Now this is a Novel with a capital “N�! Juicy, addictive, layered, well plotted, brilliant character work. And a debut from 1961?! Banned at the time Now this is a Novel with a capital “N�! Juicy, addictive, layered, well plotted, brilliant character work. And a debut from 1961?! Banned at the time in Ireland. Republished now by McNally editions. It’s deceptively complex. What seems like a simple page-turner lends much more to the mind than is immediately apparent.
The story revolves around a cast of main characters in a wealthy Irish home in the mid 20th century. Michael is arthritic and bedridden, cared for by his nephew & doctor, Jim, and his wife, Julia. There’s also Stephen, their manservant and the occasional visit from the local priest. It is rural Ireland after all and Catholicism reigns supreme, even if not taken very seriously by its observers. In an effort to seek a miracle to cure Michael’s ailments, the family plans a pilgrimage to Lourdes. But when mysterious letters start showing up detailing a secret that Julia would rather remain in the dark, things begin to unravel in ways that are deliciously readable and thought provoking in equal measure.
I don’t want to say too much about this book’s plot because it is SO FUN, and the book is barely 200 pages so it’s perfect for a binge read.
What I will say is that I loved how this book explored so many facets of love, sexuality, and human connection. It was sort of tongue in cheek, while also being very sincere, balancing the comical and the tragic expertly. These are characters who seem a bit cartoonish at first, but fill out as the story goes on until you’re left with an almost laugh at loud (at least for me) ending. It was delightful. ...more
This was an incredibly moving story about two people dealing with loss. Joe is haunted by the loss of his younger sister when she was only four years This was an incredibly moving story about two people dealing with loss. Joe is haunted by the loss of his younger sister when she was only four years old while Norma is a woman disconnected from her early childhood. They both grow up with ghosts that follow them around, impacting the way they move through the world and in relationships. The story beautifully balances their two tales in culminates in a touching and memorable ending.
This ended up being a much more character driven and slow paced story than I anticipated, but I didn’t mind. It’s pretty clear from early on what happened, so the rest of the story unpacks how it affects the characters and ultimately why it happened. I thought Amanda peters did a really great job at portraying a realistic response to trauma and the many ways families experience child loss, especially. For that, it can be a difficult book to read at times, but that also makes it very important and touching. It avoids being melodramatic or cheesy, rather lending gravitas to these very real experiences of indigenous people. But it’s a story I think many people can relate to even in some small way.
I loved both Joe and Norma, even if there were times when I wanted to scream at them, but at other times, I wanted to give them a hug. The sign of a well written character. ...more
Sadly I found this collection of stories to be lackluster. They all started to feel very similar by the end, both in what they were saying [2.5 stars]
Sadly I found this collection of stories to be lackluster. They all started to feel very similar by the end, both in what they were saying and how they were written. It’s cool to see a book written in Kannada get translated and recognized for a major prize, I just wish I had connected with the stories a bit more. Not bad but not my type of story collection. ...more
Such a fun addition to the series. While not required reading, it adds a bit of background on a character and continues to flesh out the world of the Such a fun addition to the series. While not required reading, it adds a bit of background on a character and continues to flesh out the world of the Stormlight Archive in a fun and exciting way. I listened to the audiobook which was only 6.5 hours and excellently narrated by Kate Reading!
Note: only read this if you've read the first 2 Stormlight novels. ...more
I’m not even gonna properly review this because it’s book 2 in an epic series and enough has already been written about it. I really liked this one, mI’m not even gonna properly review this because it’s book 2 in an epic series and enough has already been written about it. I really liked this one, more than book 1, BUT I still have issues with the length and pacing of these books.
The first 50-60% (of a book that’s over 1000 pages!!) really dragged for me. I mean I was never tempted to stop but it’s all just so much setup that does pay off in the end but feels really slow when you’re reading it. And the last 20-30% fly by and are so gripping but it feels weightless compared to the beginning and then you’re left wanting more.
Idk if that’s a success or failure tbh haha. It makes me wonder if I’ll ever love one of these books though I can see myself appreciating and enjoying the series as a whole.
And for anyone who doesn’t like Shallan, what’s wrong with you!?...more
A chorus of strong voices exploring the trials and tribulations of womanhood in Mexico, especially in regards to violence, trauma, and veng[3.5 stars]
A chorus of strong voices exploring the trials and tribulations of womanhood in Mexico, especially in regards to violence, trauma, and vengeance. Each story takes on a new lens of what it means to be a woman and navigate such a tumultuous environment. These many 'I's blend together to create a powerful narrative, considering their varied backgrounds and experiences.
While I did find some of the stories to blend together so much that they started to be a bit too similar, each was incredibly readable, with a clear tone of voice and moments of humor and horror. The first story was a gut punch and the last story in particular was a beautiful and harrowing denouement....more
I wanted to give this a fair shot so I read the first ~60 pages or so and can tell it’s just not for me. The writing style and structure wereDNF @ 20%
I wanted to give this a fair shot so I read the first ~60 pages or so and can tell it’s just not for me. The writing style and structure were way too chaotic, I just had no idea what was happening. It did make me do a Google deep dive on Suriname though which I didn’t know much about before this book, so that was interesting. ...more
I didn't quite get on with the loose structure of this. It made it hard to feel grounded in any sort of narrative, and perhaps that's the [3.5 stars]
I didn't quite get on with the loose structure of this. It made it hard to feel grounded in any sort of narrative, and perhaps that's the point. But I found aspects of this incredibly moving and tender. There's so much compassion for the characters, especially Fanny, which makes sense in light of the author's own experience with losing her little sister and writing this book to contend with those circumstances.
The idea of the other main character being called The Narrator but not being the actual narrator made more sense as the story went on, but I don't think it quite worked for me fully. Perhaps if I re-read this now in light of the last 2 chapters, I would appreciate it even more. I think she's a skilled writer and the translation is flawless, but for me there wasn't quite *enough* to this book to blow me away. Still, there were quite a few very beautiful moments sprinkled throughout and it does an excellent job giving you perspectives of both parties: the one struggling with mental illness and the ones who carry the weight of caretaking.
"It's not that he's spineless, he's simply made in such a way that his life began with a question, and along the way all the things he has seen, read, heard and experienced have given him part of the answer, but over the years, of course, these answers have grown more and more meager, warped, swollen, and grayed, and he's so enamored of this perpetual back and forth between edification and composition that he keeps on toiling away."...more
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