I've changed my stars. After going to the conference and getting to know these authors, this was WELL worth the read. There were elements in all the sI've changed my stars. After going to the conference and getting to know these authors, this was WELL worth the read. There were elements in all the stories that I liked and every person had something to add to the experience that changed me. :) ...more
The writing was beautiful and gave me a headache. Her words brought with them extremely vivid images and yet I felt detached from all of the characterThe writing was beautiful and gave me a headache. Her words brought with them extremely vivid images and yet I felt detached from all of the characters. It's a shame there was no "voice", because based on real life experiences of the author's grandma, that voice could have been powerful. The pivotal scene in which she decides to become a madam was over in a few paragraphs. The entire book felt rushed. Lovely language, but a forgettable story....more
I don't know...it did make me cry at the beginning when the main character loses his daughter. It was a good story, but it was so...Oprah-ish. Don't fI don't know...it did make me cry at the beginning when the main character loses his daughter. It was a good story, but it was so...Oprah-ish. Don't feed me sap with a giant spoon....more
**spoiler alert** I find myself hesitating between a three and a four when rating this book. The writing is beautiful. Enger nails down the prose and **spoiler alert** I find myself hesitating between a three and a four when rating this book. The writing is beautiful. Enger nails down the prose and I am in love with the poetry Swede writes. The characters are rich and vibrant and the story compelling. However, none of them resonated with me. Swede and her age was a stumbling block for me. Jeremiah's powerful faith and his relationship with God never trickled down to his children. Davy never progressed and how was I supposed to feel about him? Despite the atrocities of the two boys toward his girlfriend and Swede, the fact is he killed them for revenge and freely admitted it. He would live with an evil man and be the catalyst for his own father's death. All the while never turning himself in or seemingly having any remorse at all. So in the process of going after him, Reuben gains a mother and a future wife, but in my opinion, loses his credibility. I stayed up into the wee hours because Enger knows how to tell a story. I was so exhausted for the last 40 pages or so due to my not being able to set it down, that I'm afraid I missed what I needed to feel satisfied with the ending. As it stands now, I don't. I would love to have a book group discussion on this book. ...more
This was a beautiful memoir. She is an excellent writer. I loved her honesty and her ability to not let her past give her license to have a pity partyThis was a beautiful memoir. She is an excellent writer. I loved her honesty and her ability to not let her past give her license to have a pity party. Her parents' taught her that (though they themselves would have constant pity parties) I loved how she showed her parents' humanity, particularly her father. Yes, I agree they were extremely messed up, but she made them real, and even occasionally profound....more
Ok, this was a weird choice for me. At first I thought this was Richard Paul Evans who I am so not into. I mean how many Christmas boxes, Christmas jaOk, this was a weird choice for me. At first I thought this was Richard Paul Evans who I am so not into. I mean how many Christmas boxes, Christmas jars, Christmas baskets, Christmas balls of lint can there be before you start just not caring anymore. Tony had gotten this for Christmas and I picked it up one night because I couldn't sleep. To be honest, I was SURE it would put me to sleep. It didn't. I read it straight through and I liked it. I like Glenn Beck and I like him even more now. It's based on his real life experiences and it's a moving story. So if you're like me and RPE's Christmas inanimate objects don't do it for you, here's a really good alternative. ...more
I have wanted to read this book for a long time. I have hesitated perhaps because I felt it would depress me. Perhaps I have always instinctively knowI have wanted to read this book for a long time. I have hesitated perhaps because I felt it would depress me. Perhaps I have always instinctively known that her poetry would resonate deeply with me. I have read a few of her poems and decided it was time to read her "autobiographical" account of Esther who descends into the chasm of depression and attempts at suicide. Plath writes this troubling tale as easily as if she is putting on a sweater; conversationally and nonchalantly. Her prose is poetic, though not as much as I would have thought. I may even read it again. This book would be excellent as a book club book. When I finished I needed to talk with someone about it. I am still conflicted as to how I really feel about it/her. I want to respect her, but I have a hard time separating her art from her life. She was truly a brilliant writer. I need to know she loved her children though. I need to understand how she could have left them to a man she knew was an adulterer and admitted he never really wanted kids in the first place. So here is my conundrum: I am a mother and a writer and the two pieces of me are intertwined. I sense from the bits and pieces of her journals and letters I have read that she felt the same way...but she left them and that haunts me....more
Yes I broke down and read this. I liked it. I would probably give it 3.5 stars actually. She did use the phrase "with every fiber of my being" and thaYes I broke down and read this. I liked it. I would probably give it 3.5 stars actually. She did use the phrase "with every fiber of my being" and that wasn't cool. Edward was really schmaltzy, but I got it more being that this is really the first time he is in love and that he experiences everything differently. Really the guy has been bored and experienced everything else and staring at Bella's collarbones and watching the blood flow under her translucent cheeks is fascinating to him. I also understood Bella more as well and I remember why I liked Twilight so much. I think she drug whole scenes out a little too long. That being said however, I found my self getting drawn into the saga again. (sigh) I do like Edward, I do!...more
This was my first Atwood book. I love her writing style. I felt like I was right there in the era of the 1930's. I thought her novel within the novel This was my first Atwood book. I love her writing style. I felt like I was right there in the era of the 1930's. I thought her novel within the novel was very clever. I have to say I must have figured out the "twist" early on, because I wasn't as surprised as I think I should have been with how it ended....more
Wow. This was a fascinating read for me. There were so many twists and turns. The setting takes place at the end of Stalin's regime and I felt as if IWow. This was a fascinating read for me. There were so many twists and turns. The setting takes place at the end of Stalin's regime and I felt as if I was right there in that brutal, stifling environment. The story was compelling and my heart goes out to the millions who suffered and died needlessly all for the good of the "State."
*The nature of the crimes is disturbing and there is some language....more
I can't decide on a four or five rating for this. I thought for sure that the very most I could give it was a three when I was halfway through it, butI can't decide on a four or five rating for this. I thought for sure that the very most I could give it was a three when I was halfway through it, but the book is unforgettable. It is so dark and I felt like I was holding my breath the whole book for this father and his son. How McCarthy manages to weave hope and humanity into such an utterly bleak landscape is incredible to me. This book is frightening and beautiful and I have to tell you, simply brilliant. ...more
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