LDS Ladies Book Club discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Book Clubs - general/business
>
River's Edge - June Group Read
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Amber G., Group Creator
(new)
May 25, 2013 11:46AM
Mod
reply
|
flag
Mod
Mod
Well first off... I loved how Elise used the piano as her way of dealing with her mother's failing health. How playing helped her mother to relax and forget the pain, and how Elise brought herself to believing that if she could just play the hardest song perfectly, she could somehow cure her mom... It's such a childish notion, and yet so poetic! It made me think of my grandmother, who I was named after... Maurine Pearce was an amazing concert pianist who performed for the government of Arizona, and for audiences full of thousands of people... When she played for me, I felt the music move me like no other... I remember imagining pictures of flowers blowing in the wind, or waves crashing in the sea, etc. as she played... Her music truly swept me away! I miss her so much.
I liked the characterization in this book. I can also relate to the piano playing Elise did, in that my daughter who has since married and moved away really blessed me with her talent of piano playing and singing. I think Elise handled being let go from her job well, and made the most out of her life.
I can understand how Elise felt, coming to the U. S., while Germany is about to start a war. I can remember a little bit about how people reacted to German's and the Japanese during World War II. I had a wonderful Japanese American teacher in Junior High School. She told us at a reunion, many years later, that it was very difficult for her to get a teaching job. I also had a friend in 1954, who came to Utah, from Berlin. She had problems adjusting. This book made me look at various people and situations that I have had over the years.
Mod
I tend to get worn out on WWII novels, but I found this novel's take to be pretty refreshing. It helped me see the other side of that war, not unlike The Book Thief. I wondered as I read if the part about her father being in with a group of officers trying to stop Hitler was based on truth. Anyone know? I found the idea very interesting and tragic.
For me, the most powerful moments were those where Elise struggled with her loneliness and her feelings for her mother. Several of them made me all teary eyed! All of that felt very real to me.
On the other hand, I agree with Amber about the love story. Too fast, and for me, too predictable. I still liked the scene when he gives her the promise ring in the car:)
There were other things that I felt were contrived to get emotional response from the reader, such as Junior serving with his dad in war, her drawn out feud with Cookie/Junior, are amazing ability with tobacco farming even though she's never done physical labor.
And Maurine, this book made me want to listen to Mozart's Sonata in C just see what it was all about emotionally.
I agree that there are a lot of novels about WWII. It would be hard for anything to top the Zion Chronicles by Bodie and Brock Thoene for me.I liked the musical aspect of the book and Elise's struggles socially.
I think there were parts that dragged. It wasn't something I couldn't put down, but still a great book.
Mod
I think the author some great ideas, but not a very good writer. The story just wasn't developed well enough.
Elise being amazing at physical labor is pretty far fetched now that you brought that up. But being totally in love with Junior in one afternoon after he treated her so badly just really bugged me.
I thought the relationship between Elise and Junior while residing in the same house and related, although distant, was a little strange, but not so much that it ruined the story. My favorite part of the book was their journey through town just before Junior left for war. I loved the sentimentality of it, how he wanted to see everything that was meaningful to him and share that with Elise, perhaps for the last time.
I didn't mind the quick way the relationship happened. It seemed believable enough to me. I was really worried Junior was not going to make it back from the war, so maybe I was distracted by that.
I'm not sure who the target audience is for this book, but I would classify it in the young Adult literature genre. That could be why the historical aspect seemed shallow to some. I liked that we didn't have to travel through the blood and guts of the war. I, too, have read many WWII books and to see it through the eyes of a young German girl in America was a nice perspective.
I thought it was nice, as people have mentioned, to read a different side to the story. And it was interesting, but it didn't capture me the way some books do. I'm not really sure why, but it felt like I was viewing the whole thing from a distance rather than me feeling like I'm in the story, feeling what the characters were feeling.
I thought the book was a little too predictable. I liked the fact that Elise's father fought against Hitler, but would like to hear more about that aspect as some have mentioned. I liked how accepting here Ma and Pa were. They loved her unconditionally, even when she wasn't very lovable, which is exactly what she needed.
Overall I enjoyed the book, if the tears streaming down my face at times were any indication... If I were to look at the individual characters in this book, and take away the push and pull factors of WWII, because the push and pull factors could have been from many other causes – I truly enjoyed the characters in this book.
I especially enjoyed the compelling relationship between Mama and Papa – Mrs and Rev Muller. Facing their challenges together with a ‘come what may’ attitude – indeed with the love they shared. I think I identified most with Mama, and when she shed silent tears – I shed them for her.
I really enjoyed the piano playing and how Elise choose to sooth her mother/herself - then with the talent acquired - she was able to serve others. It was very fitting, something she could 'give' to the family and community after they took her in.
I thought the ‘dumping’ of an only child into a busy family life – was well done. The way Mama was aware of all happenings in her home and family, and then acted upon her instincts to benefit the family as a whole… was similar to the mother in Grapes of Wrath. The father also, in Grapes of Wrath knew/felt every aspect of his car engine – and when it skipped a beat, knew just what to do to repair it.
There were several touching scenes throughout the book, which I feel the author portrayed well, including the emotions. Perhaps I do agree with Ambers comment about flowery language – yet the interaction scenes were so strong to me – it was like a relief to have them in between. Scenes like Carri mentioned – the drive to the bus of Junior and Elise; then when Elise recognized the need Mama had to grieve – when Papa was returned home; when Junior just couldn’t really be himself but then was ‘pushed’ into recognizing what he must do for himself and Elise; Cookie resenting Elise is realistic to me with circumstances making it hard to resolve… and many more.
I loved gruff Mrs Ludwig – and only with time does the author lead us to understand her heartaches, and why they appear as gruffness. For her to recognize the similarities between herself and Elise – and then determine to do something about it was courageous and admirable.
It did feel odd that Elise and Junior moved from dislike to love so quickly. However - I accepted it as I read - knowing that those two emotions CAN be quite closely related!
The stiff upper lip coolness of Herman Braun – is well done and consistent. I thought the author presented his inner turmoil by aloofness well. Lost as he was when his wife was taken, and his country overtaken.
However, the book was set in the WWII era and like Meredith, I enjoyed the different perspective offered in this book (now I have The Book Thief on my to-read list). I agree with Amber that perhaps more 'facts' of the time could have been interwoven - perhaps that was not the author's intention - but rather to explore how people deal with the circumstances they are placed in.
I often enjoy face paced mysteries and may not have picked this book up… so thanks for leading me to read this book.
What did everyone think about it being first person present tense? It's being done more and more, probably because it was done so well in The Hunger Games.I think I would have preferred this book to be in 3rd person, getting get more of Junior and Elise's father.
Rachel wrote: "What did everyone think about it being first person present tense? "Wasn't just the ending in present tense (the rest being first person past tense)? I remember the switch and I felt like it didn't flow as well. But overall I didn't mind the first person narration. I liked Elise's 'voice' enough to get through the whole book.
I liked hearing another point of view on the war, and how it changed the lives of people in Germany, and the United States. Many people where affected in different ways. I had a dear friend, who spent the war in Germany. She said she tried to be the best she could be, in Hitler's Youth. She didn't know the terrible things that were being done to people. Her father's baker was occupied by German forces, and was shot full of holes. She escaped East Germany, after the war, and came to the USA. She felt guilty for the rest of her life, because of the things that were done by the people in her country.
I like the idea of the writer, taking the point of view of a teenager, coming to the United States, and to imagine what her life would have been in this country.
I really liked "River's Edge", but I liked "Esther the Queen" even more. It's too bad that more libraries didn't carry it. I thought it was worth buying.
Mod
I thought this was a pretty good book. Like many of you have said, I also liked reading about the war from a different perspective. I think it's important to remember that not all Germans were bad and that many of them did not agree with what Hitler was doing (as evidenced by Elise's father, Hermann). People on both sides of the war were hurt by Hitler and the Nazis' actions and I liked how this book brought that to light. I would have liked to read more of Hermann Braun's experiences during the war, though. I felt that his character was kind of rushed at the end to explain himself. I don't know how I feel about Elise and Junior's relationship. It definitely seemed "all of a sudden" and didn't feel plausible - there was no real explanation of how Junior's feelings suddenly changed from disgust to love.
I adored Mama and Papa's relationship! I loved the teamwork their relationship consisted of and I was heartbroken when he was killed.
Elise's piano talent has inspired me to get my piano talent back up to snuff, haha! I once was able to play Mozart's Sonata in C Minor and it is most definitely an amazing piece. The "Alla Turca" she talks about is really fun to play.
Overall I enjoyed the book and it was a good read!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
