_Still Here_ by Lara Vapnyar

[Joy H., Group Founder]

RE: Still Here by Lara Vapnyar
Added 8/12/16. (Published August 2nd 2016 by Hogarth )
I learned about this book in a NY Times review online. It sounds interesting.

See the following GR member reviews:
Jill's Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stacy's Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

EXCERPT FROM ABOVE REVIEWS:
" alternating points of view and varying storylines"
"told in four different POV's - almost as if it were a personal diary entry with their different perspective."

Here's the NY Times review: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/boo...

MY REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nina]

I like reading different reviews and that one was interesting but not to the point of my interest in reading the book. I guess it is far removed from my general interest. I do love books set in Greenwich or Brooklyn but not that age group or Russian etc so will skip that one. Presently finished reading, "Lila," by Marilynne Robinson. She wrote, "Housekeeping" and I think it was quite popular/might have won an award. I wasn't fond of Lila but others in my book club liked it.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: "I like reading different reviews and that one was interesting but not to the point of my interest in reading the book. I guess it is far removed from my general interest. ... Presently finished reading, "Lila," by Marilynne Robinson. ..."

RE: Lila by Marilynne Robinson

Nina, I haven't read _Lila_. but I've read 2 other books by Robinson: Housekeeping and Gilead See my reviews at:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I did not enjoy either of the books very much, but, as I said in my review, "There's no doubt that Robinson has a way with words. Her prose is beautiful at times and her philosophy touching."

Gilead seemed "dry" to me (although I see that didn't mention in that in my review) and Housekeeping was too bizarre and obscure. I still remember how I had to plod through Gilead's religious/philosophical aspects, and how distasteful Housekeeping was to me.

I think my memory is accurate on the above. I'm surprised I remember that much! I guess I remember feelings more easily than facts. :)

[Nina]

"Lila" is set mostly in the town of Gilead and as I don't remember reading it/book club members said we did/I had nothing to base the book itself on/I disliked the fact that there was no punctuation. I sometimes got tired of trying to figure out who was talking and I never did warm up to the main character. Also, one of my writer friends was at a conference with the author and when my friend extended her hand the other lady author turned away and was also quite rude to my friend and she said she gave a humorless talk. My friend sort of excused her as she, like you, thought she was a good writer.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Nina wrote: ""Lila" is set mostly in the town of Gilead and as I don't remember reading it/book club members said we did/I had nothing to base the book itself on/I disliked the fact that there was no punctuatio..."

I'd probably dislike that too, Nina.

Perhaps the author was having a bad day when your friend met her.