Boy, I keep picking these books with really warped characters! This story is about a man and the many women who love him through his life.
In the beginning you learn that a man has died, it then goes back to the beginning with his first wife and tells this mans story from the perspective of the women and children in his life. He really was a love them and leave them type of guy and discarded his children just as easy. His first wife really fell apart after he left and was never really able to get her act together. The kids had to raise themselves.
The man was such a jerk, it was good to know throughout that he died alone. I just really felt for the women who loved him.
My Grade: B
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Eight Million Gods and Demons by Hiroko Sherwin
Another great book. I'm really enjoying books in different times and different cultures.
This is set in Japan prior to WWII. The main character Taku is a very idealistic man who has served prison time for his political ideals. He marries a young, beautiful woman who has epilepsy and loses many children. Her husband full of ideals blasts men who get involved with geishas or keeps other women. Of course through the course of his business dealings he meets a geisha and ends up having a second family with this woman. During this time his wife becomes pregnant and gives birth to a healthy boy. When he is about 14 or maybe 15 his mother, Emi, dies and he is taken to the second family's home and raised with his father's other children.
The story was wonderful and multigenerational. It was weird though to read about WWII from the Japanese perspective. I found it very educational. I really enjoyed the book.
My Grade: A
This is set in Japan prior to WWII. The main character Taku is a very idealistic man who has served prison time for his political ideals. He marries a young, beautiful woman who has epilepsy and loses many children. Her husband full of ideals blasts men who get involved with geishas or keeps other women. Of course through the course of his business dealings he meets a geisha and ends up having a second family with this woman. During this time his wife becomes pregnant and gives birth to a healthy boy. When he is about 14 or maybe 15 his mother, Emi, dies and he is taken to the second family's home and raised with his father's other children.
The story was wonderful and multigenerational. It was weird though to read about WWII from the Japanese perspective. I found it very educational. I really enjoyed the book.
My Grade: A
truth and consequences by Alison Lurie
In this book a woman has been a caretaker for her professor husband after a back injury, during that time they have fallen out of love. Another couple moves to town, the woman a writer works at the university and everyone including the injured husband falls for her. Of course they begin an affair. Meanwhile the caretaker wife falls in love with the writer's "husband".
I felt sorry for the wife who had been taking care of the husband. Her husband was downright mean and rude to her. I hate to give away the ending, but lets just say the wife does get her happy ending, after enduring even more pain.
I felt the husband really got what was coming to him as well.
It was an enjoyable book. I would say it was okay, not great and not bad. I just didn't really think the characters were very sympathetic.
My Grade: C
I felt sorry for the wife who had been taking care of the husband. Her husband was downright mean and rude to her. I hate to give away the ending, but lets just say the wife does get her happy ending, after enduring even more pain.
I felt the husband really got what was coming to him as well.
It was an enjoyable book. I would say it was okay, not great and not bad. I just didn't really think the characters were very sympathetic.
My Grade: C
love walked in by Marisa De Los Santos
Wow, what a wonderful book! I have to say since I began this project of books, this is by far my favorite so far, of course I'm only about 10 into my 50+ books.
In this book a woman, Cornelia, works in a coffee shop and in walks what she thinks is Mr. Right. Of course he doesn't end up being so, but in the process she meets his daughter (Clare) who comes to live with her when the little girl's mother disappears.
Clare is such a spunky little girl who has been dealing with her mother's mental illness long before she disappeared. She was so resourceful in getting around not having an active mother and keeping people from finding out.
Cornelia stays with Clare's Dad even after learning what a deadbeat dad he is, mainly because she doesn't want to lose Clare. They hire a detective to try and find the mother while I believe Cornelia is torn between wanting her found for Clare, but wanting to keep her.
It was such a wonderful, heartwarming story. I think it really showed about what love is all about, the good and the bad. It also really resonated that while loving someone there are times that your needs/wants can be different and it was about putting aside what you want for the sake of someone you love.
My Grade: A +
In this book a woman, Cornelia, works in a coffee shop and in walks what she thinks is Mr. Right. Of course he doesn't end up being so, but in the process she meets his daughter (Clare) who comes to live with her when the little girl's mother disappears.
Clare is such a spunky little girl who has been dealing with her mother's mental illness long before she disappeared. She was so resourceful in getting around not having an active mother and keeping people from finding out.
Cornelia stays with Clare's Dad even after learning what a deadbeat dad he is, mainly because she doesn't want to lose Clare. They hire a detective to try and find the mother while I believe Cornelia is torn between wanting her found for Clare, but wanting to keep her.
It was such a wonderful, heartwarming story. I think it really showed about what love is all about, the good and the bad. It also really resonated that while loving someone there are times that your needs/wants can be different and it was about putting aside what you want for the sake of someone you love.
My Grade: A +
Sunday, February 3, 2008
What Was She Thinking by Zoe Heller
This story is certainly relevant in light of the scandals today with teachers having affairs with their students. I really did not like the character "writing" the book. She was an old bitter spinster.
She tells the story of her friend, Sheba, who starts at her school and ends up having an affair with one of her students. I really didn't feel sympathy for any of the characters, not sure if it was deliberate on the part of the writer, but none of the characters were really redeaming to me. They all seemed selfish. The only character I had sympathy for was Ben, Sheba's son who was autistic or downs or something like that.
Overall it was a pretty boring book, everyone knew what would happen and had no resolution of ANY kind.
My Grade: D
She tells the story of her friend, Sheba, who starts at her school and ends up having an affair with one of her students. I really didn't feel sympathy for any of the characters, not sure if it was deliberate on the part of the writer, but none of the characters were really redeaming to me. They all seemed selfish. The only character I had sympathy for was Ben, Sheba's son who was autistic or downs or something like that.
Overall it was a pretty boring book, everyone knew what would happen and had no resolution of ANY kind.
My Grade: D
The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber
This book is about basically a prostitute in the 1800's. It follows her path from a brothel to ending up working as a governess for the daughter of her benefactor. Originally he set her up in a nice apartment with an allowance but she became obsessed with his home life so set her self up as the daughter's governess. She becomes obsessed with the family. The guys wife is pretty much nuts.
Overall I thought it was a good book. The character of wife was very endearing because she was so childlike. No one ever told her about menstrual cycles so each month when it comes she thinks she is dying.
It definately brought to reality the class structure of that time.
It was a long book, but thoroughly enjoyable.
My Grade: B
Overall I thought it was a good book. The character of wife was very endearing because she was so childlike. No one ever told her about menstrual cycles so each month when it comes she thinks she is dying.
It definately brought to reality the class structure of that time.
It was a long book, but thoroughly enjoyable.
My Grade: B
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