I still gave this four stars because I also recently read “Dutch House” and “State of Wonder” and loved them and her writing. Also this was her first I still gave this four stars because I also recently read “Dutch House” and “State of Wonder” and loved them and her writing. Also this was her first novel so I will cut her some slack. But for me the fatal flaw in this story is we do not know why Rose behaves the way she does; there is no origin story. What makes her lie, run off and not love the people who seem easy to love? Why was she so obsessed about cooking (for no pay, for 15 years, at an institution) to the exclusion of family and any kind of life? The setting and the premise are unique, but I found Rose to be unlikeable. I found it unrealistic and hard-hearted that she would never contact her mother, with whom she was very close. I was frustrated. ...more
Well, my MFA professor suggested I read Ann Patchett for her scene-building skills. I read Dutch House and now this. And probably will read more. TherWell, my MFA professor suggested I read Ann Patchett for her scene-building skills. I read Dutch House and now this. And probably will read more. There are some ridiculously far-fetched things that happen in this novel, but I DON’T CARE. It was a great story of twists and turns, plus you had me at Amazon (the River, not the company). Dr. Annick Swenson is a modern-day Heart of Darkness’ Mistah Kurtz, mysterious and imperious and notoriously single-minded. I am not one of those reviewers who try to recap the story. It was rich with drama and setting and quite a fantastic story. I can’t fathom that a major pharmaceutical company would not send a team of qualified people to the deepest darkest regions of the Amazon rather than a lone female doctor to retrieve a dead colleague and check on the progress of a drug’s development (that seemed lame), but as I said I DON’T CARE.
This is my first Ann Patchett novel and I am looking forward to reading more. I am guessing some folks would not understand the obsession with a houseThis is my first Ann Patchett novel and I am looking forward to reading more. I am guessing some folks would not understand the obsession with a house. I am similarly drawn back to the home I lived in as a child, even though my childhood was mostly unhappy. I think about coming back to visit it, even buying it. I once knocked on the front door, but no one answered. Generally I don’t dwell on the past or indulge in nostalgia, except for this house in suburban Pittsburgh. This was quite an epic family saga, and the carefully drawn characters included this enigmatic house. ...more
Like everyone else, I admire Stephanie Foo for her bravery, honesty, and ability to explain her diagnosis of complex PTSD, the culture of Asian immigrLike everyone else, I admire Stephanie Foo for her bravery, honesty, and ability to explain her diagnosis of complex PTSD, the culture of Asian immigrants, and how she inspirationally navigated her way through it to understanding and happiness. It’s no different than bravely confronting and overcoming a serious physical illness.
I realized how much we all bring to the table of relationships and life decisions, and how important it is to be mindful of why you and others are the way you are. People just seem so broken, hurt and angry right now.
I don’t want to step on the overwhelming number of 5-star reviews. If you don’t live in New York or other metropolises, the availability and prevalence of therapy is just not there. So I got a bit bogged down in the descriptions of therapy and a few acronyms that I don’t remember being defined. But thank goodness for Dr. Ham. ...more
I read historical novels to be entertained AND educated. Here, I started at ground zero with no knowledge of Yemen, Yemenite Jews, that period of worlI read historical novels to be entertained AND educated. Here, I started at ground zero with no knowledge of Yemen, Yemenite Jews, that period of world history leading up to WW2 and, of course, henna and its place in female Jewish tradition. It was fascinating. It was tragic. It was redemptive. It was educational. But overall, it was an epic family saga and just a compelling story....more
As you can see, it took me almost 4 months to get through this book. It took about 400 pages for me to realize that yes, I would finish this book. I wAs you can see, it took me almost 4 months to get through this book. It took about 400 pages for me to realize that yes, I would finish this book. I was a big fan of “All the Light We Cannot See.” This novel is a tribute to books and the people who love and protect them, so I waded in.
While I enjoy many genres of literature, I do not appreciate Ancient Greek tales and texts. Because such a mythical tale is the core that binds all the different times and characters together, I had to suck it up. I am actually proud to have made it through the 600-plus pages to see how everything finally tied together.
I gave it 4 stars because of its audacious ambitiousness and how it resolved. And I believe that over time and after reflection I will appreciate it in its entirety.
Just finished this autobiography, which was fascinating. We started watching CNN during last few weeks in Afghanistan, and here was this striking blonJust finished this autobiography, which was fascinating. We started watching CNN during last few weeks in Afghanistan, and here was this striking blond woman fearlessly interviewing the Taliban, head to toe in full body cloak, empathetically speaking with the people on their terms. She is a mother of two, married to a German count, from a privileged boarding school upbringing - which makes the story even more remarkable.
I am a former journalist (small-town version), so her pursuit of The Story wherever it took her resonated deeply. She risked everything in an attempt to make us care about what was going on elsewhere in the world beyond our familiar comfort zones.
I got a bit confused by the timeline and organization of the book. ...more
Another book that popped up in my algorithms, and it just sounded too different to pass up. A coast to coast trip during the Depression and Dust Bowl Another book that popped up in my algorithms, and it just sounded too different to pass up. A coast to coast trip during the Depression and Dust Bowl with giraffes, based on an actual event.
I combined Audible and Kindle, and the old man ‘s voice on Audible was a bit grating. My only frustration was a lot of strained suspense as Woody, the main character, just stood there and couldn’t react or say anything - including during life and death interactions. This happened a lot, and I would holler at the narrator - MOVE!!
All in all, though, such an unusual premise for a novel that I would recommend it, especially to animal lovers. ...more
After reading Kingsolver’s “Animal Dreams,” I started looking at all her novels. This is my second. She has a spare, no-nonsense writing style which iAfter reading Kingsolver’s “Animal Dreams,” I started looking at all her novels. This is my second. She has a spare, no-nonsense writing style which is refreshing. She loves the Southwest as I do, and she cares about the same issues that I do. This was not an epic novel, but a rather unassuming one and a compelling story and characters. It would be really easy for me to just knock out her novels one by one, because they all sound up my alley. I will have to pace myself, though. ...more
I really felt the overpowering pull of addiction when Brendan was in Montana chain smoking on his balcony watching the world go by. It could have endeI really felt the overpowering pull of addiction when Brendan was in Montana chain smoking on his balcony watching the world go by. It could have ended so differently had he not discovered the mountains and climbing. I applaud his resolve to change his life. I kept thinking he would backslide, but he did not.
I got a bit weary of the endless tales of binge drinking and all the reckless things he did as an alcoholic. It made me sick. As a former journalist who loves the west, though, I appreciated his writing aspirations, climbing stories and travels. ...more
This was a powerful book. I sort of view it as a trilogy along with Isabel Wilkerson’s “Caste,” which is next in the queue for me, and Heather Cox RicThis was a powerful book. I sort of view it as a trilogy along with Isabel Wilkerson’s “Caste,” which is next in the queue for me, and Heather Cox Richardson’s “How the South Won the War.” They all have similar themes told in different way. In the case of “The Sum of Us,” Heather McGhee illuminates how whites’ fear that “undeserving” people will benefit from government projects and policies results in all Americans (other than the 1 percent) being denied everything from health care to affordable housing to public swimming pools.
In fact, I remember the municipal pool in my grandparents’ home of Kerrville, Texas, being filled in in the late 50s so the pool would not have to be integrated. Apparently this happened all across the country.
What was depressing about the book was how far apart we are from ever realizing that whites and people of color would benefit from solidarity in issues of economics, jobs, health care, public works, housing, and the like. There are a few pockets across the country where they have figured this it, but there is a tremendous effort to drive a wedge of fear and resentment among us.
First of all, I must say that Matt’s The Midnight Library was a total surprise and one of the best books of my almost 65 years. So . . . this book wasFirst of all, I must say that Matt’s The Midnight Library was a total surprise and one of the best books of my almost 65 years. So . . . this book was frenetic and scattershot, probably mostly on purpose, and I mostly enjoyed it except for the list-making. I came to appreciate how fragile the mind can be and how easily and suddenly all can unravel. I took some lessons learned with me. But I felt as if I was reading his journal, rather than a planned, composed, and edited work.
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