I went from wondering what Larson could say about all this that hasn't been said or is not widely known by those who are interested to lying riveted iI went from wondering what Larson could say about all this that hasn't been said or is not widely known by those who are interested to lying riveted in a cooling bathtub, plowing through the ending and the Epilogue, simply not able to put down the waterproof Kindle and go to bed. I had to finish it and didn't want it to end. I have read The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake, and for me, this is Larson's best. ...more
Almost as beautiful and just not quite as informative as I had been anticipating. I was hoping for a little more detail on symbolism and the history tAlmost as beautiful and just not quite as informative as I had been anticipating. I was hoping for a little more detail on symbolism and the history thereof, and although the pictures are lovely and the "decoder" keys very well done, I did need a magnifying glass to get the full benefit. I kept wanting to view these pictures on my computer screen (I haven't checked to see whether that is possible).
I did something I'm not sure I've ever done before: I followed every reference in the text to earlier illustrations and many of them to later ones. This was definitely worth the effort, enabling me to take a second or third look at many pictures, usually to view or consider a different aspect.
A satisfying use of precious hard-copy library space!
Early on I came up with an analogy for this book that held all the way through, particularly through the first and third parts (of three): It is like Early on I came up with an analogy for this book that held all the way through, particularly through the first and third parts (of three): It is like using Google Earth, when you zoom back up and out away from your pinpoint until you see just the breadth of context that interests you. This book did that for me. It backed up and out to provide a big picture that was interesting and informative for me -- not too much detail (sometimes not enough), and not quite wide enough to lose its grip on the subject -- although McGrath does come perilously close to doing that in his effort to be comprehensive.
The first part is a lightweight but complete history of the Reformation and resulting Protestant movements, the second a snapshot series of various categories and aspects of Protestantism that inform the current big picture, and the third an investigation of a few of those categories and aspects that McGrath feels will wield the most influence on the relatively near future. The second part was the one in which the broad brush most disappointed my interest and investment in reading the book. Too often I felt that McGrath failed to sufficiently explain a movement or a development -- his descriptions are good but he does not always account for these changes satisfactorily. As an appropriately broad example, he cites extremely little scripture for a history of a phenomenon that by his own definition is centered around people reading the Bible.
This is a nonacademic history written by an academic, an exercise I suspect is often successful and certainly succeeds here. At under 500 pages, this book is manageable, worthwhile in its contribution to my understanding of the Church in culture, and often an enjoyable, satisfying read. Significantly, it is quite evenhanded, revealing very little bias, which enhances the educational value greatly. The author indulges in too many self-conscious signposts for my taste: This is what we just did, this is where we are going next, this is what we did again -- reminded me of one of the more irritating aspects of technical writing, which would otherwise be an incongruous comparison.
My opinion? Not splendid, but definitely worth the read....more
I found this an interesting read, but just one layer removed from truly engaging and not, IMHO, exciting literature. I'm sure this could be a result bI found this an interesting read, but just one layer removed from truly engaging and not, IMHO, exciting literature. I'm sure this could be a result both of translation and of a different cultural style, but I also cannot escape the sense that this is an "eye-opener" report first and a novel only second--that the author wants to tell us about the state of Turkey more than truths of humanity. So the characters are not quite fleshed out, and the plot is threadbare.
I was, however, from the beginning, fascinated by the description of the professor's deep and serious depression, either experienced or well researched by the author.
And I am now wondering whether the lack of dimension I felt would improve with time. If one approached the book like a painting, and let the depth form in one's mind, through perception. I'd have to read it again to find that out. It's a book club book, so in a couple of weeks I'll find out how my good bc friends responded....more
I feel that my low rating is a reflection on me rather than the author, but I just didn't get it! This was one of those books that, although mildly inI feel that my low rating is a reflection on me rather than the author, but I just didn't get it! This was one of those books that, although mildly interesting, was hard to pick up....more
Oh dear. Food, editing (real editing), beautiful countryside and growing older with joi de vivre. How could I have resisted so long? This is a fun, inOh dear. Food, editing (real editing), beautiful countryside and growing older with joi de vivre. How could I have resisted so long? This is a fun, interesting read.
I really want to give it 4 stars, partly influenced by my good friend Anne, who loves it (and, I believe, gave me my copy!), and partly because I really did enjoy it. But I just don't think it's a standout--as I often say, time will tell. The book ended abruptly this evening because I hadn't realized how many recipes were included. I have paged through these and definitely want to try several of them, although some are work and meat--not an appealing combination for me, and some of the most appealing are going to be hard to get the ingredients for--have I ever seen sorrel around here?
If there were half stars here, this would be a 3.5er, and with time, it might get four. It does take some perseverance, but as with all the best booksIf there were half stars here, this would be a 3.5er, and with time, it might get four. It does take some perseverance, but as with all the best books, by the end I felt as if the author/narrator were a friend of mine and I cared about his family and his quest. It probably could stand a little more editorly reduction, but I do think that is part of the point--years of interest, narrowing into a near-obsession, and painstaking efforts to find people and interview them. And this man's family history of European Jews during the Second World War was captured very close to the end of the time it would be possible to capture it--as he discovers and as anyone with relatives who remember the war will know. A very worthy addition to Holocaust literature, in my opinion--oh, I meant to say something about the Torah/Talmud passages that are interspersed (and woven in, thematically). I heard some people skimmed over them, but I really enjoyed seeing the Scriptures there and following the reflections on them of two commentators and the author. I thought that added a beautiful depth of perspective. Maybe four stars...!...more
Just finished rereading this after a much longer time than I thought--it wasn't very familiar to me. It's a very enjoyable read, although it did not gJust finished rereading this after a much longer time than I thought--it wasn't very familiar to me. It's a very enjoyable read, although it did not grab me in the way it has apparently grabbed many critics over the years. My back cover says "tragi-comedy," and it certainly is! I was just thinking how I enjoyed the easy level of humour (if not wit), when outrageous things began to happen and lives were altered. Would this be called black comedy nowadays? I'm guessing not really, because the author himself seems to be serious about the way in which Philip and Miss Abbott, at least, are affected....more
A little disappointing--although I'll admit that when I first picked this up I was expecting a memoir, so I had that wrong. And just as I turn the lasA little disappointing--although I'll admit that when I first picked this up I was expecting a memoir, so I had that wrong. And just as I turn the last page I find in the "acknowledgments" what was direly needed throughout the book--the date and purpose of each essay. That was my biggest criticism. Aside from that I have little to say. The science was beyond me but is a small portion of the book. Einstein's political, social and spiritual expressions seemed to me idealistic to the point of naivete. The last section, on the Jewish people, was the most interesting to me. And that's all....more
I'm pretty sure I'll be raising this to four stars as it passes my memorability test in the future. At first I wasn't all that impressed--it seemed liI'm pretty sure I'll be raising this to four stars as it passes my memorability test in the future. At first I wasn't all that impressed--it seemed like a well-crafted storybook story exisitng for its own sake only. But as I made my way through I was increasingly engaged and, near the end, quite involved. I enjoyed the convoluted stories that all tell each other. A couple of cheap shots--one, in particular--detract from the trip, but otherwise I found this a satisfying read.
I'll be interested to see/hear what others think about character development, because right near the end I was deciding that this is a book of plot and action, not characters, but now that I'm reflecting I realize that Fermin, at least, seems almost a complete person. The characters are all well painted--just without much depth. I suppose it could be argued that this is all part of the book-within-a-book, all-characters-playing-out-a-story effect.
5-iii-21: I guess no promotion: This title just reemerged in a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ flurry, and I can barely remember reading it. Even after reading people's comments I wasn't quite sure. Clearly didn't love it as much as others did. ...more
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