Interesting characters and some unusual plot twists. It's a mix of murder mystery, love story, and family drama. Fairly quick to read, with a bit of s...moreInteresting characters and some unusual plot twists. It's a mix of murder mystery, love story, and family drama. Fairly quick to read, with a bit of suspense and intrigue. The ending was believable, although a little too perfectly tied-up, which is rare in real-life. Claire, the protagonist, was sweet and determined, but a bit naive and girlish for her age and education level, which made it hard for me to identify with her. And the setting, post- 9/11 Washington D.C., with terrorist attacks occurring nearly daily throughout the story, didn't ring true. Was the author trying to describe some kind of dystopia but didn't spend the time fully fleshing it out, or was this book written so soon after 9/11 that it seemed reasonable to have "orange alerts" every day? That part was too distracting, and ultimately not really part of the story. All in all, a pleasant read, but not special enough to give more than 2 or 2.5 stars. (less)
I had high expectations, which was, I think, my downfall. I enjoy Doctorow's writing style, which is fluid and lovely. But I felt as if I missed the p...moreI had high expectations, which was, I think, my downfall. I enjoy Doctorow's writing style, which is fluid and lovely. But I felt as if I missed the point in many of these stories, or that, worse, there wasn't really a point. Several of the stories seem to be sketches of dark, dreary lives, and I admit I do like some semblence of personal growth, or lessons learned, in characters. I enjoyed the stories titled Heist, Walter John Harmon, and The Writer in the Family... possibly because these felt like more complete tales, with more sympathetic characters. In fact, I'd recommend these chapters, but I can't recommend the book as a whole. (less)
Heart-breakingly well-written, as usual. Each story presents a tiny world, so complete and vivid despite the short format of the stories. I hate gratu...moreHeart-breakingly well-written, as usual. Each story presents a tiny world, so complete and vivid despite the short format of the stories. I hate gratuitous tear-jerking, but there's none of that. The collection reminds me of the PBS documentary, "The Farmer's Wife," about the lonely, poor life some live on the range... they're almost like settlers on Mars for all the isolation. Anyway, thoroughly enjoyable.(less)
I bought this book while traving in Iceland a year ago... it's a rugged, volcanic, truly beautiful place, and this epic story transported me back. Esp...moreI bought this book while traving in Iceland a year ago... it's a rugged, volcanic, truly beautiful place, and this epic story transported me back. Especially the sheep. They're everywhere! This book takes a while to get through, but is written with lovely detail and wonderful bits of wry humor.
The main character, Bjartur, is pathologically single-minded, so bent on financial independence that he systematically destroys every relationship in his life. Which is hard to watch, because the wives, sons, and daughter he abandons emotionally and/or physically must struggle to survive in a punishingly harsh climate. And many don't survive. Death and suffering are everywhere (although the only death and suffering Bjartur cares about are of his damn sheep).
I had a special fondness for Nonni, the dreamer of the family, Bjartur's youngest son. Maybe because he reminds me of my own little boy, but also because he provides a tiny glimmer of hope for the future. And Laxness surely meant Nonni to be a stand-in for himself. The eldest boy, Helgi, broke my heart... he suffered so deeply and his father just let him self-destruct. And Asta Solilja, Bjartur's daughter and only true love... yep, more suffering and heartache.
But don't let all the misery deter you... just make sure to hug your family and be grateful for your (hopefully) warm house, full cupboards and dental checkups!(less)
The premise is intriguing-- what would happen if the anonymous designer of a 9/11 memorial turned out to be Islamic? Bitter debate and violence ensue....moreThe premise is intriguing-- what would happen if the anonymous designer of a 9/11 memorial turned out to be Islamic? Bitter debate and violence ensue. I was hoping for more than the usual viewpoints (angry right-wingers, pushover lefties, and a few ambivalents caught in the middle), although I'm not sure who else the author could have thought up. Maybe I just wasn't all that enchanted by any of the characters. And I didn't find the writing style to be particularly special. I learned a little about Islamic and pre-Islamic architecture, and I did find the ending to be enjoyable and satisfying.(less)
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