I love Alison Weir but I have to say, her fiction did *not* do it for me. This was the first novel I have read from her...I think she would do best to...moreI love Alison Weir but I have to say, her fiction did *not* do it for me. This was the first novel I have read from her...I think she would do best to stick with straight up historical/scholarly research and biographies. About a chapter in, I found myself wondering what Harlequin romance I just stepped into. And yes, I totally understand that Eleanor and Henry had a passionate, combustible romance that eventually collapsed. But really, every other page had these cliched, overwrought descriptions of their sexual escapades. I guess in a world where everyone is reading 50 Shades of Gray, perhaps this would satisfy the crowd that prefers their sex medieval-style. But for me, it was unsatisfying. Eleanor and Henry were complex people who spawned a dynasty. Did they take a roll together often? Sure. But that part of their relationship is far less fascinating to me than her desires and attempts to rule as an equal to her formidable husband.
Sorry, Alison - I think you're terrific, but I won't be reading more of your historical romance novels.(less)
I found this book frustrating because I never thought it delivered on the potential it had. The concept was good - the subject matter of a child depor...moreI found this book frustrating because I never thought it delivered on the potential it had. The concept was good - the subject matter of a child deported to a leper colony led me to think it would be richly textured and deeply emotional. And yet...I felt like every time I was close to connecting with the characters, the story would cut short or the author would do too much telling and not enough showing. It wasn't until the end of the novel that I *finally* felt a little bit of payoff on emotional investment but by then, it was almost too late. I find myself wondering if this story could have been much more powerful by just taking *one* part of Rachel's life and following it and developing it more deeply. Instead, the author was so intent on following Rachel over the entire course of her life that the opportunity to explore deeper feelings and relationships between characters seemed squandered. So, just three stars because I enjoyed it but I know the story and its characters are not going to stick with me for the long haul.(less)
Often laugh-out-loud funny, I wonder if this is a book that the author himself had fun writing. It's social satire, it's creative, it's ridiculous......moreOften laugh-out-loud funny, I wonder if this is a book that the author himself had fun writing. It's social satire, it's creative, it's ridiculous... but sometimes I found myself wondering how deep the author was trying to get. Did he want me to walk away thinking deep thoughts? Because nothing in this book was profound enough to invoke that reaction in me. Which is probably why, although I read it in high school, I remembered nothing of it or the thin plot that held it together. Definitely a satisfying enough read for summer though. Highly recommended for those who like books with pictures in them ;)(less)
Had potential but I really didn't care for the main character in the modern era of the story. Totally sufficient novel for commuting or sitting by a p...moreHad potential but I really didn't care for the main character in the modern era of the story. Totally sufficient novel for commuting or sitting by a pool on vacation. The historical aspect definitely gets a thumbs up though.(less)
I really wanted to like this book. I loved Snow Falling on Cedars and I think Guterson is an incredibly talented writer. I literally love to read his...moreI really wanted to like this book. I loved Snow Falling on Cedars and I think Guterson is an incredibly talented writer. I literally love to read his sentences. But everything else about this book made me feel like I was as lost in the woods as Neil as he trudged through the forest to visit the Hermit of the Hoh. I wasn't emotionally connecting with either of the main characters and the story really seemed to plod along. Took me forever to finish this book - not a good sign.(less)
I wanted to love this book. I had it on the "to read" list for a long time and finally got around to it. And guess what? I'm not too proud to admit th...moreI wanted to love this book. I had it on the "to read" list for a long time and finally got around to it. And guess what? I'm not too proud to admit that I must not have really got it and I definitely didn't love it.
Let me start by saying Obreht is a gifted author. Her sentences are lovely and descriptive. I think she's got a long and bright future ahead of her. In other words, I'll be interested to see how she develops her craft in a future novel.
But here's where it fell apart for me - the stories felt so disjointed. It seemed like the present day storyline was just an extremely thin thread holding together the stories that were really interesting. I mean, a deathless man? Yes, tell me more! A tiger's wife? How does that happen? I couldn't wait to get to those parts but the in between was killing me. It took me a month to read this book because I couldn't bear to pick it up sometimes and endure the in-betweens to get to the good stuff.
This books reminded me a little of A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True because of the author's ability to tell the story within the story better than telling the entire thing. (And I LOVED Pasulka's book... Obreht's, not so much. I mean, I actually cried reading Pasulka...and I felt like maybe I should have when reading the Tiger's Wife but it just lacked emotion to me.)
I think the Tiger's Wife could have been better if it were presented as a straight up collection of short, folk stories. (less)
Such lovely writing. I didn't want it to end. Richly layered, heartbreaking on so many levels. I had this on the "to read" list for probably 10 years...moreSuch lovely writing. I didn't want it to end. Richly layered, heartbreaking on so many levels. I had this on the "to read" list for probably 10 years now. Ashamed I only got to it now. Recommended for those who love language and want to see words develop into nuanced pictures, as if by magic.(less)
I needed a break from reading Crime and Punishment! This fit the bill. I know very little about the Chinese experience in America, so I enjoyed follow...moreI needed a break from reading Crime and Punishment! This fit the bill. I know very little about the Chinese experience in America, so I enjoyed following Pearl and May from Shanghai at the beginning of WWII and seeing how they assimilated in different degrees until America felt more like their home than not. And that's in light of the poor treatment they received at the hands of the vast majority of Americans which I think speaks powerfully to the immigrant experience here - even in the midst of hardship, financial struggles and racism, people still come to this country believing in a better opportunity if not for themselves, then for their children.
Also thought Lisa See did a nice job portraying the bond between the sisters and the tension between each of their perceptions of how life had unfolded for them. A worthy summer read and a very welcome break from Russian literature!(less)
I don't even know where to start with this book. It read like a hot mess to me. At first, I thought it was a slow to build romance. And not a very exc...moreI don't even know where to start with this book. It read like a hot mess to me. At first, I thought it was a slow to build romance. And not a very exciting or compelling one. I kept forcing myself to read one because it was so boring. Then the book shifted abruptly into a murder mystery - another genre I'm not crazy about. The plot was steeped in family drama, except I didn't care for any of the main characters. None of them were written in a way that inspired any sort of allegiance from me. The thread holding the whole story together was the origin of how penicillin was developed during WWII. That might have been interesting, except in the hands of this author which told that story in a confusing mess involving romance/murder/robber barons/government goons/familial drama. I think the author needed to decide well in advance what kind of story she wanted to tell and then stick to it. This book lacked a center - I don't know how the author could ever succeed telling a story in this way.
I think this might have been the book that got me hooked on historical fiction in the Tudor era when I was about 16. I own it, haven't read it in year...moreI think this might have been the book that got me hooked on historical fiction in the Tudor era when I was about 16. I own it, haven't read it in years but I remember liking it a lot!(less)
Ugh. I don't usually quit on a book but I don't think I can bear to finish this one. Maybe I'm just reading a bad translation but it is so long and wi...moreUgh. I don't usually quit on a book but I don't think I can bear to finish this one. Maybe I'm just reading a bad translation but it is so long and winding and there's so little plot to keep me engaged with the character study at hand.(less)
I don't know a whole lot about the French Revolution so I found following some of the characters of this book difficult. However, I think the French R...moreI don't know a whole lot about the French Revolution so I found following some of the characters of this book difficult. However, I think the French Revolution itself was a confusing time, full of politcal intrigues, quick reversals in fortune and so forth. So I'm feeling okay about not having mastered the intricacies of the history here.
That said, enjoyable story. Fascinating to see a woman in that time period walk a very delicate line between romantic love and career as well as a delicate and potentially deadly line between serving the royal family and serving the Revolution. This woman was a smart, savvy survivor who deserves to go down in history not only for her formidable talent in sculpting, but for her ability to navigate the treacherous time period she lived in. It's only the complication of following French politics that made me rate this 3 stars instead of more.
Also- don't read before bed. There's a lot of guillotining going on! You might wake up feeling your throat to make sure you're still in one piece!(less)
I'm not sure what it says about me that the last two books I've read now were written in diary form (maybe that I'm a snoop?) but I can tell you this-...moreI'm not sure what it says about me that the last two books I've read now were written in diary form (maybe that I'm a snoop?) but I can tell you this- Shteyngart has written a wildly inventive, somewhat jaw dropping novel. It's the way I felt about seeing films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Brazil, or perhaps like reading Ferris' "Then We Came to the End" or Foer's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close". The vividness of the writing, the alternating amusement and pathos, a world that was recognizable as our own but distorted and creepy - it added up to a read that felt at times elating and depressing all at once. It's not for the squeamish though. In the parallel, near future world presented by the author, themes of sexuality are particularly crude and graphic which I am certain will turn some people off. But when taken in context with the general destruction of civilization, the themes of loss and longing, fear of death along with the fear of truly embracing life and the incredible distance technology can create with main characters who seem to want desperately to bridge that gap but don't know how, it shouldn't dissuade potential readers with sensitivities. And if it does, well...you've been warned!(less)
Enjoyable read - what's nice about Alison Weir is that she's got legitimate historical chops to write this...it's only her 2nd novel. So while she cle...moreEnjoyable read - what's nice about Alison Weir is that she's got legitimate historical chops to write this...it's only her 2nd novel. So while she clearly says in the author's notes that she had fun taking liberties with imagining the motivations of certain characters (like Kat), she also tells you that the majority of the scenes are based in fact, like the shocking episode of Elizabeth's dress being ripped to shreds while on her body by Seymour.
So the question for fans of Tudor history is this: was she the Virgin Queen or not? Weir, in her non-fiction work, say yes- she was a virgin. But she has fun imagining a deflowered Elizabeth in this novel!(less)
A friend told me she felt this book was anticlimactic and I have to agree. While I enjoyed it and felt that it had good energy and pace throughout, wh...moreA friend told me she felt this book was anticlimactic and I have to agree. While I enjoyed it and felt that it had good energy and pace throughout, when I got to the end, it suddenly felt like it just dwindled to a close. Almost like a balloon that had a small leak and just sort of deflated on me!
I think Stockett actually had a lot of stories here and I found myself wondering if it might not have been a more interesting book to really just dive into the Miss Celia/Minny storyline. While I liked the Aibileen angle and character, as well as Miss Skeeter, I thought some of the most interesting, energetic and compelling stories came from the tension between Miss Celia and Minny.
Considering I didn't live either in the region OR during the time period she is writing about, I think Stockett did a good job of describing the pathos of Southern women, both black and white. The black women suffered a very blatant infringement upon their rights and dignity. In a different way, the white women "suffered" under an antiquated and often immoral social code, ignorant to their own ignorance if that makes sense.
Perfect book for reading on my commute. The authors wrote engagingly about their characters and I thought the use of letters to propel the plot worked...morePerfect book for reading on my commute. The authors wrote engagingly about their characters and I thought the use of letters to propel the plot worked well with this story. Spoiler: I was less inclined to believe in the romance between Juliet and Dawsey, it seemed a bit too contrived for my tastes, but I liked the dual protagonists of Juliet and Elizabeth and felt the remainder of the story fell into place tidily.
This book is particularly recommended for people who enjoy gossip, snooping and reading other people's mail.(less)
Interesting concept re: plot. Not a true story, but parts of it had me wondering if there were bits of historical fact in there.
Also, not a big fan of...moreInteresting concept re: plot. Not a true story, but parts of it had me wondering if there were bits of historical fact in there.
Also, not a big fan of some of the writing in which the author would attempt (usually successfully) to phonetically convey the sounds and cadences of speech in his characters. For example, the Kelly sisters were given Irish accents that leapt off the pages, the Swedish bride Gretchen vas oftin written speaking like dis and so on. It was distracting early on and I found myself pulled out of the flow of the story at times because of these linguistic machinations.
That said, I liked the story line well enough. Rather than recap the plot here, let's just suffice it to say that Cheyenne Indians made an offer to the US government to swap 1,000 horses for 1,000 white women to serve as brides for assimilation into white culture. The story is told from May Dodd's perspective via diary as she escapes a lunatic asylum for the adventure of a lifetime.
Probably the biggest takeaway or point of interest for me was the juxtaposition of the character Phemie, the sole black bride (herself an escaped slave) and the plight of the Cheyenne, and all American Indians for that matter. The push of Western civilization into American Indian culture, the destruction of their hunting grounds and way of life and the reservation system of containment all really seems like a close sister to the institution of slavery and shines a light on this much overlooked aspect of the history of the United States.(less)
This books jumps to the top of my list for being an all time favorite. I was so skeptical picking it up, because I just hated Grapes of Wrath and assu...moreThis books jumps to the top of my list for being an all time favorite. I was so skeptical picking it up, because I just hated Grapes of Wrath and assumed all of Steinbeck's work must be politically charged. But I found this to be a gripping page turner full of an authentic desire to seek and understand not only other people but our own motivations and the age old question "what am I here for?" So many layers of complexity to this novel, I think I'll be revisiting it in my mind over and over, peeling those layers back to reveal new insights.
Favorite characters - Sam Hamilton and Lee. The heart of this book is about their philosophical wonderings, and simply applied to the Trask family. But their thoughts on "timshel" could be applied to any person or family anywhere, in any situation. If you're a Christian, lots of Biblical parallels to mull over too.
Lee...I feel like Lee is a friend. Sort of like how I feel about Samwise Gamgee. A great novel creates a great friend. I will definitely "visit" Lee again. I can see this being a novel to read every few years.(less)
This was just so-so. But I needed something that would be light and a fast read. I thought the end was a bit confusing...are the case studies all writ...moreThis was just so-so. But I needed something that would be light and a fast read. I thought the end was a bit confusing...are the case studies all written by the real murderer? Just didn't care for this one as much as some of her others. Off to read a classic now: East of Eden.(less)
I think this might be the book that kicked off my love for medieval British historical fiction. I read this in high school and I'm long overdue for re...moreI think this might be the book that kicked off my love for medieval British historical fiction. I read this in high school and I'm long overdue for revisiting it!(less)
Moderately enjoyable fluff. I'm not a big fan of Philippa Gregory, but I was interested to see that she moved beyond Tudors to their predecessors, the...moreModerately enjoyable fluff. I'm not a big fan of Philippa Gregory, but I was interested to see that she moved beyond Tudors to their predecessors, the equally fascinating (and longer ruling) Plantagenets. This was a reasonably interesting novel about Elizabeth Woodville but I could have done without all the silly witchcraft/Melusine stuff.(less)
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