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| Name : | Sam K. |
My Reviews
The network of connections, the pervasiveness of secrets, and the transformation of individuals make this book worth reading and discussing.
A bawdy romp through late 15th century Italy, with memorable characters and wonderful vignette appearances by historical personages. Language warning!
Allende gives an authentic voice to a very troubled teenager and some detailed descriptions of the hazards teens face today. There were a multitude of interesting characters - each one might be worthy of a book.
Although I did read it to the end, I was not engaged in the story or with the characters. I did learn a little about India which I appreciated.
I found this book to be depressing - not only in the horrors of the concentration camps, but in the afterlives of the survivors. The first part just had too many names to keep track of and the second part just recounted brutality that has been well documented in other accounts. However, the solidarity displayed by the women was admirable. Others in my club really liked the book.
Madeline, Jane, Celeste, Renata, Bonnie - they are all women we have known, but perhaps we didn't know their lies, either. A captivating exploration of the sometimes abusive relations between women and the men they are attracted to and it's affect on their lives and the lives of those they love.
For me, this book was a romp through the improbable made possible. For others, it was an description of the adventures of a possibly mentally ill woman. Half of didn't like the book at all and the other half enjoyed it a lot.
Like Icarus, Beryl Markham had an incredible amount of self-confidence which enable her to achieve things that not very many women even dreamed about. Although she did find her soul mate, he was ill-suited to long term relationships and although she had a succession of gentlemen companions she did not seem to be able to attract (or be attracted to) one that might prove long term. The Kenyan background and the links to Out of Africa make this book a rich source of additional material.
It's a cult novel and you either get the humour and laugh your pants off or you don't get it and you hate the book! I fall into the "laugh" camp. It is beautifully plotted and as funny as Laurel and Hardy ever were. It takes the absurd to ridiculous heights.
With so many good, absorbing, engaging, thought-provoking books out there, this fluffy diversion doesn't quite measure up. It's vaguely entertaining, but that's about it. Would make for a great sitcom, I think.
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