This is one book I wish I would have gotten in print. What a great story! But the narration is SO awful and every so often there is this strange, distThis is one book I wish I would have gotten in print. What a great story! But the narration is SO awful and every so often there is this strange, distracting music that comes out of nowhere and has NOTHING to do with the story. I'm only 10 minutes from finishing it....more
I wanted to like this book, I really did. But this is not Oscar's story. It's about his sister and his mother. It starts out promisingly and then getsI wanted to like this book, I really did. But this is not Oscar's story. It's about his sister and his mother. It starts out promisingly and then gets lost in it's own stream of consciousness garble and it's footnotes (that are laborious and really break up the cadence of the narrative).
For example: "Dude (Oscar) wasn't no Ringwraith, but he wasn't no Orc, either". So, what, exactly does that mean? If you haven't read Lord of the Rings that sentence makes no sense. And if you have read LOTR, sentence makes no sense, dude.
I also balked at the use of the N word. It's unnecessary in this day and age to use that word so often and flippantly. (In a book about slavery by Toni Morrison or Edward P Jones, I can take it because it's relevant....here it is just (over)used for shock value).
A big miss for me. I did not find it humorous or interesting or relevant. In my quest to read every novel that has won the Pulitzer then I got to check it off my list...and that's all. ...more
Margaret Lea knows what it's like to be the sad woman, to be the bad woman, behind green eyes. (My apologies to Roger Daltry) Lea is plucked from obscMargaret Lea knows what it's like to be the sad woman, to be the bad woman, behind green eyes. (My apologies to Roger Daltry) Lea is plucked from obscurity to be the biographer of the most famous author in England~Vida Winter~a few months before Miss Winters croaks. Vida literally tells the very end of her story on her deathbed, even rousing at one point to give one more vital piece of information. Sutterfield doesn't convincingly establish Vida Winter as the greatest living author of her generation in my mind, so I had a hard time swallowing that confection. And even though we learn EVERYTHING about her life (even her vivid memories before her own mother is born), we do not learn where she gets her ability to create award winning fiction and the adoration of millions of readers who breathlessly await her next novel like I suppose people awaited Daphne du Maurier's next novel 80 years ago.
My main issue with this novel is that is is filed under Historical Fiction when it really should be considered to be a romance/mystery (except there is no bodice ripping). The book tries to combine _Jane Eyre_, ,_Wuthering Heights_ and _The Woman in White_ into one, single tome, but ultimately fails as TRUE historical fiction. If one is a fan of the romance genres (I am not) then I suppose it is a fascinating tale of incest, crumbling, gothic mansions replete with gardens, stone stair cases, rich, dysfunctional family their ghosts and their servants and (of course) English moors and rain. Every single disastrous problem is fixed with a hot cup of tea.
I don't have anything against this type of thing, it's just mislabeled. It's an average romance masquerading as an important work of fiction. The Thirteenth Tale reminds me of all the above mentioned books, but all mushed together, instead of following one, elegant storyline.
Vida and everyone in her family has copper curls and green eyes, and hardly a page goes by when we are not reminded of this fact. "Emerald and diamonds" ad nauseam whenever someone is crying.
If you like this genre of books, then I think you will be quite pleased. It's lurid, voyeuristic and fantastical, and it doesn't lag. I "read" the audio version, which is serviceably performed and I don't have any complaints about the readers except that they are not outstanding. But reviewer's need to understand their genres. The only thing "historical" about it is that it probably takes place after WWII, but that is never mentioned. When I think of historical fiction, the setting is firmly fixed behind true events. This book does not establish its self in that way.
So, if you are a fan of books that mention other books then you will be quite happy curled up in your library with your cat and your cup of tea while your servant plumps your velvet pillows. If you are that person, enjoy....more
Like many of my reviews, this is also a book club selection. It's a simple story...split between a 60ish year old man in 1999 reminiscing about a summLike many of my reviews, this is also a book club selection. It's a simple story...split between a 60ish year old man in 1999 reminiscing about a summer when he was 15. Since Norwegian authors are few and far between, I recommend this book because one is expertly whisked away to Norway and a simple tale of fathers, friendships and, well, stealing horses. (Don't worry, no animals were actually stolen during the writing of this novel) I also read interviews online with the author and find him to be a very engaging, interesting man. Considering that 1 in 5 Norwegians have read this book (what American novel can compare to that?) I think this book deserves a wide readership.
It's an easy read and can be finished in a day. It's lovely and worth your time....more
I thought this book was genius. I love that Ms. Butler found a way for a person to time travel without having to explain it...it just happens. I wouldI thought this book was genius. I love that Ms. Butler found a way for a person to time travel without having to explain it...it just happens. I would have a hard time calling this book "science fiction"...it does have the time travel twist, but it's really just historical fiction, set on a plantation pre-civil war. If you have not read this book and are interested in this time period, it's right up there IMO with Beloved and The Known World, but it is not as well known as either of these books. If you like the others, you will like Kindred....more
..something was missing for me with South Of Broad. I think that Pat Conroy fans will mostly be pleased as I was...but I did have a few problems: The ..something was missing for me with South Of Broad. I think that Pat Conroy fans will mostly be pleased as I was...but I did have a few problems: The teenage kids in the book don't talk the way teens do (or did in 1969). So some of the dialogue had problems. The overall structure of the book is fine and even though it is over 500 pages, I read it in 3 days. It's very simple and straightforward. The reader doesn't have to think too much and just gets to go along for the ride. If you are new to Conroy, you should start with Prince of Tides or Lords of Discipline. If you love Pat Conroy, you will want to read this novel that we waited patiently for 14 years for. No need for me to outline the plot here...other's do that well. I think if you are a high school football fan, are interested in what it might have been like to go to a de-segregated high school and play on a team with blacks and whites...then it's a great book. The book takes place in two time periods 20 years apart, and I enjoyed it more when they were young. My favorite kinds of boys in high school would have been Leo The Toad King, so I was happy to go on his journey.
I did happen to score a nice signed copy of this book, so I'll keep it as an investment....more
I read this book SO LONG ago...but I still remember it! It's the kind of very sensationalized historical fiction that is fun to read but it is by no mI read this book SO LONG ago...but I still remember it! It's the kind of very sensationalized historical fiction that is fun to read but it is by no means "literature" . I didn't realize that I had read Follett before (just finished Pillars of the Earth) but the fact that I read about 50 novels a year and this one still sticks with me is good. I do love anything WWII related. ...more
I enjoyed this book in audio format. I really love John Lee as a narrator. Pillars has been on my list for a long time, so when I saw that Mr. Lee narI enjoyed this book in audio format. I really love John Lee as a narrator. Pillars has been on my list for a long time, so when I saw that Mr. Lee narrates, I went for the audio version. For audio, I am learning that there are 2 components: the story and the narration.
I give the story 4 of 5 stars. It is a good work of historical fiction that sometimes gets mired down in politics that I didn't find that interesting. I also really didn't like the introduction where Mr. Follett tells us that many people have told him that this was the best book they had ever read. I think that just sets the reader or listener up for gigantic expectations. And, it would be very easy to skip the intro, so I would actually recommend that, and then go back to it if you want to hear about it after you are done reading the book. If I had read the book in print, I would have skipped the forward. It's unnecessary and (in my opinion) overlong.
I think the overall book could have been tightened up a bit. Sometimes the story meandered into too many different directions. There is also a LOT of gory violence and I realize that is part of the times, but for me, sometimes it was just too graphic. If graphic violence is your thing, though, then you will like it.
Plus, the stories repeat themselves a bit much. The bad guys rape and pillage, the good guys put their lives back together, the bad guys rape and pillage and on and on.
And on.
But, the characters are very well fleshed out and the narration really makes that happen for me in a way that print cannot.
I love long books, but I prefer them to move forward as opposed to a circular fashion.
The narration is flawless. I will always be a big fan of John Lee and will continue to seek him out as a reader. I hope Mr. Lee continues to narrate great books. Listening to him is a complete pleasure. 5 of 5 stars for him!...more
I am a big Philip Roth fan and this is his best book by a mile. Roth writes in 2 main voices, his own and Nathan Zuckerman. American Pastoral is a NatI am a big Philip Roth fan and this is his best book by a mile. Roth writes in 2 main voices, his own and Nathan Zuckerman. American Pastoral is a Nathan Zuckerman book. His voice is that of compassion and reason when one man's world goes deeply awry. I don't like to give too much away in my reviews. I just encourage anyone who loves good writing to read this beautiful book. I don't typically re-red books very often, but this one held my attention all the way through the second time. ...more
This is a haunting book that no one should miss. It's a book about loneliness and loss and it is exquisitely written. I hope it won a bunch of awards This is a haunting book that no one should miss. It's a book about loneliness and loss and it is exquisitely written. I hope it won a bunch of awards and found a huge reading audience, because it deserves it. If you have not read it, read it now. It's beautiful....more
So, this romance/historical fiction/bodice ripper is pretty fun if you can get past the first boring 10 pages. Then it becomes highly addictive. I likSo, this romance/historical fiction/bodice ripper is pretty fun if you can get past the first boring 10 pages. Then it becomes highly addictive. I like the 2nd book in this series more than the first and the third book ended my relationship with the series.
But it's a good beach read...I think especially for women. But once you get into her next books in the series you see they are pretty formulaic. And, that's cool, if you like that sort of thing. I just get bored with it....more
I read GWTW years ago and thought it was a masterpiece and that it was one of the best books I had ever read. Upon a second read, I actually like it aI read GWTW years ago and thought it was a masterpiece and that it was one of the best books I had ever read. Upon a second read, I actually like it a bit less. I think I was so caught up in the sweep of the story I missed some of the nuances like the fact that Ashley Wilkes is a KKK member. I think the second time around, when I wasn't just comparing it to the film or turning pages as fast as possible it's a darker novel that I first thought. Scarlett is pretty one dimensional and Rhett is so entertaining but he really is just a supporting player. I do wish that the love story between Scarlett and Rhett would have been more drawn out but it is what it is. Yes, it is still a masterpiece and yes, it is still one of the greatest American novels ever written. But there is a darkness about it that I found perplexing. I'm still giving it 5 stars, but reading it on the heels of Beloved (a modern masterpiece) and The Help (a piece of garbage that some readers actually have the audacity to compare it to GWTW) just gave me a way different perspective this time around. I doubt I'll read it a third time. Ashley is just a bore... and I didn't get that at all the first time I read it. But then again... I am a lot older and have read a LOT of books between my first reading and this current time through. ...more
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