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| Name : | CA M. |
My Reviews
really well done glimpse into the past cultural practices of a section of china.
The big question: "Would we force our daughters to endure the torture& disfigurement of foot binding if we believed it would ensure a better life for them?"
The whole idea of having no value would not fly in our society today.
Good to learn where the South was during and post- WWII, regarding prejudice against those blacks who fought in WWII. also, of interest was the lengths women would go to to please/appease their husbands in those days.
slow start, grows on you. Told from 2 views: renee, the super-literate small hotel concierge, hiding her gifts from the hotel residents; Paloma, 12-yr-old insightful dtr of wealthy parents, living in the hotel, trying to find meaning in life.
Alot to discuss here: how we treat people who "Help" us (the paperboy,lawn mower, babysitter, etc.); our racial prejudices; our class prejudices; what we will/won't do to make other people like us. Didn't want to put it down. The suspense was intense.
So much to talk about! Telling "white lies", keeping secrets; assisted suicide; "snowbirds"; wealth; authors' attitude towards life; DNR; bravery; conscientious objectors; the gov't's insufficient support of returning soldiers.
Confusing times, places & characters. We all liked the main character, crusty, old, sad but alive Leo Gursky. Lively discussion about whether or not a 14-yr-old girl would go to such great lengths to help her lonely & depressed mother and her Messianic younger brother. Discussion about Jewish identity: are you a Polish Jew or a Jewish Pole? and how that identity changes with the different generations.
This is not meant to be a "story." It's the fulfillment of a promise from Patti Smith to her soulmate Robert Mapplethorpe that she would someday write about their love and their time together, as young, obsessed, starving artists in NYC. They were 2 totally different people who filled in each others' blanks. She chronicles life @ the famed Chelsea Hotel in the late 60s>early 70s. She gives us a glimpse into their "must-do" daily lives of very dedicated artists, in a community of other obsessed (& some well known) artists in diverse media.
Lots to talk about. Characters from all walks of life go through their everyday lives in NYC in the Summer of 1974 @ the time Philippe Petit attempted to walk on a wire suspended between the new Twin Towers. Amazing how McCann wove the stories/lives together.
Awesome Book on Tape!
Kind of interesting re: the lives of some of the Canadians & Nova Scotians impacted by the attacks of the German subs off the Northeast coast during WWII. Reminded us that war is not a good thing. People, children, wives, get killed.And just because someone is of the same nationality as "the enemy" doesn't mean that he/she is evil, and also our enemy.
NOT a "Must-Read". It was more of a quiet, "that was interesting" read. This author, Howard Norman, is highly regarded by a few of the members of our group. They admitted this was not their favorite of his works.
Page-turner. Read 100 pgs/day, no problem. Lisbeth's virtues and strengths were underestimated by almost everybody, the evil & the good. Of the three books in Larson's trilogy, this is Lisbeth's story. There is some graphic violence, but you can skip over it.
Another "history through the life of an object" book. Can be confusing because it was told chronologically backwards.The map inside the cover of the hardcover book was extremely helpful.
Skip over the extremely violent parts. It's the sequel to "Gone, Baby, Gone" (excellent movie).
Interesting to see where these true-to-life characters go. Very true to contemporary life in blue-collar New England (Boston & western Mass).
In the face of man's inhumanity through torture and deprivation, for years, this man triumphed.
And then his Faith and family helped him through his PTS years. A miracle. Gripping read.
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