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Sister Crazy
by
Emma Richler
The sprawling Weiss family--as recalled by Jemima, the middle child in Emma Richler’s amazing debut--live an almost idyllic existence. The feeling among the siblings is so palpable that we cannot help but share the acute nostalgia Jem experiences as she emerges from childhood.
In a darkly humorous voice she tells of playing elaborate war games with toy Action Man figures,...more
In a darkly humorous voice she tells of playing elaborate war games with toy Action Man figures,...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
June 11th 2002
by Anchor
(first published April 24th 2001)
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More a series of interlocking vignettes than a novel, the delightfully written family saga really captures that limbo of late childhood and the time when certainties about the world are so fluid as to open to constant revision.
"Actually I did think the Sun turned into the Moon at night until quite recently...." our heroine admits towards the end. "Okay. At least I owned up, unlike some."
Jemima is a very endearing,empathic and precocious child attempting to make sense of things like science, rel...more
"Actually I did think the Sun turned into the Moon at night until quite recently...." our heroine admits towards the end. "Okay. At least I owned up, unlike some."
Jemima is a very endearing,empathic and precocious child attempting to make sense of things like science, rel...more
"Sister Crazy" ist kein ganz einfaches Buch. Es hat keine durchgehende Geschichte, wie man sie von anderen Romanen gewohnt ist und gerade das ist es was einem an diesem Roman verwirrt und verzaubert.
Jemima ist das mittlere von fünf Geschwistern, die sie alle liebt, genau wie ihre Eltern. Vielleicht liebt sie ihre Familie auch etwas zu sehr. Während alle um sie herum erwachsen werden und ihren eigenen Weg finden, hat Jem Probleme loszulassen und den ihren zu finden.
Das lebt sie durch selbstzerstö...more
Jemima ist das mittlere von fünf Geschwistern, die sie alle liebt, genau wie ihre Eltern. Vielleicht liebt sie ihre Familie auch etwas zu sehr. Während alle um sie herum erwachsen werden und ihren eigenen Weg finden, hat Jem Probleme loszulassen und den ihren zu finden.
Das lebt sie durch selbstzerstö...more
I am not sure what aim the author had, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel for its strong voice and affectionate yet open-eyed depiction of one family's life. The cultural references which place the work specifically in both time and place, were wisely used and in no way irritating (as I often find them to be). Despite not fully understanding the drift, I liked the characters and wanted to understand their relationships.
Overall I enjoyed this book, and was riveting at times. At others I found myself drifting off. The telling of the narrator's childhood days was great--I really understood the character's devotion to and adoration of her older siblings and mother and her doting care for her younger sister. I thought it was realistic that they had particular interests as a family--war and westerns, but unfortunately because I am not that interested in these things, the long descriptions of their capers with them w...more
For shore this is novel of deconstruction..Searching for something, for sometimes it was hard to find out the way out. But the moments in the catholic school is very good described. How did you as Jewish child feel between teachers and nuns..catholic..Twisted point of view which I have had so during my school time..
Jul 26, 2011
Sally Whitehead
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-in-2011
A really rewarding read with a quirky narrative style. Jem, our narrator, introduces us to her eccentric family through a series of flashbacks, with just enough of a hint of what is happening in the present day for the memories to become even more resonant. Reminiscent of Augusten Burroughs "Running with Scissors" in terms of its portrait of a chaotic, dysfunctional childhood.
Excellent depiction of her childhood memories and unique relationships with her siblings. She also reveals the sad depictions of her struggles woven throughout the memories. Enjoyable read!
My brother bought this book for me because I am his sister and he feels like I am crazy. He then read the book and was slightly embarassed.
I have mixed feelings about this book...on one hand I felt that the protagonist was stuck in an annoying rut and dwelled too much on the past but on the other hand I could almost understand the source of her despair. Strange book.
This book might have made me cry. I can't quite remember. I always think the sign of a good book is when you find yourself thinking...more
I have mixed feelings about this book...on one hand I felt that the protagonist was stuck in an annoying rut and dwelled too much on the past but on the other hand I could almost understand the source of her despair. Strange book.
This book might have made me cry. I can't quite remember. I always think the sign of a good book is when you find yourself thinking...more
An enjoyable and very mercurial selection of stories.
02 long list-orange prize
Ughhh. Maybe it would be better for in a different time, different place. I though it was supposed to be funny, but I am having a hard time even getting through a paragraph knowing who or what they are talking about.
I just could not get into it and I read about 4 chapters before finally giving up.
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A very well written book and one to recommend.
Made me laugh out loud..loved it.
Found ending unfulfilling.
May 08, 2013
Kerry
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Kelly
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2013
Bindu Chembrakkalathil
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
default
Apr 06, 2013
Laura Webster
added it
Apr 06, 2013
Larry
marked it as to-read
Mar 29, 2013
Ellamenohpee
marked it as to-read
Mar 19, 2013
Penelope Polins
marked it as to-read
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