Not since Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" has a work of fiction enthralled me this much. I devoured the story of Patroclus and Achilles in jusNot since Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" has a work of fiction enthralled me this much. I devoured the story of Patroclus and Achilles in just a few days, using every stolen moment on trains and waiting rooms that I could get my hands on. If you are familiar with Greek mythology and the events of Homer's "Iliad," then the conclusion of the story will come as no surprise. What you will find here, however, is a love story for the ages, one that grows from the first awakening of manhood and endures beyond unimaginable horrors and the shrewdest of enemies. It is also a story of pride and hubris, a topic not unfamiliar to the Ancient Greeks. If I have any criticism, it stems from the unavoidable drawback of having a first person narrative; we only get one side of the story. I oftentimes found myself wondering exactly what Patroclus gleans from his relationship with Achilles, who offers loyalty, protection and physical tenderness, but for the most part appears to be emotionally distant. I also wonder what first attracted Achilles to Patroclus, given their respective appearances and skills. Achilles took Patroclus under his wing as a bit of a matter of circumstance, so who is to say the two would have ended up together otherwise. (I think I may need to re-read the beginning of the book with these questions in mind.) Nevertheless, an enjoyable, exciting and beautifully written tale....more
Five stars purely for packing an emotional punch. I took this book with me on a busy day riding the subway because I didn't want to put it down, and fFive stars purely for packing an emotional punch. I took this book with me on a busy day riding the subway because I didn't want to put it down, and found myself having to pull out tissues every couple pages to blot my tears. People on the train probably thought I was crazy. I finished the book later that same day feeling relief and gratitude. Having struggled with grief over the passing of a loved one several years ago, I found this book finally offered the comfort I needed (and left me wanting to be more open to the chords of light that bind us all). I don't see how even the most skeptic of skeptics could deny the things Jackson puts forth. This is a book about life, death, love, gratitude, forgiveness, and common ground for all of us to find as humans on this planet....more
Discovered this book as Molly was one of my fellow freshman classmates in my dorm at Brown University. I found all the scientific details in the book Discovered this book as Molly was one of my fellow freshman classmates in my dorm at Brown University. I found all the scientific details in the book fascinating, and it really opened my eyes to the many ways that our sense of smell impacts our lives on a daily basis. What I had a little more trouble reconciling was Molly's personal journey, especially with regards to actually writing the book. There is no mention of when and how she began to write it, how the process of writing it may have helped her recovery, how she managed to get a hold of many VERY important and famous people to interview, and so on. She goes into many personal details of her life and yet over and over again I found myself asking, "When were you writing this?" At first I wondered whether she was chronicling her journey at a later date, but her background in journalism made it clear that her encounters and interviews were well-planned and documented in real time. So the narrative style seemed a little forced at times. All in all, though, this was an enjoyable and educating read....more
An interesting (and juicy) read on what has become a cultural phenomenon. Not all the behind-the-scenes info is completely new, especially if you haveAn interesting (and juicy) read on what has become a cultural phenomenon. Not all the behind-the-scenes info is completely new, especially if you have devoured articles written about this show over the years, but it was nice to have it all in one place. Lots of research and interviews with cast and crew, and details about how exactly the show is produced. Puts forth some interesting propositions on why we really watch the show, its place in a world of feminism and gender fluidity, and understanding what it means to "fall for someone." I was entertained....more
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