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| Name : | Lisa S. |
My Reviews
For this book, the back story is just as fascinating as the narrative. The promise of what could have been - contrasted with the achievement that stands - creates ripe opportunities for discussion.
A humorous yet telling look at two worlds colliding to the betterment of both. Clyde Edgerton understands how to write from both a Southern viewpoint and a woman's - giving us a rich portrait of a young newlywed, Raney - whose experiences lead to greater understanding and tolerance.
A clever and effective way of storytelling - the hardy spirit of the Guernsey islanders during the German occupation and just after is told through letters. Great portraits show insight into the resilience and resourcefulness of these people.
A life very well lived on the road with good humor and lessons learned. At heart, a real portrait of relationships - with the road, with technology, with pets, with culture and community and most importantly within a couple whose partners are very well matched in every way.
While cross country in a converted bus is not where I'm going these days, I enjoyed being vicariously along for their journey.
And having the Queen of the Road herself on the phone for the club gathering made a great time even better.
Don't let the cover fool you - it's not just another “dog” book. Its unique perspective - with moments of deep sorrow tempered with moments of great joy - offers life lessons from the most keen observer in the story - Enzo the racing afficiando. More than a pet, he is a philosopher in a fur coat - seeing everything the humans in his life can't see, yet longing to be one of them. The narrative features racing as a key metaphor for a life well lived. Redemption also is a powerful theme - there is a demon zebra in all of us, but with love and understanding, we can rise above and achieve our greatest dreams.
While I can't say that I enjoyed "A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy," our book club had a great dialogue around philosophy and its applications to making life decisions - hence my recommending a book I did not particularly love. The philosopher and library references used to frame this book were interesting, and I appreciate where the writer was going. However, the passive nature of our heroine was not inspiring, and I was frustrated by her continuing inability to see beyond the conceptual to real life - although the end of the book seems to be the end of her nightmare. I was reminded by by fellow book club members that maybe we were expecting too much from the 19-year-old college student - and that realization led to additional great dialogue. So I consider the resulting conversation well worth the read and look forward to seeing what else Charlotte Greig creates in future.
Whether you lived through the 60s in the South or you are from a later generation, this book peels back the layers of "the way we've always done things" to expose the inner discrimination in even the most well meaning people. Characters are vivid, stories are strong, and the overall experience is keen. It inspired great conversations in our book club meeting, and I highly recommend it.
The remarkable friendship of Ronald Cotton and Jennifer Thompson-Cannino inspires and reveals. In this finely written true tale of fear, determination, forgiveness and finally of love, we learn how even the worst of circumstances can lead to life-affirming, impactful change that makes life better for others. Two learnings: Despite our most concerted efforts, what we remember most vividly may not in fact be real. And forgiving yourself for hurting others can be much more challenging than forgiving others for the hurt they have caused you.
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