This really should get five stars for beautiful writing, perfect literary devices, fantastic plot development, and original, masterfully drawn charactThis really should get five stars for beautiful writing, perfect literary devices, fantastic plot development, and original, masterfully drawn characters--basically, it is everything a novel should be.
Sadly, I had the misfortune of reading it while pregnant. I'm going to let that take the blame for my weak stomach; I just could not handle the perfect, evocative prose conjuring up image after image of blood, gore, childbirth, death, (and childbirth and death together), mutilation, vomit, sweat, dog fights, and so. much. heat. I literally sat under a fan while reading this.
So: For the strong, this definitely deserves five stars. For the weak (me, me!), subtract two for the onslaught of physical distress this novel causes. ...more
Wow--George Saunders does it all! This book made me laugh, wince (a lot), and feel a whole lot of compassion for unlikely characters. Although I likedWow--George Saunders does it all! This book made me laugh, wince (a lot), and feel a whole lot of compassion for unlikely characters. Although I liked all of the stories except for "Al Roosten," my favorites were "The Semplica Diaries," "Victory Lap," and "Tenth of December."
"The Semplica Diaries" scared me silly. It was so SPOT ON. Now I keep wondering what the SG's are in our current society--and are there any in my yard???
"The Tenth of December" felt a little trite plot wise. You could tell what turn the story was going to take from the moment Robin resolves to bring the coat to the suicidal man. But the way Saunders delivers the story is not predictable or trite at all. I adored the characters. The way Saunders brings the reader into his characters' consciousness is genius. This was, by far, the sweetest story in the book, and it was a perfect ending to all of these provocative stories....more
Loved the form, the funniness, and, above all, the tenderizing effect of this original book. (As in: George Saunders' writing makes me feel more tendeLoved the form, the funniness, and, above all, the tenderizing effect of this original book. (As in: George Saunders' writing makes me feel more tender toward people in general.) Also, the night of Willie Lincoln's death turns out to be the PERFECT medium for Saunders to work his writing magic....more
I scanned the Goodreads reviews about this novel, and it seems that many readers thought that the book was boring. I agree that this novel is not a thI scanned the Goodreads reviews about this novel, and it seems that many readers thought that the book was boring. I agree that this novel is not a thriller, but I found it to be hilarious, captivating, and even brilliant nonetheless. Allende managed to write a laugh-out-loud superhero origin story AND explore hefty themes of race, colonialism, and class. Five stars, in my opinion. ...more
The play format was terrible. Those poor stage directions were milked for all they were worth; the poor story was dying to be turned into a novel. TheThe play format was terrible. Those poor stage directions were milked for all they were worth; the poor story was dying to be turned into a novel. The plot was great, though....more
Some of the stories in this book are full of unfortunate clichés and plot developments that are painfully predictable. I kept having to look at the shSome of the stories in this book are full of unfortunate clichés and plot developments that are painfully predictable. I kept having to look at the shiny Nobel Prize on the cover and ask myself what all the fuss was about. So many stories featured a passionate, intelligent woman discontent with her predictable, dependable husband. From almost the opening sentence the reader can guess where that set up leads: She has an affair! She finds liberation in shedding her matronly duties! She has sex on a train or in a trailer with a random stranger because, of course, that's what intelligent women do to find themselves. Deep stuff.
Oh, and let's not forget the poor, oppressed, mousy housewife with the bullying, domineering, husband. We have to give that trope some page space because, feminism. To drive the point home, Munro gives her a much smarter, more progressive sister who doesn't like to clean house and loves to argue with her husband. Despite the subtle, understated writing style, the content hits the poor reader over the head with garish, inhumane caricatures.
Not to mention, every single character, as far as I could tell, was white. Surely there are some people of color in Canada? I struggled to understand how this white-washed world was an accurate depiction of "just life," as Munro puts it.
Notwithstanding the tired clichés, predictable plots, and bewilderingly white depiction of Canada, the stories did get better as the book went on. "Train" was actually quite good, and the autobiographical stories were, as touted, the best in the book.
But a Nobel Prize? Surely there is something better out there that deserves the honor....more
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