欧宝娱乐

Hmm. This was a weird one. It didn't really follow a traditional narrative arc, so it took some time to sort out what, exactly, the focus of the story was. But the theme of human suffering, injustice and struggle was clear throughout. It was pretty heartbreaking how ordinary people became casualties of fate, or limitations imposed by a racist, sexist and economically stratified society.

Mr. Singer's story line was an unusual way to glue all of the characters together.

The portrayals of other characters was not romantic or overly sympathetic, and yet it still managed to make you feel deeply for each of the people in the novel.

This one was hard going emotionally. Not that it left me in tears, but it left me feeling defeated, frustrated and wounded. I guess that's what happened to each of the characters in the story, too.

I gave it four stars because it is original (and when you judge it by its contemporaries, it's really amazing) and well written. This is a book that made me feel as though I'd really lived through something when I'd finished it. Not that the living was good, but it was vivid.

Kind of reminded me of Keroac's book, Town and Country (?) City and Country (?). It had the same sober tone and theme of loss of innocence. It's very blunt, but still poetic in places.

All in all, Oprah picked a good one, here, and it wasn't one of those mamby-pamby made for a Hallmark special-type of stories. Whew. I'm so glad she redeemed herself with this one.