Reading with Style discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Archives
>
WI 15-16 RwS Completed Tasks - Winter 15/16
15.2 - DominoesA Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen (810 Lexile)
+15 task (published in 2015, same decade as 15.1)
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 345
10.2. NOELMedusa by Thomas Thiemeyer
Review: Medusa is the first installment of the German adventure series by Thiemeyer introducing archeologist Hannah Peters. It's set in the deserts and mountains of Algeria and Niger. After an incredible find of an ancient obsidian statue in a valley in Algeria, Hannah and a team of scientists and a film crew set out to find the cradle of a long lost culture.
The story is well written and adventurous, unfortunately the characters are a bit flat at times, the relationships develop out of thin air, and some story elements are too coincidentally to be accepted by me just for the sake of the plot. It was an entertaining and fun read however.
+10 task
+ 5 combo 10.9 (3.47 on 2016-01-02)
+ 5 series (Hannah Peters, #1)
+10 review
Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 30
15.6 DominoesThe Tale of Castle Cottage by Susan Wittig AlbertAuthor's name Susan
Task -25 pts
Grand Total - 340 pts
20.7 - FeminismLysistrata by Aristophanes
I seem to remember reading this in high school (I went to a Jesuit prep school) or maybe we just discussed it.... pretty liberal for a high school...and Jesuits. Anyway, it was a fun and easy read. Some of the ancient references are lost on me.... but the basic story (which Spike Lee has adapted to modern-day Chicago in his latest movie) has the exasperated women of Greece...called together by Lysistrata to end the ceaseless and silly wars amongst the Greek City States. The women, called from all quarters agree to Lysistrata's plan to withhold sex until peace breaks out. At first the men don't find the threat credible...but as their desires are unmet....they gradually succumb and we see how silly the reasons were for the wars in the first place. A stage production would probably be hilarious.
task +20
review +10
combo +5 (10.9- 3.82 rating)
oldies +25 (411 BC)
total = 60
grand total = 405
10.1 Design your own task: Finish books started in 2015 (or even earlier). Ein Bett aus Asphalt by Paul Bukowiecki (YA book)
+10 task (started 26th December 2015)
Task total: 10
Grand Total: 40
20.4 - Elfriede Jelinek:The Book of Proper Names by Amélie Nothomb (the author is Belgian woman and the book is written in French)
Review:
I gave the book 2 stars. This was the first book by the author that I have read. I was drawn to it because the description sounded very interesting.
The novel started with a young married and expecting couple. They discuss names for the new baby and the woman suddenly realizes that her husband is boring and conventional, because he wants the child to have a common name. She, on the other hand, wants the name to be as unconventional as possible, because she thinks that will mean the child will have an extraordinary life. That night, she gets up and shoots him and the calls the police.
Most of the novel is about the childhood of the girl who was named according to her mother's wishes and born in prison.
I don't really know how to describe the writing style, but it was a bit odd and I didn't feel like I enjoyed it too much. The novel ended in a very postmodern note which left me wondering what it was all about.
+20 task
+10 review
+5 combo (10.9 Realistic Ratings, average of 3.55)
Task total: 35
Grand total: 215
10.6 - Australia DayElizabeth Costello by J.M. Coetzee
Elizabeth Costello will be a surprise (and perhaps a disappointment) to anyone who is expecting a conventional novel. There is a main character, the Elizabeth Costello of the title, an aging Australian novelist, but the book is split into eight episodes or ‘lessons’ which focus on different moral or philosophical problems. Often they are based around a talk given by Elizabeth or another character, sometimes contentious and never well received.
I found some of the discussions interesting but even the most interesting ones tended to be preachy. It was hard not to skip. Overall, I was glad the book was not long.
+10 task (Qld)
+5 combo (10.9)
+10 review
Task total: 25
Grand Total: 845
10.9 Realistic RatingsThe Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Review: Samantha Shannon was twenty-three years old when The Bone Seasons was published, and I guess in the UK maybe it hit bigger than in the US, or I’m just completely out of the loop. Regardless, while not classified as YA and featuring a slightly older protagonist, this fits well with big YA dystopian kind of series. The story itself was a little uneven – the beginning and middle full of detail that may or may not actually be relevant to the overall story, with the end picking up a lot of pace and stopping some of the infodump – but it definitely managed to keep me engaged by the end. I came close to downloading the second book in the series since it ends to some extent in the middle of the action, but since the third isn’t out yet, I think I’ll try to hold off a little.
+10 Task (3.73 rating)
+5 Combo (10.2)
+10 Review
+5 Series
Task Total: 30
Grand Total: 380
10.4 Love StoriesThe Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (Lexile 840)
Review: Sarah Dessen is one of those authors I’d heard a lot about but never read, so I figured it was about time. I might have missed my window for her, since for whatever reason YA hasn’t been hitting me quite right recently. Still, The Truth About Forever is a decent book – a little angsty, a little real, a little romantic – but this particular kind of protagonist tends not to be my favorite. Whether teenaged or not, the kind of character that just allows her life to be directed by others is not something I relate well to – I guess I’m too stubborn. I’m glad Macy went through a development process, but it got a little frustrating at times. I added another of Dessen’s books to my ever-expanding TBR, but I doubt I’ll be picking it up anytime soon.
+10 Task
+10 Review
+5 Combo (10.2)
Task Total: 25
Grand Total: 405
Kate S wrote: "Tien wrote: "20.6 Svetlana Alexievich (2015)Child 44 (Leo Demidov #1) by Tom Rob Smith
+5 Combo 20.1
+5 Jumbo 509 p in MPE"
Thanks, Kate!
10.2 Noel, NoelOdd One Out by Monica McInerney
Review
A fun and light-hearted read by one of Australia’s popular woman writers, Odd One Out is just exactly what you need to lighten a dreary day. I think this is only the second book of Monica McInerney’s that I’ve read but it was so fluffy that it was a breeze to finish. Unfortunately, it was rather lacking in romance though I guess the whole point of the book is about discovering oneself so it actually makes sense to not have romance in it. There is the potential though and such a lovely brother that just added that little sweetness to this book. A truly enjoyable read-in-a-single-sitting, if you’re after something to brighten your day.
+10 Task
+5 combo (10.9 - 3.45 avg)
+10 Review
Post Total: 25 points
Total points: 550 points
20.4-Elfriede Jelinek (2004)The Copper Sign (Das kupferne Zeichen #1) by Katia Fox
author splits her time between Germany & France (reference) & book originally written in German
Review
One of my favourite trope (girl disguised as boy) mixed in with my least favourite time period (medieval), I really wasn’t sure what to make of it. I couldn’t not read this though and I’m glad I did as I read it all in one day. I’m always terrified of Medieval books; this time period is not at all kind and despite his great way with words, I still struggle with Ken Follett’s works (currently, World Without End has been sitting on my ‘currently-reading’ for nearly 12 months... I’m getting there though). The Copper Sign was not at all difficult to get through. Whilst there were some hard-to-swallow bits, they weren’t explored too deeply or graphically so I had an easier time reading this. I really liked the characters and the plot though there were some parts where I’ve questioned the language / translation and in the end (after I read it all), some questions as to the way some things were written (or maybe I just didn’t like those parts). Overall, I’ve really enjoyed this novel though it could’ve been better.
+20 Task
+15 Combo (10.2, 10.9 - 3.58 avg, 20.2 - 12th century)
+10 Review
+5 Series
+5 Jumbo (646 pages)
Post Total: 55 points
Total points: 605 points
10.7 Cozy Holidays (Karen Michele's Task)Aunty Lee's Delights (Singaporean Mystery #1) by Ovidia Yu
tagged 'cozy mystery' by 17 users
Review
The first time I saw this series, I thought, “Oooh, sounds like a modern Asian version of Miss Marple!” Of course, I had to, at least, give it a trial read. It is a fascinating read: I could hear the Singaporean accents throughout the book and I was constantly drooling over all the food! Aunty Lee was very like Miss Marple in that she instinctively understood people and this, of course, is the heart of all investigations and hence, her success in solving the mysteries. I have really enjoyed this first instalment; some serious issues were explored while at the same time, I found the ending to be not quite neat (there some outstanding issues that I am wondering whether they are being dealt with in the next book of the series).
+10 Task
+5 Combo (10.9 - 3.43 avg)
+10 Review
+5 Series
Post total: 30 points
Total points: 635 points
20.4-Elfriede Jelinek The Concealed by Sarah Kleck translated from German
Review:
I was honestly rather disappointed by this book. I don’t mind teen angst or even supernatural or fantasy stories, but the combination in this book was rather over the top. Bringing the two main characters and their friends together played out ok, but towards the end of the book I was frequently rolling my eyes as to how cheesy this whole thing was playing out. It is book 1 of a two book series, but I doubt I will read the second book. I just had a difficult time really connecting and believing in the characters. Sadly a generous 2/5 stars and one I would not recommend.
Task +20
Review +10
Series +5
Combo 10.9 (3.61 rating) +5
Task total = 40
Grand total = 135
10.8 Australia DayRemembering Babylon by David Malouf
I just could not connect to this novel. How can a book win so many prestigious awards...and still be such a stinker in my opinion? The basic story is about a British boy who comes to Australia ...but, due to a shipwreck he is saved and raised by Aboriginal peoples. Many years later, he returns by chance to white society where he is mistrusted. The mistrust overflows to the family that has sheltered him. The author's style skips from scene to scene and person to person without me noticing (Maybe I just didn't care). I was often confused and could not stay focussed. The one thing I will remember about this book is that it stirred me to do some other reading about the treatment of Australia's aboriginal peoples which I knew was awful...but I had no idea about the number of pure massacres that had taken place.
Task +10 (NSW Winner 1993)
Review +10
combo +5 (10.9- 3.48 rating (really?????)
total = 25
grand total = 430
Ed wrote: "10.8 Australia DayRemembering Babylon by David Malouf
I just could not connect to this novel. How can a book win so many prestigious awards...and still be such a stin..."
I had a course at Uni which was basically all about this writer (my lecturer was such a fan girl!). I have only ever liked one of his works, An Imaginary Life, and I REALLY liked that, but none of his others, so I totally get where you are coming from.
20.9 Winnie the PoohWinter Holiday byArthur Ransome
+20 task (published 1933)
+10 Oldies
+5 Series (Swallows and Amazons)
Task total: 35
Grand Total: 390
Thanks Amanda...good to know it's not just me.
15.3 - DominoesTonight & Forever by Brenda Jackson
(from The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin – born USA)
+15 Task (born USA)
Task Total: 15
Grand Total: 420
20.3 Toni Morrison (1993) - Charleston SyllabusThe Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist
Review: I’d read a couple of books about the Great Migration earlier this year, and decided it was time to go back a century in history. Baptist doesn’t just tell a story of slavery – he tells the story of how so many of the contentious issues in American politics have been around from the very beginning. Whether it’s the lack of concern for black life, pervasive income disparity, or the way banks can control entire economies, this book shows none are new issues. I do wish the parallels had been drawn more clearly at times – I could see the threads, but I’m not sure it would convince someone who didn’t want to be convinced. Regardless, it’s clear that we’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go.
+20 Task
+10 Review
+5 Jumbo (528 pages)
Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 455
10.2 NoelNo Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay
Review: Poetry is one of those genres I have a hard time with, mainly because when I read I don’t hear words in my head very often. Since that’s basically the point of poetry, it doesn’t quite stick. This collection worked though – and now I’d like to possibly reread it someday, as well as look up some of Sarah Kay’s spoken word clips on YouTube. It’s a charming little collection, with some poems reading almost like short stories. Some are serious, many are quirky, and most have something to do with some component of love. For a quick last minute addition to my 2015 reading, I couldn’t have picked a better book.
+10 Task
+10 Review
Task Total: 20
Grand Total: 475
20.9 Winnie the PoohSister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
From the description, I expected this to be a fallen woman story. It is so much more than that. Carrie was young and innocent when she escaped small town Wisconsin for big city Chicago. So young - and especially so timid - that she did not know she could have hopes and dreams, let alone fulfill them. It has been a few dozen years since I was Carrie's age, but I can relate fully to that not knowing.
Dreiser's prose is simple, but his dialogue realistic. In fact, I see he is listed at Writer's Home as being in the group of realism writers. I think I read somewhere that he was grouped with the naturalists, and I can see that also. At one point while reading, I thought of Zola.
The Zola analogy, though, is more due to the storyline. This is Dreiser's debut and it is one heck of a story. Unfortunately, Dreiser spoils the strength of his story by moralizing with the ending. It seems to me, that if you tell you story well enough, and you respect your readers enough, you do not need to spend the last half dozen pages explaining the meaning behind what you just said.
I will look for another Dreiser where I expect another strong story. This one was a solid four stars, but without pretensions of being five.
+20 Task (pub 1900)
+15 Combo (10.2, 10.9-3.7, 20.1)
+10 Review
+10 Oldies
+ 5 Jumbo (580 pgs)
Task Total = 60
Grand total = 240
20.8Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
+20 task
+10 combo (10.3, 10.9-3.99)
+15 jumbo (~880pgs.)
task total: 45
grand total: 335
10.9Chimera by Mira Grant
+10 task
+5 combo (10.2)
+10 series (Parasitology #3)
task total: 25
grand total: 360
20.7 - FeminismTipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
+20 task
+5 combo (10.9 Realistic Ratings - 3.99)
task total: 25
grand total: 130
15.2 DominoesThe Lover by Marguerite Duras
+15 (Duras born in 1914; author of 15.1 born in 1917)
Grand Total: 30
Don (The Book Guy) wrote: "20.7 FeminismMuch Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, pub. 1598-99.
Much Ado about Nothing is a play by William Shakespeare. Considered one of his best comedies i..."
+5 Combo 10.4-#35 on the list
Rosemary wrote: "20.7 - FeminismThe Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
I like a lot of Margaret Atwood's books, but I found this one rather slow and ponderous: well-written of course, b..."
Sorry, Rosemary, Blind Assassin was a nominee for the Governor General, but did not win the award. 20.5 requires a winner.
20.9 Winnie the PoohPeter Pan by J.M. Barrie
+20 Task (pub 1911)
+10 Oldies
+5 Combo (10.2)
Post Total: 35
Season Total: 185
10.5 Favorite AuthorsThe Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz
+10 Task (second use)
+15 Combo (10.2, 10.3, 10.9)
Post Total: 25
Season Total: 210
10.9 Realistic RatingsThe Good Children by Kate Wilhelm
+10 Task (3.64)
Post Total: 10
Season Total: 220
10.9 Realistic RatingsGrace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
+10 Task (3.97)
Post Total: 10
Season Total: 230
10.9 Realistic RatingsA Garden of Earthly Delights by Joyce Carol Oates
+10 Task (3.79)
+5 Series (Wonderland Quartet)
+5 Oldies (1967)
Post Total: 20
Season Total: 250
20.1 Grazia DeleddaPariss by Edward Rutherfurd
This book follows a group of families in Paris mostly from 1875 to the 1968 epilogue with chapters interspersed showing their histories back to 1261. By the end of the book I was getting the impression that there were only half a dozen families in Paris as no matter what the century, they kept on bumping into each other. Through the different families the reader learns of the various social structures within the society. I found some of the chapters finished with a bit of a jolt, and then the next chapter had skipped years and was on to another story. I did enjoy the book, particularly the chapters set in the end of the 19th century, the setting of another two books I have recently finished.
+20 task (https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpres...)
+10 Combo (10.2, 10.9 rating 3.89)
+10 Review
+15 Jumbo (809 pages)
Task total: 55
Grand Total: 445
10.9 - Realistic RatingsThe Novel Cure: From Abandonment to Zestlessness: 751 Books to Cure What Ails You by Ella Berthoud and Susan Elderkin
The idea of a book curing your ills feels far fetched, I know. Don't think of novels as a magic elixir or cure all but as a way to examine a problem from a different point of view. Conquer Flying, Fear of by reading Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's Night Flight - see how much worse it can be? That turbulence was nothing! Feeling lonely? The gang at 28 Barbary Lane in Tales of the City will take you in as one of their own.
This book can be read equally well straight through or as the mood strikes you. Even if you aren't suffering from the particular ailment you will still find interesting recommendations to add to your TBR.
The selection of novels covers a wide swath of literary history, from classics to more contemporary works and everything inbetween. I was pleased to see that there were a decent number of books in translation that go beyond the usual Murakami and Russian greats. I especially liked the ten best lists, including the best books for each decade of your life (from teens through 100+), the best novels for when you have a cold, and the best audiobooks for road rage. Genres are hit and miss - fantasy and sci fi are lovingly covered while horror, thrillers, mystery and romance fall by the wayside. Le sigh.
The introductions to each book go me interested in titles but I became annoyed when Berthoud and Elderkin give away major plot points and spoilers. I get that they are eager to say why the book is such a good cure for xyz ailment, but I'd rather they said "trust us" more often. I found myself skimming when they talked about titles already on my TBR just to make sure nothing was ruined for me.
As the authors point out novels are not a substitute for sound medical advice. But when you're coping with a problem, be it mental or physical (or metaphysical), sometimes a well-chosen book is just the thing you need.
+10 task (3.92)
+10 review
Task total: 20 points
Grand total: 340 points
10.3-Science Fiction DaySlaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
YA Assignment/Lexile 850
+10 task (no. 11 on list)
+5 oldies (pub. 1969)
Task total: 15
RwS Total: 120
Dominoes Total: 100
Grand Total: 230
Kate S wrote: "Rosemary wrote: "20.7 - FeminismThe Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Sorry, Rosemary, Blind Assassin was a nominee for the Governor General, but did not win the award. 20.5 requires a winner. "
Ah, OK! I didn't realise it was the book that had to have won, I thought it was the author. I'll adjust my spreadsheet :)
10.1 Design Your Own TaskRead a book set in New Zealand or by a New Zealand author.
Once Were Warriors by Alan Duff
Review: Once Were Warriors is an uncomfortable book to read. You watch a family spiral toward disintegration via interior character monologues. The Heke family is Maori who live in a public housing development occupied by mostly Maori families. Poverty, alcohol, drugs, violence, bullying, tragedy, neglect and hopelessness haunt these people who have lost all but a few warped shreds of their cultural heritage. It is hard to read the thoughts of these people as they descend into an alcoholic fog or a rage of violence, or the thoughts of the children as they try to cope with the world they experience. I kept wanting to divert my gaze.
The conclusion offers some hope, sort of.
+10 Task
+5 Combo 10.9 (3.92)
+5 Oldies (1990)
+10 Review
+5 Series
Task Total: 35
Grand Total: 160
15.3 Book DominoesThe Evening Spider by Emily Arsenault
+15 Task (book published in same decade as 15.2)
Post total: 15 points
Total points: 650 points
20.10 Leap Year Elizabeth (Alaska)'s Task:The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester
Review
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed this book! Who knew the making of a dictionary could be exciting? Well, actually, it’s a massive drudge of a work but oh, to be involved (in a little way) in such a monumental creation would have been a dream. I am kind of wishing that I live in that period so I could contribute my own slips of quotations! On the other hand, the author has done very well in choosing the perspective in telling this tale; as you’d note the sensational subtitle... Still I expected something rather dry but it wasn’t. It was exciting, it was poignant, and it was easy to read (except for one point in the story).
+20 Task
+5 Combo (10.9 - 3.83avg)
+10 Review
Post total: 35 points
Total points: 685 points
20.8 Best of 2015Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins
Review:
Gold, fame, and citrus were the enticements that drew people across the country to California. But the state of California in this dystopian novel is experiencing extreme drought and high winds, resulting in a reverse of the migration in "The Grapes of Wrath". Some states have closed their borders, and the last of the evacuation buses have left for the east. The few holdouts in the parched area survive on "ration cola", black market provisions, and goods looted from abandoned houses.
Luz and Ray have holed up in a starlet's former home in Los Angeles. They assume a parental role toward Ig, a neglected, possibly abused two-year-old who was spending time with a group of junkies. To find a better life for Ig they head eastward, crossing the desert with meager rations of gasoline and water. They find a sea of sand covering the Southwest, moving like a glacier and swallowing town after town. A desert cult, led by a charismatic dowser who finds water and food in questionable ways, may be their only hope for survival.
Watkins' writing is beautiful. Her descriptions are sensual and earthy, and sometimes hallucinogenic. The author has taken California's real problems of water shortage, diminished aquifers, wildfires, and corporate greed, and envisioned a near future with exacerbated problems. The people left behind seems real--survivalists banded together in communes, gangs, and cults. The scary thing about Watkins' vision is knowing that there is a possibility of at least some of it actually becoming a reality.
+20 task (on NPR list)
+ 5 combo (10.9 Realistic Rating of 3.40)
+10 review
Task total: 35
Grand total: 255
10.1 Design Your Own Task (Genre = Science)What If? : Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe
I found this book highly entertaining. Between the absurd questions, some of the assumptions, and especially the commentary, all enhanced by stick cartoons, I really enjoyed myself. The science parts were well explained and I think they would be able to be followed by someone with more general familiarity. I'm keeping the book for when my daughter gets a little older to see if it intrigues her as something different. My favorite moment was a quip regarding Icarus - that Munroe sees the story as a lesson not about human frailty but about the limitations of wax as an adhesive. The hardcover is also well-designed, with a double sided book jacket and additional art on the hardcover itself.
+10 task
+10 review
Task total: 20
Grand total: 770
Tien wrote: " oh, to be involved (in a little way) in such a monumental creation would have been a dream. I am kind of wishing that I live in that period so I could contribute my own slips of quotations!"It's ongoing! My father is one of their experts on golf words. He doesn't get called on often, but when he does, he loves looking through all his old golf books searching for the earliest use of a term!
10.2 - Noel, NoelPaper Towns by John Green
I love John Green so I don’t know why I took so long to read this – I’ve had it since July 2012, but on the Kindle, where books are easier to forget/ignore/save for later. I was hooked, as ever, on the story of geeky Quentin Jacobsen and his unrequited love for the beautiful and quirky girl next door, Margo Roth Spiegelman.
One night just before high school graduation, Margo taps on Q's window and takes him off on a night of adventurous and mildly law-breaking practical jokes. Then she disappears. The rest of the story is his efforts to trace her, and figure out whether she’s alive or dead.
Two things stopped me giving this five stars. One, John Green does “geeky guy in love with beautiful, quirky girl” very well, but he does it a bit too often. Two, maybe I’m too old for it, (view spoiler)
+10 task
+5 combo (10.9 rated 3.95 at the time of posting)
+10 review
Task total: 25
Grand Total: 880
20.1 Grazia DeleddaAngle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Review:
I was thrilled when my book club picked this book. I first read this book years ago and loved it then. Reading it again now, after being married for over ten years, I have a very different perspective on the book. The book traces the story of the protagonist's grandparents as they move through the American West living in mining towns and dreaming of irrigation plans. But the story isn't just historical; Lyman Ward, the narrator who is researching the lives of his grandparents and telling their story, comes through as a complicated character himself, dealing with an illness that has left him wheelchair bound and in pain, abandoned by his wife. The characters in this book are so real I feel I've known them personally. They are imperfect and frustrating yet not unlikable. An absolutely fantastic book that I'm really glad to have had a reason to revisit.
The audio version, which was available through Hoopla at my local library, is a great way to experience the book. Because the book is first-person narration, it translates perfectly to audio format and the narrator does a nice job capturing the voice of Lyman Ward, as well as providing characterizations for Susan and Oliver.
+20 Task (on approved author list)
+10 Review
+5 Oldies (1971)
Task total: 35
Grand total: 290
20.4-Elfriede JelinekThe Devil's Pool by George Sand
A short and pleasant read. The narrator informs us that she was inspired to tell this story after seeing a particular painting - "The Dance of Death" by Hans Holbein the Younger. The work is for the most part a pastoral story with one slip into the supernatural. A young widower is encouraged by his in-laws to find a new wife...and they have the widow for him to consider. As he goes to meet this woman he accompanies a 16 year-old neighbor girl to a home where she expects to become a shepherdess. The pair bring the widower's young son and become loss at The Devil's Pool...where they spend the night. The next day they set out again... but are still loss.... somehow returning to the same spot they rested at the night before. The widower confesses his love for the girl...but she rejects him. As they eventually find their ways to their respective destinations, the widower has no intention of marrying the widow. The girl has been assaulted by her prospective employer. They both return home....and eventually decide to get married. I particularly enjoyed the last few chapters which relate how an 1840-s French village would have celebrated a wedding over three days. 4 stars.
task +20
review +10
combo +10 (10.9 - 3.43 rating; 20.1 - Sand approved in post 42)
oldie +15 (1846)
total = 55
grand total= 485
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Reading with Style
Books mentioned in this topic
The Night Ranger (other topics)The Drop (other topics)
Shoot the Dog (other topics)
The Whites (other topics)
Between the World and Me (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Alex Berenson (other topics)Brad Smith (other topics)
Harry Brandt (other topics)
Ta-Nehisi Coates (other topics)
Alex Berenson (other topics)
More...
Hot Chocolate at Hanselmann's by Rosetta Loy
+20 Task: Italian - European Women Writers Series
+ 5 Combo: 10.9 Realistic Ratings
Task Total: 25
Grand Total: 670