**spoiler alert** It took a while for me to get into this book, so much that I put it down for a while before starting over again. If approached with **spoiler alert** It took a while for me to get into this book, so much that I put it down for a while before starting over again. If approached with an open mind, it's a good story about a peasant farmer who holds his land above all else, and eventually becomes a rich man like the ones he feared before. The book comes full circle in many ways: Wang Lung becomes both his father and the Old Lord of the fallen House of Hwang. He came out of the land as a farmer and goes back to it in death.
There's also a good look into the mindset of old Chinese culture with their sense of propriety, good fortune, and how they view women. I thought it would come off stereotypical, but it didn't--these sounded like real people who were just raised this way.
I just really wasn't a fan of the writing style. It was too "direct" most of the time, telling what happened rather than showing it. It felt more like a tale of old being passed down rather than feeling like you're there with the characters. As I think about it, that probably works well with this story, but it just wasn't for me....more
This is a fantastic little anthology of poetry. Although I can't understand a lick of it, I really enjoy seeing the poem translated into Armenian on tThis is a fantastic little anthology of poetry. Although I can't understand a lick of it, I really enjoy seeing the poem translated into Armenian on the facing pages. My favorites were "Reversal" by Ara Babaian, "Carrot Questionaire" and "Samovar" by Sylva Dakessian, and everything by Sevana Bagdasarian.
I found this in a crazy used book store and to give to a teacher as a gift. I would love to own it myself.(May 2008)...more
A fantastic and moving collection of Native American work, spanning different times and genres--from the Old West days, to life on the reservation (anA fantastic and moving collection of Native American work, spanning different times and genres--from the Old West days, to life on the reservation (and with reservation closures), to reconnecting with old traditions. The stories provide a unique and important perspective about the importance of family, belief, and tradition, and more obviously about the way these people have been treated over the long years.
Personal favorites: "Aunt Moon's Young Man" by Linda Hogan "Swimming Upstream" by Beth Brant "Deer Woman" by Paula Gunn Allen "The Humming of Stars and Bees and Waves" by Anita Endrezze "The Pebble People" by Roger Jack "'The Indian Basket" by Mickey Roberts "She is Beautiful in Her Whole Being" by N. Scott Momaday "Diamond Island: Alcatraz" by Darryl Babe Wilson (June 2008)...more
Though many of the events in the beginning are the same--though more detailed--the book differs greatly in some areas from the movie, especially in SaThough many of the events in the beginning are the same--though more detailed--the book differs greatly in some areas from the movie, especially in Sayuri's relationship with Nobu, along with some minor events, like Hatsumomo being kicked out rather than burning down the okiya, etc.
Still, I enjoyed it every bit as much as I did the movie. Golden manages to write conversationally, with Sayuri interrupting herself with memories a certain event reminds her of like any of us, but doing it all in the beautiful language you'd expect from a woman accustomed to entertaining with stories. Very well done. (September 2008)...more
Bono gave a stirring speech in 2006 to a gathering of world leaders, rallying them to his cause to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa. I thought is wordBono gave a stirring speech in 2006 to a gathering of world leaders, rallying them to his cause to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa. I thought is words were very moving, and I'm going to look further into it. (May 2009)...more
For a Greek tragedy, "The Bacchae" is pretty awesome. I enjoy the fact that both Pentheus and Agaue got what they deserved--Pentheus for being a jerk For a Greek tragedy, "The Bacchae" is pretty awesome. I enjoy the fact that both Pentheus and Agaue got what they deserved--Pentheus for being a jerk to Dionysus' face, and Agaue for defaming the name of her own sister, Semele, before the play begins. Bad news all around....more
A very enjoyable collection of short stories from the Arab world. Most of them involve the relationship dynamics of the Arab culture--men/women, marriA very enjoyable collection of short stories from the Arab world. Most of them involve the relationship dynamics of the Arab culture--men/women, marriage, conservative/liberal dress, Europeans/Arabs, etc. Many of them also talk about how Western culture has snuck in and what people think of it--some become obsessed and totally abandon their own culture only to find later they've denied themselves, some reject it totally, some in between. An interesting look at women, veils, sand, and what happens behind closed doors. (August 2009)...more
So incredibly sad and well written. The image that hit me hardest from the book was the "sad-eyed angel" and his death killed me. Amazing book.So incredibly sad and well written. The image that hit me hardest from the book was the "sad-eyed angel" and his death killed me. Amazing book....more
I didn't know how to feel about this book for a while, but I kept reading because, as always, I enjoyed Coelho's style. There were a couple messages tI didn't know how to feel about this book for a while, but I kept reading because, as always, I enjoyed Coelho's style. There were a couple messages that I didn't agree with--like the narrator's approach to marriage where people are 'obliged' to stay married instead of really wanting to. Just being like train tracks that must stay the same width apart, and therefore there's no real growth possible. The first-person, vaguely autobiographical way the book is written really threw me for a while too.
But overall, it ended up being very thought-provoking. The concept of the acomadador--Spanish for the point in one's life where they give up their desires and settle for what they have--really stood out for me. While the subtitle is "A Novel of Obsession", it really becomes a story about letting go--of everything, not just the narrator's runaway wife--and how only through that act of release can things that never were in your life before rush in to fill the vaccuum, like new experiences and truer love. (June 2009)...more
Though slow-moving and a little hard to understand, I really enjoyed the thoughtfulness, language, and underlying message of this book. It sort of movThough slow-moving and a little hard to understand, I really enjoyed the thoughtfulness, language, and underlying message of this book. It sort of moved along at its own pace--not building too much in the way of suspense, not really reaching a thrilling climax. It "disappoints" like Indians do to Englishmen and follows its own schedule, like the book describes the Indians. (June 2011)...more
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