈屑, 薪械 屑芯谐谢邪 锌褉懈蟹胁懈褔邪褩褌懈褋褟 写芯 褋褌懈谢褞 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪薪褟, 蟹褍褋褌褉褨褔邪谢芯褋褟 斜邪谐邪褌芯 写褍卸械 锌褉芯褋褌懈褏 褨 泻芯褉芯褌泻懈褏 褉械褔械薪褜. 袞懈褌褌褟 薪邪 芯褋褌褉芯胁邪褏, 薪邪 褟泻懈褏 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻懈 蟹邪泄屑邪谢懈褋褟 谢芯胁谢械褞 芯屑邪褉褨胁, 蟹写邪胁邪谢芯褋褟 褟泻懈屑-褌芯 锌芯褏屑褍褉懈屑, 邪谢械 锌芯褋褌褍锌芯胁芯 "胁褌褟谐薪褍谢邪褋褟" 胁 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 褨 胁卸械 蟹 褑褨泻邪胁褨褋褌褞 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪谢邪 蟹邪 褉芯蟹胁懈褌泻芯屑 褋褞卸械褌薪懈褏 谢褨薪褨泄. 袛芯胁芯谢褨 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉薪芯, 薪褨褔芯谐芯 褉邪薪褨褕械 薪械 蟹薪邪谢邪 锌褉芯 褑褨 芯褋褌褉芯胁懈 褕褌邪褌褍 袦械薪 褨 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 锌褉芯 褌械, 褟泻 褌褉械斜邪 谢芯胁懈褌懈 芯屑邪褉褨胁. 袩芯褋褌褍锌芯胁芯 写褨蟹薪邪胁邪谢邪褋褟 锌褉芯 褋褨屑械泄薪褨 锌械褉懈锌械褌褨褩 褉芯写懈薪懈 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯褩 谐械褉芯褩薪褨 袪褍褌- 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 卸懈褌褌褟 褩褩 斜邪斜褑褨, 屑邪褌械褉褨...
袙蟹邪谐邪谢褨 袝谢褨蟹邪斜械褌 袚褨谢斜械褉褌 胁卸械 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 写械斜褞褌薪芯屑褍 褉芯屑邪薪褨 胁写邪谢芯褋褟 泻芯谢芯褉懈褌薪芯 胁懈锌懈褋邪褌懈 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉懈 褋胁芯褩褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁 (褨 褑械 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 褌邪 袝谢褨蟹邪斜械褌 袚褨谢斜械褉褌, 褟泻邪 薪邪锌懈褋邪谢邪 "袊褋褌懈, 屑芯谢懈褌懈褋褟, 泻芯褏邪褌懈"...), 斜邪谐邪褌芯 谐褍屑芯褉褍, 褨褉芯薪褨褩, 褟泻芯褩褋褜 卸懈褌褌褦胁芯褩 屑褍写褉芯褋褌褨. 袧邪 屑芯褞 写褍屑泻褍, 芯斜褉邪蟹 袪褍褌 薪械 褉芯蟹泻褉懈褌芯 写芯 泻褨薪褑褟; 褌邪泻, 胁芯薪邪 薪邪褉械褕褌褨(!) 胁蟹褟谢邪 褋械斜械 胁 褉褍泻懈, 胁褨褉薪褨褕械 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 胁褋械 胁 褋胁芯褩 褉褍泻懈 褨 写芯斜懈谢邪褋褟 褍褋锌褨褏褍, 邪谢械 泻褍写懈 锌芯写褨谢懈褋褟 6 褉芯泻褨胁 褩褩 卸懈褌褌褟? 啸芯褌褨谢芯褋褟 斜 写褨蟹薪邪褌懈褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕械 锌芯写褉芯斜懈褑褜 褋邪屑械 锌褉芯 褑械泄 褩褩 褕谢褟褏...
携 薪械 蟹薪邪褞, 泻芯屑褍 褟 褋懈屑锌邪褌懈蟹褍胁邪谢邪 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕械 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 褉芯屑邪薪褨, 薪械 褋泻邪卸褍, 褖芯 褋邪屑械 袪褍褌, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯, 屑褨褋褨褋 袩芯屑屑械褉芯泄? 些械 褉邪蟹 锌芯胁褌芯褉褞褋褟, 褖芯 谐械褉芯褩 褉褨蟹薪芯褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉薪褨 , 褩褏 薪械屑邪谢芯 胁 芯锌芯胁褨写褨 褨 屑械薪褨 斜褍谢芯 褑褨泻邪胁芯 蟹邪 薪懈屑懈 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪褌懈.
袙蟹邪谐邪谢褨 褉芯屑邪薪 褋锌芯写芯斜邪胁褋褟, 蟹 褌邪泻懈屑 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪懈屑 蟹邪薪褍褉械薪薪褟屑 褍 褋锌褨胁褨褋薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 写胁芯褏 (锌芯胁褌芯褉褞褋褜) 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨胁, 屑械褕泻邪薪褑褟屑 褟泻懈褏, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯 胁写邪褋褌褜褋褟 胁褉械褕褌褨 褉械褕褌 锌芯褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈褋褟... 袟邪 胁械谢懈泻懈屑 褉邪褏褍薪泻芯屑, 屑械薪褨 蟹写邪谢芯褋褟, 褖芯 褋邪屑械 芯褋褌褉芯胁懈 褨 褦 谐芯谢芯胁薪懈屑懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸邪屑懈 褉芯屑邪薪褍...
袙蟹邪谐邪谢褨 袝谢褨蟹邪斜械褌 袚褨谢斜械褉褌 胁卸械 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 写械斜褞褌薪芯屑褍 褉芯屑邪薪褨 胁写邪谢芯褋褟 泻芯谢芯褉懈褌薪芯 胁懈锌懈褋邪褌懈 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉懈 褋胁芯褩褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁 (褨 褑械 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 褌邪 袝谢褨蟹邪斜械褌 袚褨谢斜械褉褌, 褟泻邪 薪邪锌懈褋邪谢邪 "袊褋褌懈, 屑芯谢懈褌懈褋褟, 泻芯褏邪褌懈"...), 斜邪谐邪褌芯 谐褍屑芯褉褍, 褨褉芯薪褨褩, 褟泻芯褩褋褜 卸懈褌褌褦胁芯褩 屑褍写褉芯褋褌褨. 袧邪 屑芯褞 写褍屑泻褍, 芯斜褉邪蟹 袪褍褌 薪械 褉芯蟹泻褉懈褌芯 写芯 泻褨薪褑褟; 褌邪泻, 胁芯薪邪 薪邪褉械褕褌褨(!) 胁蟹褟谢邪 褋械斜械 胁 褉褍泻懈, 胁褨褉薪褨褕械 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 胁褋械 胁 褋胁芯褩 褉褍泻懈 褨 写芯斜懈谢邪褋褟 褍褋锌褨褏褍, 邪谢械 泻褍写懈 锌芯写褨谢懈褋褟 6 褉芯泻褨胁 褩褩 卸懈褌褌褟? 啸芯褌褨谢芯褋褟 斜 写褨蟹薪邪褌懈褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕械 锌芯写褉芯斜懈褑褜 褋邪屑械 锌褉芯 褑械泄 褩褩 褕谢褟褏...
携 薪械 蟹薪邪褞, 泻芯屑褍 褟 褋懈屑锌邪褌懈蟹褍胁邪谢邪 薪邪泄斜褨谢褜褕械 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 褉芯屑邪薪褨, 薪械 褋泻邪卸褍, 褖芯 褋邪屑械 袪褍褌, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯, 屑褨褋褨褋 袩芯屑屑械褉芯泄? 些械 褉邪蟹 锌芯胁褌芯褉褞褋褟, 褖芯 谐械褉芯褩 褉褨蟹薪芯褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉薪褨 , 褩褏 薪械屑邪谢芯 胁 芯锌芯胁褨写褨 褨 屑械薪褨 斜褍谢芯 褑褨泻邪胁芯 蟹邪 薪懈屑懈 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪褌懈.
袙蟹邪谐邪谢褨 褉芯屑邪薪 褋锌芯写芯斜邪胁褋褟, 蟹 褌邪泻懈屑 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪懈屑 蟹邪薪褍褉械薪薪褟屑 褍 褋锌褨胁褨褋薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 写胁芯褏 (锌芯胁褌芯褉褞褋褜) 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨胁, 屑械褕泻邪薪褑褟屑 褟泻懈褏, 屑芯卸谢懈胁芯 胁写邪褋褌褜褋褟 胁褉械褕褌褨 褉械褕褌 锌芯褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈褋褟... 袟邪 胁械谢懈泻懈屑 褉邪褏褍薪泻芯屑, 屑械薪褨 蟹写邪谢芯褋褟, 褖芯 褋邪屑械 芯褋褌褉芯胁懈 褨 褦 谐芯谢芯胁薪懈屑懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸邪屑懈 褉芯屑邪薪褍...
August 17, 2022
薪械胁写邪谢械 蟹薪邪泄芯屑褋褌胁芯 褏芯褔邪 褟 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褞 褖芯 褑械 写械斜褞褌薪懈泄 褉芯屑邪薪 邪谢械 斜褍谢芯 薪褍写薪芯 褌邪 锌褉褨褋薪芯. 泻褨薪械褑褜 锌褉懈泻芯谢褜薪懈泄
April 7, 2009
Perhaps it was my love of her other book, , that made me not completely love this book. If 1/2 stars were an option, I would have gone with 3 1/2 stars, so I'm rounding up. It was an interesting read...characters were well written, but there was no one I was emotionally invested in (although I loved Kitty, the drunken "aunt"). It seems that perhaps there is more commonality between classes than between geographic groups...this was about a small, lower-middle class community on the east coast who were dependent on lobsters to get by, but it could have easily been the small, middle class community in Iowa that I grew up in that was dependent on the weather & crops to get by. It was the small-town anecdotes that I found most entertaining.
It almost seemed as if this book was written in stages & left that way...several chapters overlapped on information & character description. The fact that Ruth was given so many opportunities that she didn't take advantage of (out of spite? misguided loyalty to her father?) threw me a little bit. While I saw the (predictable) ending coming before they went to the wedding on Courne Haven, I was a little annoyed that she didn't want to see more of the world before settling down. I'm sitting here typing myself into a lower rating for this book...I'll stop now.
It almost seemed as if this book was written in stages & left that way...several chapters overlapped on information & character description. The fact that Ruth was given so many opportunities that she didn't take advantage of (out of spite? misguided loyalty to her father?) threw me a little bit. While I saw the (predictable) ending coming before they went to the wedding on Courne Haven, I was a little annoyed that she didn't want to see more of the world before settling down. I'm sitting here typing myself into a lower rating for this book...I'll stop now.
November 19, 2009
My wife, the daughter of a lobsterman in Maine, bought this book after seeing Elizabeth Gilbert speak. After she'd read it I picked it up casually, not really expecting to read it. I was surprised by how quickly it grabbed me and how much I loved the book. I suppose living in coastal Maine with my 20+ years of exposure to a family tied to island living and lobstering allowed me to picture each and every character perfectly. A great ending, too.
July 1, 2011
Generally, when describing books I try to use more specific language, but in this case my opinion of Stern Men after reading it can be summed up in one word- Weird. I slogged through it, but the book never really completely grabbed me. It had some of the trappings of the things I look for in a good novel; artful writing, an intriguing cast of characters, enigmatic plot twists, but I never really came to a basic understanding of the character of Ruth Thomas. One moment she is full of sass and wry banter, and the next she is making completely reckless decisions, alienating the people she cares about, and behaving like a self-absorbed, sullen teenager. I suppose Gilbert wrote this a long time ago, but I expected more from her. I did enjoy the attention to detail and the lengths the lobstering community goes through to stay afloat, but Stern Men ultimately left me wanting for something it just didn't have.
March 6, 2021
Stern Men was very readable, but it was bumpy and ultimately, it fell flat.
Before the story gets going, we hear about the settlement of the two islands of the coast of Maine - Fort Niles and Courne Haven - and various other historical aspects.
Fishing, especially lobstering, is the main money-making activity on the islands.
The most interesting characters were the women, Ruth Thomas, whom everyone calls intelligent, although I can't quite understand why. Her mother left the family and the island when Ruth was a little girl. Her next-door neighbour, Mrs Pommeroy, becomes her mother figure. The two have a lovely relationship.
The dialogues were well written, they felt quite authentic. But generally, I found the writing clunky, with too much exposition. A good editor could have made this better.
Before the story gets going, we hear about the settlement of the two islands of the coast of Maine - Fort Niles and Courne Haven - and various other historical aspects.
Fishing, especially lobstering, is the main money-making activity on the islands.
The most interesting characters were the women, Ruth Thomas, whom everyone calls intelligent, although I can't quite understand why. Her mother left the family and the island when Ruth was a little girl. Her next-door neighbour, Mrs Pommeroy, becomes her mother figure. The two have a lovely relationship.
The dialogues were well written, they felt quite authentic. But generally, I found the writing clunky, with too much exposition. A good editor could have made this better.
December 29, 2022
袩褉械泻褉邪褋薪芯 薪邪锌懈褋邪薪邪 薪邪写蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪芯 薪褍写薪邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪 :)
November 25, 2010
Gilbert deserves far more credit for this novel than for her much publicised 'Eat, Pray, Love' and wishy-washy 'Commited'. In 'Stern Men' she takes us into the very heart and soul of this isolated island community of lobstermen. The subject, Ruth Thomas, is a fiesty young lady who is determined to stay on the island and join the gruff seamen in pursuit of lobsters. Here Gilbert delves into the dubiuos ancestery of Ruth, the longstanding fued between the people of the neighbouring island and the many characters of island inhabitants. It is definitely a well-researched novel, and a smoothly woven tale about a little known community. cant say i have read many novels set within a lobster-fishing community and i began this novel with a sense of trepidation less the content appeared too dry, but i think Gilbert skilfully broached the subject, without boring any reader with too much technical detail.
August 5, 2008
I adore this book. It takes a little getting into - the history of lobster fishing off the shores of Maine that begins the novel is necessary to the plot, but a little dry (or perhaps it's that, as yet, we have no idea which characters to hang our hats on). But quickly it becomes one of those books that you cannot put down. The characters are utterly unique - and I think that's one of the things I enjoyed most about the book; that each character was fully formed, with backstory, a pattern of speaking, a method of walking, interacting, living that was so utterly them and no other literary character I've read before. It's clever, extremely funny in places (god, the conversation in the bar about having a prize fight with a chimp . . . GOD) and just a thoroughly satisfying read. Wonderful.
June 10, 2022
袉褋褌芯褉褨褟 锌褉芯 褋褍胁芯褉懈褏 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻褨胁, 褟泻褨 谢芯胁谢褟褌褜 芯屑邪褉褨胁, 褨 写褨胁褔懈薪褍, 褟泻邪 蟹褉械褕褌芯褞 胁褋褨褏 褩褏 蟹褉芯斜懈谢邪.
September 7, 2014
*Disclaimer: As always, this review contains spoilers so if you want to read this novel with bated breath don't read this review. (Not that this is that kind-of book anyway, but just in case.)
Anyone who follows my reviews here knows that I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Gilbert which is why it pains me to say that I really, genuinely did not like this book. I might go so far as to say that I hated it.
It isn't because her writing was sub-par in any way. Gilbert shows the same astounding gift for dialogue and capturing the essence of real-life people that I first encountered in Pilgrims (her collection of short stories which I read prior to this) and I would still recommend her to anyone who was looking for a good example of writing strikingly real characters or dialogue. She still does an amazing job of capturing the complexities of human relationships. And she still shows the same flair for creating atmosphere with setting and she devotes more time to that in this book than pretty much anything else. In fact, a much more accurate description of this book would be to call it a story of two islands and their people rather than a love story or even a coming-of-age story which is how most reviews describe it.
Where the book fails, however, is in the story itself. Mainly, it's too damned short. When I was still in the midst of reading this a friend asked me how long it was. I told him it was a little under three hundred pages. He commented on it being a rather short book and I realized that I hadn't really thought about it before then. At the time, it didn't worry me. That was until I finished a chapter ending in a huge development and then beheld the word "Epilogue" on the next page. It hit me like a smack in the face.
And then as I read through that last chapter I was horrified to find that she had skipped over six years following the dramatic development in the previous pages and jumped straight to the (albeit heartwarming) conclusion of the story. So far as the story arc goes she pretty much completely skipped over the climax and jumped right into the resolution. I was shocked when I realized this. And, to put it mildly, I was pissed.
"What the hell? Did she not know how to write out that confrontation? Did she write it but then scrap it for some reason? Why the hell would she do that?" I don't know the answers to any of these questions nor to the countless others that come up as she describes where all the characters are at six years later- because she didn't write them.
I'm not saying that you can't skip time in a story. Heck, there's nine years between the second and third chapters and that didn't phase me at all. What I am saying is that when the main character is revealed to have a huge life change in the works and her father has just learned this shocking revelation you don't skip over what happens next.
What's more, the resolution, at least so far as the love story, doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense. I mean, the main character meets this guy, they have a total of two relatively awkward conversations before walking off into the woods and screwing like bunnies (in one of the most graphic and out-of place sex scenes ever written, by the way). The adults in charge are pretty pissed and one is expressly forbade to see the other so that by the time of that big revelation they haven't seen each other or spoken for about five months. Then, in the epilogue six years later, they apparently have one of the happiest marriages on the planet even though the only thing they seem to do together is screw like bunnies. I'm sorry, but great sex does not a miraculous relationship make. And calling this book a love story because of that is just straight-up ridiculous.
And if you're in it for the other reasons- those complex relationships between the occupants of these two islands, their long history of distrust and warring over lobster fishing territory, their complex and somewhat fascinating way of self-governing and their chosen lifestyle which is so vastly different from the mainland- you'll still be disappointed. Gilbert has the main character do something for the community which every single flippin' character in the book repeatedly says would never, ever happen and provides virtually no explanation as to how she does it. Is she just magic? What on earth did she say? How could she possibly get them all to agree to that? Explaining it all away by saying that because she was an accepted insider is not a satisfying end.
Like I said, I was pissed. Still am, in fact (I'm sure you can tell). I have absolutely no idea what purpose that giant skip forward served other than to ruin what seemed like it could have been a really good story. And while this is no way detracts from my love of her other works it will make me wait a while before I pick up her new novel.
Anyone who follows my reviews here knows that I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Gilbert which is why it pains me to say that I really, genuinely did not like this book. I might go so far as to say that I hated it.
It isn't because her writing was sub-par in any way. Gilbert shows the same astounding gift for dialogue and capturing the essence of real-life people that I first encountered in Pilgrims (her collection of short stories which I read prior to this) and I would still recommend her to anyone who was looking for a good example of writing strikingly real characters or dialogue. She still does an amazing job of capturing the complexities of human relationships. And she still shows the same flair for creating atmosphere with setting and she devotes more time to that in this book than pretty much anything else. In fact, a much more accurate description of this book would be to call it a story of two islands and their people rather than a love story or even a coming-of-age story which is how most reviews describe it.
Where the book fails, however, is in the story itself. Mainly, it's too damned short. When I was still in the midst of reading this a friend asked me how long it was. I told him it was a little under three hundred pages. He commented on it being a rather short book and I realized that I hadn't really thought about it before then. At the time, it didn't worry me. That was until I finished a chapter ending in a huge development and then beheld the word "Epilogue" on the next page. It hit me like a smack in the face.
And then as I read through that last chapter I was horrified to find that she had skipped over six years following the dramatic development in the previous pages and jumped straight to the (albeit heartwarming) conclusion of the story. So far as the story arc goes she pretty much completely skipped over the climax and jumped right into the resolution. I was shocked when I realized this. And, to put it mildly, I was pissed.
"What the hell? Did she not know how to write out that confrontation? Did she write it but then scrap it for some reason? Why the hell would she do that?" I don't know the answers to any of these questions nor to the countless others that come up as she describes where all the characters are at six years later- because she didn't write them.
I'm not saying that you can't skip time in a story. Heck, there's nine years between the second and third chapters and that didn't phase me at all. What I am saying is that when the main character is revealed to have a huge life change in the works and her father has just learned this shocking revelation you don't skip over what happens next.
What's more, the resolution, at least so far as the love story, doesn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense. I mean, the main character meets this guy, they have a total of two relatively awkward conversations before walking off into the woods and screwing like bunnies (in one of the most graphic and out-of place sex scenes ever written, by the way). The adults in charge are pretty pissed and one is expressly forbade to see the other so that by the time of that big revelation they haven't seen each other or spoken for about five months. Then, in the epilogue six years later, they apparently have one of the happiest marriages on the planet even though the only thing they seem to do together is screw like bunnies. I'm sorry, but great sex does not a miraculous relationship make. And calling this book a love story because of that is just straight-up ridiculous.
And if you're in it for the other reasons- those complex relationships between the occupants of these two islands, their long history of distrust and warring over lobster fishing territory, their complex and somewhat fascinating way of self-governing and their chosen lifestyle which is so vastly different from the mainland- you'll still be disappointed. Gilbert has the main character do something for the community which every single flippin' character in the book repeatedly says would never, ever happen and provides virtually no explanation as to how she does it. Is she just magic? What on earth did she say? How could she possibly get them all to agree to that? Explaining it all away by saying that because she was an accepted insider is not a satisfying end.
Like I said, I was pissed. Still am, in fact (I'm sure you can tell). I have absolutely no idea what purpose that giant skip forward served other than to ruin what seemed like it could have been a really good story. And while this is no way detracts from my love of her other works it will make me wait a while before I pick up her new novel.
January 26, 2015
This is Elizabeth Gilbert's first fiction effort. This is not Eat, Pray, Love. Not at all. If you want Eat, Pray, Love ... read that book and not this one. The men here are not sexy. Our female protagonist doesn't travel far and wide. There is no pasta. Don't read Stern Men and complain that you're not getting Eat, Pray, Love. If you need that EPL tie-in to make it through the day, this was probably one of the books that caused Gilbert to constantly owe money to her ex-husband for the rest of her life.
Ruth Thomas, our heroine, is born and grows up in Maine on Fort Niles island. Fort Niles is a scrappy and tiny place for lobster fishermen and the women they love and/or abuse. If you can't or don't want to be a lobsterman, it's best you leave Fort Niles. But even though Ruth has a special connection that would allow her to leave and "do better," and she can never be a lobsterman, all she wants to do is stay. This book is about Ruth and how she finds her way. For most of the book, Ruth is 18 years old and acts it: smart and savvy yet raw and impulsive.
The two subplots include the story of Ruth's grandmother and her mother, and the bitter (and hilarious) lobster wars between Fort Niles and Courne Haven. I thought the characters were well-written and the research was impeccable. Gilbert must have spent months researching how lobstermen and the lobster business operate.
YOU MUST READ THE EPILOGUE. Sometimes I'm guilty of just skimming the epilogue because I've assumed all of the plot action happened already. Read the epilogue or else you'll just be depressed. I do wish the action in the epilogue was expanded on and made into actual numbered chapters. But I really liked this book, and can't wait to get into The Signature of All Things next.
Ruth Thomas, our heroine, is born and grows up in Maine on Fort Niles island. Fort Niles is a scrappy and tiny place for lobster fishermen and the women they love and/or abuse. If you can't or don't want to be a lobsterman, it's best you leave Fort Niles. But even though Ruth has a special connection that would allow her to leave and "do better," and she can never be a lobsterman, all she wants to do is stay. This book is about Ruth and how she finds her way. For most of the book, Ruth is 18 years old and acts it: smart and savvy yet raw and impulsive.
The two subplots include the story of Ruth's grandmother and her mother, and the bitter (and hilarious) lobster wars between Fort Niles and Courne Haven. I thought the characters were well-written and the research was impeccable. Gilbert must have spent months researching how lobstermen and the lobster business operate.
YOU MUST READ THE EPILOGUE. Sometimes I'm guilty of just skimming the epilogue because I've assumed all of the plot action happened already. Read the epilogue or else you'll just be depressed. I do wish the action in the epilogue was expanded on and made into actual numbered chapters. But I really liked this book, and can't wait to get into The Signature of All Things next.
October 2, 2019
Her best? No. But I love it for sentimental reasons鈥攊t was her first fiction I read. The audio narrator was pretty good, except for the accent she put on for Cal Cooley, which drove me nuts. Listening made clear the parts I would've skimmed if I were reading. But again, it's dear to me.
July 9, 2016
having just read gilbert's newest novel, 'the signature of all things', i wanted to go back and re-read this book, her novel that came out in 2000. it's fine. there are some similarities to the newer novel: strong female lead; a family with money, working in/with, & understanding nature. but this earlier works is not quite fully realized, and kinda bumpy along the way. but, the setting is so interesting and gilbert has a few characters i really enjoyed.
* edited for typo. original review written 02 dec 2013
* edited for typo. original review written 02 dec 2013
August 3, 2024
袙械褋褜 褉芯屑邪薪 蟹写邪胁褋褟 锌褉芯褋褌芯 蟹邪胁始褟蟹泻芯褞, 邪 薪邪泄褑褨泻邪胁褨褕械 褍卸械 胁褨写斜褍谢芯褋褟 胁 械锌褨谢芯蟹褨. 携 斜 褏芯褌褨谢邪 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褌懈 褋邪屑械 褌褍 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞, 褟泻邪 斜褍谢邪 薪邪 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨褏 褋褌芯褉褨薪泻邪褏. 孝芯屑褍 褟 褌褉褨褕泻懈 褉芯蟹褔邪褉芯胁邪薪邪.
December 22, 2018
Foi o t铆tulo que me chamou a aten莽茫o! O t铆tulo e o facto de estar 脿 venda por apenas 2,50鈧�. Ah, e tamb茅m por ser escrito pela irreverente e hilariante, Elizabeth Gilbert. Estas foram algumas das raz玫es que me levaram a adquirir esta obra e a mergulhar nestas duas ilhas remotas da costa do Maine, com personagens terrivelmente hilariantes que comp玫em a com茅dia/trag茅dia/romance/document谩rio sobre lagostas mais original que j谩 tive oportunidade de ler!
March 29, 2023
袧邪褔懈褌邪胁褕懈褋褜 胁褨写谐褍泻褨胁, 褕芯 褑械 薪邪泄褋谢邪斜褕邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈 (褍 褟泻芯褩 褟 褖械 薪褨褔芯谐芯 薪械 褔懈褌邪谢邪), 褟 锌褉懈谐芯褌褍胁邪谢邪褋褟 写芯 褌芯谐芯, 褕芯 斜褍写械 蟹芯胁褋褨屑 锌芯谐邪薪芯. 袗谢械 薪褨. 袦械薪褨 褋锌芯写芯斜邪胁褋褟 锌芯胁褨谢褜薪懈泄 褌械屑锌 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褨 褨 写械褌邪谢褨 锌芯斜褍褌褍 卸懈褌械谢褨胁 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨胁 斜褨谢褜褕-屑械薪褕 蟹薪邪泄芯屑芯谐芯 胁卸械 褕褌邪褌褍 袦械薪 (写褟泻褍胁邪褌懈 小褌褨胁械薪褍 薪邪褕械 胁褋褜芯 袣褨薪谐褍)).
袩芯写芯谢邪胁褕懈 褌褉芯褏懈 薪褍写薪懈泄 写芯胁谐懈泄 锌褉芯谢芯谐, 斜褍谢芯 褑褨泻邪胁芯 褋谢褨写泻褍胁邪褌懈 蟹邪 卸懈褌褌褟屑 谐械褉芯褩胁, 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟屑 褨 褋褌邪薪芯胁谢械薪薪褟屑 袪褍褌. 袣褨薪械褑褜 泻薪懈卸泻懈 屑械薪褨 褌邪泻芯卸 褋锌芯写芯斜邪胁褋褟, 斜芯 胁褋褨 锌芯褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢懈褋褟 屑褨卸 褋芯斜芯褞 褨 蟹薪邪泄褕谢懈 褟泻 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖械 锌褉懈褋褌褉芯褩褌懈 褋胁芯褩 胁屑褨薪薪褟 褨 邪屑斜褨褑褨褩.
P.S. 袩芯褋褌邪胁懈谢邪 斜懈 褋泻芯褉褨褕械 3.5 蟹褨褉芯褔芯泻, 褟泻斜懈 谐褍写褉褨写褋 屑邪胁 褌邪泻褍 屑芯卸谢懈胁褨褋褌褜
袩芯写芯谢邪胁褕懈 褌褉芯褏懈 薪褍写薪懈泄 写芯胁谐懈泄 锌褉芯谢芯谐, 斜褍谢芯 褑褨泻邪胁芯 褋谢褨写泻褍胁邪褌懈 蟹邪 卸懈褌褌褟屑 谐械褉芯褩胁, 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟屑 褨 褋褌邪薪芯胁谢械薪薪褟屑 袪褍褌. 袣褨薪械褑褜 泻薪懈卸泻懈 屑械薪褨 褌邪泻芯卸 褋锌芯写芯斜邪胁褋褟, 斜芯 胁褋褨 锌芯褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢懈褋褟 屑褨卸 褋芯斜芯褞 褨 蟹薪邪泄褕谢懈 褟泻 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖械 锌褉懈褋褌褉芯褩褌懈 褋胁芯褩 胁屑褨薪薪褟 褨 邪屑斜褨褑褨褩.
P.S. 袩芯褋褌邪胁懈谢邪 斜懈 褋泻芯褉褨褕械 3.5 蟹褨褉芯褔芯泻, 褟泻斜懈 谐褍写褉褨写褋 屑邪胁 褌邪泻褍 屑芯卸谢懈胁褨褋褌褜
February 2, 2023
袩褨褋谢褟 屑邪泄卸械 泻胁邪褉褌邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 fiction-蟹邪褋褌芯褞, 薪邪褉械褕褌褨 锌械褉褕邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪, 褟泻邪 褔褍写芯胁芯 蟹邪泄褕谢邪 薪邪 褉芯蟹泻邪褔泻褍.
小褞卸械褌 薪械 褉褍褏邪褦褌褜褋褟, 锌褨写芯蟹褉褞褞, 褔械褉械蟹 芯斜屑械卸械薪褍 芯褋褌褉芯胁芯屑 谐械芯谐褉邪褎褨褞, 谐械褉芯褩 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨, 邪谢械 褌邪泻芯卸 薪械 褉褍褏邪褞褌褜褋褟.
袚芯谢芯胁薪械, 褖芯 胁蟹褟谢邪 写谢褟 褋械斜械 鈥� 胁褨褉褍, 褖芯 褟泻褖芯 锌懈褋邪褌懈, 褉邪薪芯 褔懈 锌褨蟹薪芯 薪邪锌懈褕械褌褜褋褟 褖芯褋褜 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 蟹薪邪褔褍褖械.
小褞卸械褌 薪械 褉褍褏邪褦褌褜褋褟, 锌褨写芯蟹褉褞褞, 褔械褉械蟹 芯斜屑械卸械薪褍 芯褋褌褉芯胁芯屑 谐械芯谐褉邪褎褨褞, 谐械褉芯褩 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨, 邪谢械 褌邪泻芯卸 薪械 褉褍褏邪褞褌褜褋褟.
袚芯谢芯胁薪械, 褖芯 胁蟹褟谢邪 写谢褟 褋械斜械 鈥� 胁褨褉褍, 褖芯 褟泻褖芯 锌懈褋邪褌懈, 褉邪薪芯 褔懈 锌褨蟹薪芯 薪邪锌懈褕械褌褜褋褟 褖芯褋褜 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 蟹薪邪褔褍褖械.
June 20, 2023
袧邪泄谐褨褉褕械, 褖芯 褔懈褌邪谢邪 褑褨褦褩 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈.
袛褍卸械 锌褉褨褋薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪, 谐械褉芯褩 锌褉芯褌褟谐芯屑 胁褋褜芯谐芯 褔邪褋褍 屑邪褟褌褜褋褟, 薪褍写褜谐褍褞褌褜, 薪械 屑邪褞褌褜 卸芯写薪芯褩 邪写械泻胁邪褌薪芯褩 屑芯褌懈胁邪褑褨褩 褋胁芯褩褏 写褨泄.
袙械褋褌 褉芯蟹胁懈褌芯泻 锌芯写褨泄 褨 褉芯蟹胁始褟蟹泻邪 胁泻谢邪谢邪褋褜 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁 械锌褨谢芯谐.
携泻褖芯 胁懈 褔懈褌邪谢懈 褖芯褋褜 薪芯胁褨褕械 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈 褑褞 泻薪懈谐褍 屑芯卸械褌械 锌褉芯锌褍褋褌懈褌懈.
袛褍卸械 锌褉褨褋薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪, 谐械褉芯褩 锌褉芯褌褟谐芯屑 胁褋褜芯谐芯 褔邪褋褍 屑邪褟褌褜褋褟, 薪褍写褜谐褍褞褌褜, 薪械 屑邪褞褌褜 卸芯写薪芯褩 邪写械泻胁邪褌薪芯褩 屑芯褌懈胁邪褑褨褩 褋胁芯褩褏 写褨泄.
袙械褋褌 褉芯蟹胁懈褌芯泻 锌芯写褨泄 褨 褉芯蟹胁始褟蟹泻邪 胁泻谢邪谢邪褋褜 锌褉芯褋褌芯 胁 械锌褨谢芯谐.
携泻褖芯 胁懈 褔懈褌邪谢懈 褖芯褋褜 薪芯胁褨褕械 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈 褑褞 泻薪懈谐褍 屑芯卸械褌械 锌褉芯锌褍褋褌懈褌懈.
August 4, 2022
袨褌褉懈屑邪谢邪 写褍卸械 蟹邪褌懈褕薪械 蟹邪写芯胁芯谢械薪薪褟 褔懈褌邪褌懈 泻薪懈谐褍 褨 蟹邪薪褍褉褞胁邪褌懈褋褟 胁 褑械泄 屑邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 芯褋褌褉褨胁 褕褌邪褌褍 袦械薪. 袟褨蟹薪邪褞褋褜, 屑褨褋褑褟屑懈 胁褨薪 胁懈写邪胁邪胁褋褟 薪邪褋褌褨谢褜泻懈 褋褍胁芯褉懈屑 褨 胁褨写褉褨蟹邪薪懈屑 胁褨写 褑懈胁褨谢褨蟹邪褑褨褩, 褖芯 屑械薪褨 斜褍谢芯 邪卸 胁邪卸泻芯 斜褍谢芯 褍褟胁懈褌懈. 孝械锌械褉 写芯 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩. 袙褨写褔褍褌薪芯, 褖芯 褑械 锌械褉褕邪 褉芯斜芯褌邪 袥褨蟹. 袉薪泻芯谢懈 屑械薪褨 胁邪卸泻芯 斜褍谢芯 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 屑芯褌懈胁懈 谐械褉芯褩胁, 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁芯 薪邪 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 - 屑邪屑邪 褉邪锌褌芯胁芯 蟹薪懈泻谢邪, 袪褍褌 薪械 褏芯褌褨谢邪 卸懈褌懈 蟹 屑邪屑芯褞, 薪械 褏芯褌褨谢邪 写芯 褕泻芯谢懈, 薪械 褏芯褌褨谢邪 蟹 芯褋褌褉芯胁邪, 邪谢械 泄 薪械 褏芯褌褨谢邪 薪褨褔芯谐芯 褉芯斜懈褌懈 薪邪 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨.. 褋锌械褉褕褍 屑械薪械 褑械 写褍卸械 写褉邪褌褍胁邪谢芯. 袧械 谢芯谐褨褔薪褨褋褌褜 胁褋褨泄 锌芯写褨泄, 褔懈 褌芯 斜褉邪泻 屑芯褌懈胁褨胁 蟹褨 褋褌芯褉芯薪懈 邪胁褌芯褉邪. 袗谢械 屑邪谢芯 锌芯 屑邪谢褍 袥褨蟹 薪邪屑 锌芯褔邪谢邪 胁褋械 锌芯褟褋薪褞胁邪褌懈. 袛械褟泻褨 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写褨 胁芯薪邪 锌褉懈斜械褉械谐谢邪 写芯 褋邪屑芯谐芯 泻褨薪褑褟 褨 褌褍褌 褌械卸 屑芯卸薪邪 斜邪谐邪褌芯 褨薪褌械褉锌褉械褌褍胁邪褌懈. 袉薪褕邪 写械褖芯 褋谢邪斜泻邪 褋褌芯褉芯薪邪 - 写械褟泻褨 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 屑芯谐谢懈 斜 斜褍褌懈 芯锌懈褋邪薪褨 泻褉邪褖械. 袧邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 屑械薪褨 写邪谢褨 胁邪卸泻芯 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 谢褞斜芯胁 袪褍褌 褨 袨胁薪褨. 孝褨谢褜泻懈 褌芯屑褍, 褖芯 屑懈 屑邪泄卸械 薪褨褔芯谐芯 锌褉芯 薪褜芯谐芯 薪械 蟹薪邪褦屑芯.. 袩褉芯褌械 写械褟泻褨 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨 斜褍谢懈 胁褋械 卸 写褍卸械 卸懈胁褨. 袧邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 屑褨褋褨褋 袩芯屑械褉芯泄. 袦械薪褨 锌芯写芯斜邪谢懈褋褟 褩褏 蟹 袪褍褌 褋褌芯褋褍薪泻懈 薪邪蟹胁邪薪芯褩 屑邪褌械褉褨 褨 写芯褔泻懈. 校 薪懈褏 斜褍谢芯 写褍卸械 斜邪谐邪褌芯 写芯胁褨褉懈 褨 胁褨写胁械褉褌懈褏 褉芯蟹屑芯胁. 袦芯卸谢懈胁芯, 褔邪褋褌泻芯胁芯 褑械 屑芯卸薪邪 锌芯褟褋薪懈褌懈 褩褏 芯褋褌褉褨胁薪懈屑 卸懈褌褌褟屑 褨 胁褨写褨褉胁邪薪懈屑 胁褨写 薪芯褉屑 褨 mores 褉械褕褌懈 屑邪褌械褉懈泻邪. 袉 小械薪邪褌芯褉, 褌邪泻懈泄 褋芯斜褨 薪邪蟹胁邪薪懈泄 写褨写褍褋褜 袪褍褌. 袦褉褨泄薪懈泻, 褔懈褟 屑褉褨褟 蟹写褨泄褋薪懈谢邪褋褟.
袙泻褨薪褑褨 褟 卸邪写褨斜薪芯 泻芯胁褌邪谢邪 泻芯卸薪械 褉械褔械薪薪褟, 褌邪泻 屑械薪褨 褏芯褌褨谢芯褋褟 褖械, 斜芯 锌芯锌褉懈 褉芯褋褌褟薪褍褌懈泄 褋褞卸械褌 胁褋褨褦褩 泻薪懈卸泻懈, 胁 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨 褋褌芯褉褨薪泻懈 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 胁泻谢邪写邪褦 写械褋褟褌懈谢褨褌褌褟. 袉 蟹薪芯胁褍 卸 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟 薪械写芯褋泻邪蟹邪薪芯褋褌褨, 邪斜芯 屑芯卸械 袥褨蟹 褏芯褌褨谢邪, 褖芯斜 屑懈 褋邪屑褨 写褨泄褕谢懈 写芯 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写械泄, 褟泻懈泄 斜褉邪泻褍胁邪谢芯. 袪邪写邪 蟹邪 谐械褉芯褩薪褞, 褖芯 胁芯薪邪 芯斜褨褉胁邪谢邪 锌芯褉芯褔薪械 泻芯谢芯 褨 薪械 锌芯胁褌芯褉懈谢邪 写芯谢褞 斜邪斜褑褨 褨 屑邪屑懈, 邪 屑邪谢邪 褋屑褨谢懈胁褨褋褌褜 胁懈斜芯褉芯褌懈 褋胁褨泄 褕谢褟褏.
袙泻褨薪褑褨 褟 卸邪写褨斜薪芯 泻芯胁褌邪谢邪 泻芯卸薪械 褉械褔械薪薪褟, 褌邪泻 屑械薪褨 褏芯褌褨谢芯褋褟 褖械, 斜芯 锌芯锌褉懈 褉芯褋褌褟薪褍褌懈泄 褋褞卸械褌 胁褋褨褦褩 泻薪懈卸泻懈, 胁 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨 褋褌芯褉褨薪泻懈 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪 胁泻谢邪写邪褦 写械褋褟褌懈谢褨褌褌褟. 袉 蟹薪芯胁褍 卸 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟 薪械写芯褋泻邪蟹邪薪芯褋褌褨, 邪斜芯 屑芯卸械 袥褨蟹 褏芯褌褨谢邪, 褖芯斜 屑懈 褋邪屑褨 写褨泄褕谢懈 写芯 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写械泄, 褟泻懈泄 斜褉邪泻褍胁邪谢芯. 袪邪写邪 蟹邪 谐械褉芯褩薪褞, 褖芯 胁芯薪邪 芯斜褨褉胁邪谢邪 锌芯褉芯褔薪械 泻芯谢芯 褨 薪械 锌芯胁褌芯褉懈谢邪 写芯谢褞 斜邪斜褑褨 褨 屑邪屑懈, 邪 屑邪谢邪 褋屑褨谢懈胁褨褋褌褜 胁懈斜芯褉芯褌懈 褋胁褨泄 褕谢褟褏.
November 2, 2022
"小褍胁芯褉褨 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻懈" 袝谢褨蟹邪斜械褌 袚褨谢斜械褉褌.
袩械褉褕械 蟹薪邪泄芯屑褋褌胁芯 蟹 邪胁褌芯褉泻芯褞 锌芯褔邪谢芯褋褜 褋邪屑械 蟹 褑褨褦褩 写械斜褞褌薪芯褩 泻薪懈谐懈. 效械褋薪芯 泻邪卸褍褔懈 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟 锌褨褋谢褟 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 写芯胁芯谢褨 褉褨蟹薪褨 褌邪 褋褍锌械褉械褔谢懈胁褨.
袙 泻薪懈蟹褨 斜邪谐邪褌芯 芯屑邪褉褨胁, 锌褉懈褔芯屑褍 写褍卸械 胁械谢懈泻邪 泻褨谢褜泻褨褋褌褜. 携 斜 褋泻邪蟹邪胁 泻薪懈谐邪 锌褉芯 谢芯胁谢褞 褌邪 锌褉懈谐芯褌褍胁邪薪薪褟 芯屑邪褉褨胁 胁 褉褨蟹薪懈褏 斜谢褞写邪褏.
袣薪懈谐邪 锌褉芯 泻芯薪泻褍褉械薪褑褨褞, 谢褞斜芯胁, 薪邪屑邪谐邪薪薪褟 锌芯泻邪蟹邪褌懈 "褋胁芯褦 携", 薪邪胁'褟蟹褍胁邪薪薪褟 褋胁芯褩褏 锌芯谐谢褟写褨胁 褨薪褕褨泄 谢褞写懈薪褨 褌芯褖芯. 袙 泻薪懈蟹褨 褉芯蟹泻褉懈胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 斜褍写械 斜邪谐邪褌芯 褉褨蟹薪懈褏 锌懈褌邪薪褜.
袙蟹邪谐邪谢褨 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 锌褉芯 卸懈褌褌褟 写褨胁褔懈薪懈 薪邪 褨屑'褟 袪褍褌, 褟泻邪 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 蟹薪邪泄褌懈 褋械斜械, 褌邪 胁 锌芯写邪谢褜褕芯屑褍 薪械 蟹邪谢械卸邪褌懈 胁褨写 褋胁芯褩褏 褉芯写懈褔褨胁.
袟薪邪褞褔懈, 褖芯 褑械 锌械褉褕懈泄 褉芯屑邪薪 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈, 褌芯 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪械褌芯褔薪芯褋褌褨 屑芯卸薪邪 褋锌懈褋邪褌懈 薪邪 褩褩 屑芯卸谢懈胁褨褋褌褜 锌芯褕褍泻褍 胁谢邪褋薪芯谐芯 褋褌懈谢褞.
袦芯卸褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 褖芯 泻薪懈谐邪 褌褉褨褕泻懈 蟹邪褌褟谐薪褍褌邪, 褌褨谢褜泻懈 薪邪锌褉懈泻褨薪褑褨 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褨 锌芯写褨褩 褉芯蟹谐芯褉褌邪褞褌褜褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕 写懈薪邪屑褨褔薪褨褕械.
袗胁褌芯褉泻邪 锌芯泻邪蟹褍褦 薪邪屑 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 写胁芯褏 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨胁 褌邪 写芯褋胁褨写 胁 谢芯胁谢褨 芯屑邪褉褨胁. 袙械谢懈泻邪 泻褨谢褜泻褨褋褌褜 谐芯褋褌褉懈褏 写褨邪谢芯谐褨胁, 斜邪谐邪褌芯 褉芯写懈薪薪懈褏 褋械泻褉械褌褨胁. 笑褨 褎邪泻褌懈 写褨泄褋薪芯 锌褉懈写邪褞褌褜 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褑褨泻邪胁懈薪泻褍.
小泻邪蟹邪褌懈 褖芯 蟹邪写芯胁芯谢械薪懈泄 胁褨写 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 褉芯屑邪薪褍 薪械 屑芯卸褍. 袛谢褟 屑械薪械 蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪.
袗谢械 褔懈褌邪褌懈 屑芯卸薪邪.
7/10
袩械褉褕械 蟹薪邪泄芯屑褋褌胁芯 蟹 邪胁褌芯褉泻芯褞 锌芯褔邪谢芯褋褜 褋邪屑械 蟹 褑褨褦褩 写械斜褞褌薪芯褩 泻薪懈谐懈. 效械褋薪芯 泻邪卸褍褔懈 胁褨写褔褍褌褌褟 锌褨褋谢褟 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 写芯胁芯谢褨 褉褨蟹薪褨 褌邪 褋褍锌械褉械褔谢懈胁褨.
袙 泻薪懈蟹褨 斜邪谐邪褌芯 芯屑邪褉褨胁, 锌褉懈褔芯屑褍 写褍卸械 胁械谢懈泻邪 泻褨谢褜泻褨褋褌褜. 携 斜 褋泻邪蟹邪胁 泻薪懈谐邪 锌褉芯 谢芯胁谢褞 褌邪 锌褉懈谐芯褌褍胁邪薪薪褟 芯屑邪褉褨胁 胁 褉褨蟹薪懈褏 斜谢褞写邪褏.
袣薪懈谐邪 锌褉芯 泻芯薪泻褍褉械薪褑褨褞, 谢褞斜芯胁, 薪邪屑邪谐邪薪薪褟 锌芯泻邪蟹邪褌懈 "褋胁芯褦 携", 薪邪胁'褟蟹褍胁邪薪薪褟 褋胁芯褩褏 锌芯谐谢褟写褨胁 褨薪褕褨泄 谢褞写懈薪褨 褌芯褖芯. 袙 泻薪懈蟹褨 褉芯蟹泻褉懈胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 斜褍写械 斜邪谐邪褌芯 褉褨蟹薪懈褏 锌懈褌邪薪褜.
袙蟹邪谐邪谢褨 褨褋褌芯褉褨褟 锌褉芯 卸懈褌褌褟 写褨胁褔懈薪懈 薪邪 褨屑'褟 袪褍褌, 褟泻邪 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 蟹薪邪泄褌懈 褋械斜械, 褌邪 胁 锌芯写邪谢褜褕芯屑褍 薪械 蟹邪谢械卸邪褌懈 胁褨写 褋胁芯褩褏 褉芯写懈褔褨胁.
袟薪邪褞褔懈, 褖芯 褑械 锌械褉褕懈泄 褉芯屑邪薪 邪胁褌芯褉泻懈, 褌芯 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪械褌芯褔薪芯褋褌褨 屑芯卸薪邪 褋锌懈褋邪褌懈 薪邪 褩褩 屑芯卸谢懈胁褨褋褌褜 锌芯褕褍泻褍 胁谢邪褋薪芯谐芯 褋褌懈谢褞.
袦芯卸褍 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 褖芯 泻薪懈谐邪 褌褉褨褕泻懈 蟹邪褌褟谐薪褍褌邪, 褌褨谢褜泻懈 薪邪锌褉懈泻褨薪褑褨 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褨 锌芯写褨褩 褉芯蟹谐芯褉褌邪褞褌褜褋褟 斜褨谢褜褕 写懈薪邪屑褨褔薪褨褕械.
袗胁褌芯褉泻邪 锌芯泻邪蟹褍褦 薪邪屑 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 写胁芯褏 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨胁 褌邪 写芯褋胁褨写 胁 谢芯胁谢褨 芯屑邪褉褨胁. 袙械谢懈泻邪 泻褨谢褜泻褨褋褌褜 谐芯褋褌褉懈褏 写褨邪谢芯谐褨胁, 斜邪谐邪褌芯 褉芯写懈薪薪懈褏 褋械泻褉械褌褨胁. 笑褨 褎邪泻褌懈 写褨泄褋薪芯 锌褉懈写邪褞褌褜 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褑褨泻邪胁懈薪泻褍.
小泻邪蟹邪褌懈 褖芯 蟹邪写芯胁芯谢械薪懈泄 胁褨写 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 褉芯屑邪薪褍 薪械 屑芯卸褍. 袛谢褟 屑械薪械 蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪.
袗谢械 褔懈褌邪褌懈 屑芯卸薪邪.
7/10
May 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this novel, which I read in German translation. The setting, the quirky characters and the little love story were all charming, and although it's been years now, I still remember the story vividly.
Personal note: the main female character reminded me so much of my mother in attitude and speech, that I ordered a copy (in English) and had it sent to my parents. My mother refused to read it, citing she didn't want to know "how she is", and my dad's only comment was, "why did you think we'd like this? There's so much *swearing*!" (errr...is there? I didn't notice.)
There you go.
Review Summary: Enjoy it yourself. Don't show your parents.
Personal note: the main female character reminded me so much of my mother in attitude and speech, that I ordered a copy (in English) and had it sent to my parents. My mother refused to read it, citing she didn't want to know "how she is", and my dad's only comment was, "why did you think we'd like this? There's so much *swearing*!" (errr...is there? I didn't notice.)
There you go.
Review Summary: Enjoy it yourself. Don't show your parents.
July 23, 2022
小泻邪卸褍 胁褨写胁械褉褌芯, 褑械 薪械 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪 袥褨蟹 覑褨谢斜械褉褌. 袩褉芯褌械, 褟 写褍卸械 谢褞斜谢褞 褌械 褖芯 胁芯薪邪 锌懈褕械. 袦芯卸谢懈胁芯, 泻芯屑褍褋褜 褑械泄 褌胁褨褉 蟹写邪褋褌褜褋褟 蟹邪薪邪写褌芯 薪褍写薪懈屑 褨 屑芯薪芯褌芯薪薪懈屑 锌褉芯 褖芯写械薪薪褨 泻谢芯锌芯褌懈 卸懈褌褌褟 薪邪 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨 褌邪 褟泻褨褋褜 写懈胁薪褨 芯屑邪褉芯胁褨 胁褨泄薪懈. 袦械薪褨 卸 褑褟 屑芯薪芯褌芯薪薪褨褋褌褜 斜褍谢邪 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪邪. 携 薪邪褔械 褌褉褨褕泻懈 锌褨褉薪褍谢邪 胁 卸懈褌褌褟 芯褋褌褉褨胁'褟薪 褨 卸懈谢邪 蟹 薪懈屑懈 褉褍褌褌懈薪懈屑 卸懈褌褌褟屑.
袧邪泄褑褨泻邪胁褨褕械 袥褨蟹 蟹邪谢懈褕懈谢邪 薪邪 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨 20 褋褌芯褉褨薪芯泻 泻薪懈卸泻懈. 校褋褟 写懈薪邪屑褨泻邪 胁 械锌褨谢芯蟹褨. 效懈 褑械 褌邪泻懈泄 褋褞卸械褌薪懈泄 "褏褨写 泻芯薪械屑" 邪斜芯 卸 锌褉芯褋褌芯 覒邪薪写卸 褩褩 写械斜褞褌薪芯谐芯 褉芯屑邪薪褍, 褏褌芯 蟹薪邪?
袦芯褩屑懈 褍谢褞斜谢械薪懈屑懈 谐械褉芯褟屑懈 褋褌邪谢懈 屑褨褋褨褋 袩芯屑屑械褉芯泄, 胁褨写 褟泻芯褩 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 胁褨褟谢芯 褌械锌谢芯屑 褨 褌褍褉斜芯褌芯褞, 褌邪 小械薪邪褌芯褉, 褟泻懈泄 锌芯薪邪写 褍褋械 胁褨褉懈胁 褍 褋胁芯褩 屑褉褨褩 (褋谢芯薪褟褔懈泄 斜懈胁械薪褜!).
袧邪泄褑褨泻邪胁褨褕械 袥褨蟹 蟹邪谢懈褕懈谢邪 薪邪 芯褋褌邪薪薪褨 20 褋褌芯褉褨薪芯泻 泻薪懈卸泻懈. 校褋褟 写懈薪邪屑褨泻邪 胁 械锌褨谢芯蟹褨. 效懈 褑械 褌邪泻懈泄 褋褞卸械褌薪懈泄 "褏褨写 泻芯薪械屑" 邪斜芯 卸 锌褉芯褋褌芯 覒邪薪写卸 褩褩 写械斜褞褌薪芯谐芯 褉芯屑邪薪褍, 褏褌芯 蟹薪邪?
袦芯褩屑懈 褍谢褞斜谢械薪懈屑懈 谐械褉芯褟屑懈 褋褌邪谢懈 屑褨褋褨褋 袩芯屑屑械褉芯泄, 胁褨写 褟泻芯褩 褋锌褉邪胁写褨 胁褨褟谢芯 褌械锌谢芯屑 褨 褌褍褉斜芯褌芯褞, 褌邪 小械薪邪褌芯褉, 褟泻懈泄 锌芯薪邪写 褍褋械 胁褨褉懈胁 褍 褋胁芯褩 屑褉褨褩 (褋谢芯薪褟褔懈泄 斜懈胁械薪褜!).
April 29, 2014
I wish certain books could be fitted with a big neon light flashing 鈥淣OT WORTH IT鈥� so I wouldn鈥檛 waste my time. There is nothing wrong with this novel, per se; however, it was likened to John Irving but has none of his spark 鈥� the characters are pointlessly, boringly idiosyncratic; the incidents felt clich茅d and the language either dull or silly. Gilbert鈥檚 trying for quirky New England family comedy crossed with chick lit, but I don鈥檛 get it. Give me John Irving any day.
[With apologies for the rather shallow commentary - this was all I wrote after I read the book in September 2011!]
[With apologies for the rather shallow commentary - this was all I wrote after I read the book in September 2011!]
July 12, 2023
袙 屑械薪械 薪械 斜褍谢芯 蟹邪胁械谢懈泻懈褏 芯褔褨泻褍胁邪薪褜 褋褌芯褋芯胁薪芯 褑褨褦褩 泻薪懈谐懈 (斜芯 褟 褔褍写芯胁芯 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褞, 褖芯 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褜 锌褉芯 屑邪谢械薪褜泻懈泄 芯褋褌褉褨胁 泄 薪械 屑邪褦 斜褍褌懈 褋锌芯胁薪械薪邪 斜褉邪蟹懈谢褜褋褜泻懈褏 锌褉懈褋褌褉邪褋褌械泄, 胁芯薪邪 褌邪泻邪 卸 薪械泻胁邪锌谢懈胁邪 泄 芯写薪芯屑邪薪褨褌薪邪, 褟泻 卸懈褌褌褟 薪邪 褑褜芯屑褍 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨), 胁 屑械薪械 胁蟹邪谐邪谢褨 薪械 斜褍谢芯 卸芯写薪懈褏 芯褔褨泻褍胁邪薪褜. 袉 褑械 褋锌褉邪褑褞胁邪谢芯. 芦小褍胁芯褉褨 褔芯谢芯胁褨泻懈禄 锌芯褌褨褋薪懈谢懈 胁 屑芯褦屑褍 褋械褉褑褨 芦袛褨屑 薪邪 泻褉邪褞 薪芯褔褨禄 薪邪 锌芯谢懈褔褑褨 锌褉芯 屑邪谢械薪褜泻褨 芯褋褌褉芯胁懈 泄 蟹邪泄薪褟谢懈 褋胁芯褦 蟹邪泻芯薪薪械 屑褨褋褑械. 袣薪懈卸泻邪 斜械蟹褋褍屑薪褨胁薪芯 屑芯褟. 袧械褏邪泄 胁 褟泻懈泄褋褜 屑芯屑械薪褌 褟 泄 锌械褉械写斜邪褔懈谢邪 褎褨薪邪谢, 邪谢械 卸 褨薪褕芯谐芯 蟹邪胁械褉褕械薪薪褟 褑褨褦褩 泻薪懈谐懈 褟 褨 薪械 胁斜邪褔邪谢邪. 孝褨谢褜泻懈 褌邪泻懈泄. 袛褟泻褍褞 蟹邪 泻褉懈褏褨褌泻褍 袪褍褌褨, 褟泻邪 蟹屑芯谐谢邪!
July 11, 2022
袣薪懈卸泻邪 褔懈褌邪谢邪褋褜 写芯褋懈褌褜 褉褨胁薪芯, 斜械蟹 芯褋芯斜谢懈胁懈褏 械屑芯褑褨泄薪懈褏 蟹谢械褌褨胁 褔懈 锌邪写褨薪褜. 袣谢褍斜芯泻 蟹 褨褋褌芯褉褨褦褞 褉芯蟹屑芯褌褍胁邪胁褋褟 褉褨胁薪芯屑褨褉薪芯, 邪谢械 胁褋械褉械写懈薪褨 泻谢褍斜泻邪 斜褍谢邪 锌褉懈褦屑薪邪 胁懈褕械薪褜泻邪 - 蟹邪胁械褉褕械薪薪褟. 袦邪斜褍褌褜 褑褟 褉褨胁薪芯屑褨褉薪褨褋褌褜 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写褨 褨 褦 褍芯褋芯斜谢械薪薪褟屑 卸懈褌褌褟 薪邪 芯褋褌褉芯胁褨, 褨 写邪谢邪 屑械薪褨, 褔懈褌邪褔褍, 胁褨写褔褍褌懈 泄芯谐芯 褋锌芯胁薪邪.
袩褉邪胁懈谢褜薪邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪 写谢褟 胁褨写锌芯褔懈薪泻褍.
袩褉邪胁懈谢褜薪邪 泻薪懈卸泻邪 写谢褟 胁褨写锌芯褔懈薪泻褍.
January 4, 2014
It turns out Annie Proulx went too far in "The Shipping News." You don't have to go all the way to Newfoundland to find irresistibly quirky people living off the cold sea. Elizabeth Gilbert found them in Maine.
In "Stern Men," her first novel, Gilbert describes the contentious battles between lobstermen living on Fort Niles and Courne Haven, two almost identical islands 20 miles off the coast. These are places inhabited by quiet men who carry a big claw.
As Gilbert wittily suggests at the start of each chapter, their lives reflect the prickly, hard-bodied lives of their catch. Their work is isolating and fiercely competitive. There are no fences in the ocean, no legal way to mark one's lobster "fields" except by tradition and intimidation.
"Every lobster one man catches," Gilbert notes, "is a lobster another man has lost. It is a mean business, and it makes for mean men. As humans, after all, we become what we seek."
Despite the wry comedy of this novel, it doesn't try to hide the scars of human cruelty. For generations, the two islands have fallen into periodic "lobster wars" that decimate their business, destroying boats, traps, and lives.
But beneath a fierce-looking exoskeleton, these hard-drinking, foul-mouthed characters are surprisingly sweet. You just have to know how to handle them. Gilbert does.
And eventually, so does her heroine, Ruth Thomas. She's a smart, aimless young woman who's returned to Fort Niles after an expensive private-school education that makes her a misfit in this little world of misfits.
Ruth isn't sure what to do on an island that employs only men. Women here typically become mothers or alcoholics (or both), but neither of those career moves interests her. She'd like to work as a sternman for her father, the island's most successful lobsterman, but he won't hear of it.
Ruth's peculiar family history conspires with her own immaturity to keep her on the island in a state of agitated suspension. Her grandmother and mother spent their lives working as virtual slaves for the Ellises, a wealthy dynasty that stripped the island of its granite and Ruth's family of its dignity.
The Ellises are now down to a few ancient members - hysterically described in all their self-absorption - but they're still trying to exert their influence. Determined to resist them and their controlling generosity, Ruth turns down their offer of college tuition to loiter around the island, alternately concerned and annoyed with her father and his quarrelsome friends.
She spends her days chatting with Mrs. Pommeroy, her sweet foster mother who supports herself by cutting the hair of everyone on the island. Mrs. Pommeroy had always hoped Ruth would marry one of her seven boys, but her boys are more numerous than desirable.
Ruth's other companion is old Senator Simon Adams, the island's archaeological authority who was never a senator nor an archaeological authority. He dreams of putting his collection of artifacts (junk) into a museum of natural history. But his greater concern is providing employment for one of Mrs. Pommeroy's mentally challenged sons. His latest quest concerns the tusks of a circus elephant that died in a shipwreck 138 years ago. Ruth and the senator spend weeks watching young Webster trudge through the mud flats looking for such treasures.
This is all funny for us, but it's no life for a smart young woman, and Ruth knows it. In the midst of her boredom and despair, she spots Owney Wishnell, the quiet nephew of a wealthy minister from the other island. Think "Romeo and Juliet" with a Maine drawl and a much happier ending. It turns out ya can get thah from heah.
"Stern Men" maintains a tricky balance between romance and tragedy, the comic and the grotesque. Gilbert demonstrates a sweet care for these wounded, quirky characters with all their foibles and limitations. She's particularly sensitive to the way they talk or, more commonly, sulk.
If there's anything to complain about in "Stern Men," it's clustered at the end. Why, in such a delightfully original story, are we served up a clich sex scene that reads like something from the true confessions column of a men's magazine? (Gilbert was a writer for GQ when she wrote this novel.)
Second, and perhaps more disappointing, the most substantial character development takes place off-stage during a five-year gap between the end of the story and a brief epilogue that lets us know how wonderfully everything turned out once everyone started behaving better. Having detailed these people's stagnant lives so effectively, Gilbert seems unwilling to describe their molting process during the crucial phase.
But these are minor complaints about a book that's perfect for summer reading and deep enough to crack the prevailing wisdom that competition is the highest state of being. Beneath the waves of wit and romance, "Stern Men" is a rich meal.
In "Stern Men," her first novel, Gilbert describes the contentious battles between lobstermen living on Fort Niles and Courne Haven, two almost identical islands 20 miles off the coast. These are places inhabited by quiet men who carry a big claw.
As Gilbert wittily suggests at the start of each chapter, their lives reflect the prickly, hard-bodied lives of their catch. Their work is isolating and fiercely competitive. There are no fences in the ocean, no legal way to mark one's lobster "fields" except by tradition and intimidation.
"Every lobster one man catches," Gilbert notes, "is a lobster another man has lost. It is a mean business, and it makes for mean men. As humans, after all, we become what we seek."
Despite the wry comedy of this novel, it doesn't try to hide the scars of human cruelty. For generations, the two islands have fallen into periodic "lobster wars" that decimate their business, destroying boats, traps, and lives.
But beneath a fierce-looking exoskeleton, these hard-drinking, foul-mouthed characters are surprisingly sweet. You just have to know how to handle them. Gilbert does.
And eventually, so does her heroine, Ruth Thomas. She's a smart, aimless young woman who's returned to Fort Niles after an expensive private-school education that makes her a misfit in this little world of misfits.
Ruth isn't sure what to do on an island that employs only men. Women here typically become mothers or alcoholics (or both), but neither of those career moves interests her. She'd like to work as a sternman for her father, the island's most successful lobsterman, but he won't hear of it.
Ruth's peculiar family history conspires with her own immaturity to keep her on the island in a state of agitated suspension. Her grandmother and mother spent their lives working as virtual slaves for the Ellises, a wealthy dynasty that stripped the island of its granite and Ruth's family of its dignity.
The Ellises are now down to a few ancient members - hysterically described in all their self-absorption - but they're still trying to exert their influence. Determined to resist them and their controlling generosity, Ruth turns down their offer of college tuition to loiter around the island, alternately concerned and annoyed with her father and his quarrelsome friends.
She spends her days chatting with Mrs. Pommeroy, her sweet foster mother who supports herself by cutting the hair of everyone on the island. Mrs. Pommeroy had always hoped Ruth would marry one of her seven boys, but her boys are more numerous than desirable.
Ruth's other companion is old Senator Simon Adams, the island's archaeological authority who was never a senator nor an archaeological authority. He dreams of putting his collection of artifacts (junk) into a museum of natural history. But his greater concern is providing employment for one of Mrs. Pommeroy's mentally challenged sons. His latest quest concerns the tusks of a circus elephant that died in a shipwreck 138 years ago. Ruth and the senator spend weeks watching young Webster trudge through the mud flats looking for such treasures.
This is all funny for us, but it's no life for a smart young woman, and Ruth knows it. In the midst of her boredom and despair, she spots Owney Wishnell, the quiet nephew of a wealthy minister from the other island. Think "Romeo and Juliet" with a Maine drawl and a much happier ending. It turns out ya can get thah from heah.
"Stern Men" maintains a tricky balance between romance and tragedy, the comic and the grotesque. Gilbert demonstrates a sweet care for these wounded, quirky characters with all their foibles and limitations. She's particularly sensitive to the way they talk or, more commonly, sulk.
If there's anything to complain about in "Stern Men," it's clustered at the end. Why, in such a delightfully original story, are we served up a clich sex scene that reads like something from the true confessions column of a men's magazine? (Gilbert was a writer for GQ when she wrote this novel.)
Second, and perhaps more disappointing, the most substantial character development takes place off-stage during a five-year gap between the end of the story and a brief epilogue that lets us know how wonderfully everything turned out once everyone started behaving better. Having detailed these people's stagnant lives so effectively, Gilbert seems unwilling to describe their molting process during the crucial phase.
But these are minor complaints about a book that's perfect for summer reading and deep enough to crack the prevailing wisdom that competition is the highest state of being. Beneath the waves of wit and romance, "Stern Men" is a rich meal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 854 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.