Well, this wandered in circles for 3/4 of the book and then finally had a bit of plot development at the very end. When something was actually happeniWell, this wandered in circles for 3/4 of the book and then finally had a bit of plot development at the very end. When something was actually happening it was alright. However, it had a lot of ground to make up for the hundreds of pages where we waited for the characters to figure out what was right in front of their faces. ...more
This was so good!! Can she write another one immediately, please? I had a blast reading this - it was like seeing Captain Wentworth from Persuasion reThis was so good!! Can she write another one immediately, please? I had a blast reading this - it was like seeing Captain Wentworth from Persuasion relocated to modern London. Delightful. I liked the fuzzy edges of the science fiction-y parts of this. I'm no good at "hard" sci-fi; it's too much like attending a physics lecture. This was just gently speculative and all sorts of fun. ...more
This was compulsively readable, and so good. In my opinion, this is Rooney's best so far.
Listen. I do not want to be any of these people. Their livesThis was compulsively readable, and so good. In my opinion, this is Rooney's best so far.
Listen. I do not want to be any of these people. Their lives, like the lives of all of Rooney's characters, are too complicated and self-destructive for my real-life taste. But they are endlessly fascinating to read about. Do we any of us see Peter's situation, his "arrangement", working out long-term? Obviously not. But you can't help feeling happy for them being temporarily happy even if common sense dictates that this is going to end poorly and quickly. Ditto Ivan and Margaret; she's absolutely right that things might well look very different to him later, but he's too young and stubborn to know it.
The accomplishment in Rooney's work is not the sensational nature of some of her characters, but in the way she makes these characters into flesh-and-blood people. And, in the deft way she explores the generational divide that already exists between a guy in his mid-thirties and a woman in her early twenties. Which isn't to say that monetized dating and Naomi's vaguely-described Only Fans style work is typical and acceptable to all younger women, but Rooney really captures how it made sense to this particular woman with only the smallest details and lightest description.
All of Rooney's characters feel indisputably themselves. I love her style of writing. She manages to convey so much meaning with so few words, and to demonstrate a lifetime of family dynamics with a couple of paragraphs. She's a remarkable writer. I'm already dying for her next book. ...more
I love this book. It is my favorite of the entire series, and it was wonderful to read this with my kids. We listened to a good chunk of it on audio dI love this book. It is my favorite of the entire series, and it was wonderful to read this with my kids. We listened to a good chunk of it on audio during a long car trip, but we always leaf through the beautiful illustrations after we've listened to a chapter. It's been so cool reading these illustrated editions over the last few years and seeing my youngest go from pointing out familiar words to reading whole paragraphs to us. ...more
This was a enjoyable introduction to the stories of Scheherazade that I read with my kids. The little one was delighted by the repeated bit at the endThis was a enjoyable introduction to the stories of Scheherazade that I read with my kids. The little one was delighted by the repeated bit at the end of each story where she tells the sultan she can tell another story tomorrow if he will let her live. The big one was rightly dubious of the ending where Scheherazade falls in love with the sultan that had murdered hundreds of women in his petty rage and forgives him for holding her life over her head for 1,001 nights. Clever girl. ...more
What a delight this was. It struck me how infrequently I read books that center the experiences of older people, and how much it seems I am missing ouWhat a delight this was. It struck me how infrequently I read books that center the experiences of older people, and how much it seems I am missing out on because of it. Olive is complicated. She is difficult to love when she's being difficult and petty and stubborn and refuses to apply any introspection to the way she lashes out at people. But really, I can be guilty of all of that as well, and I think many of us are. I thought this book was actually very revealing. It's so easy to be awful to people you love, even though you do sincerely and adamantly love them more than anything else in the world.
The short story format of this novel was a surprise, but it worked beautifully. I expected a more traditional narrative of Olive's life, but getting glimpses of her through the eyes of so many different people was such and interesting way of going about it.
Wonderful book. I'll definitely be looking into the next one in the series. ...more
I read this with my eight-year-old, and it was an absolute joy. Mr. Toad, of Toad Hall, may be one the finest literary creations out there. Every pageI read this with my eight-year-old, and it was an absolute joy. Mr. Toad, of Toad Hall, may be one the finest literary creations out there. Every page he's on is delightful and hilarious. We used this edition, which has lovely, muted, realistic illustrations, alongside a bright and cheerful edition illustrated by David Roberts. Both really added to the story, and it was very fun comparing the illustrations as we read.
I like reading older books with my kids because I think the complicated Edwardian language helps teach some literary patience. Grahame goes on about the fields and scenery, and occasionally waxes poetical about the inner life of one of his characters. I think parsing through these long sentences full of clauses and appositives is the linguistic version of lifting weights. Occasionally, even as an adult, I found myself thinking, "Let's get to the point, Kenneth," but I loved how my little guy just snuggled in and let the flow of the words wash over him.
Finally, is there anything more satisfying in the world for a child than to read that a motor-car makes the sound, "poop-poop?" Great book!...more
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