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christinafrancisgilbert's review against another edition
4.0
This memoir is a whirlwind of emotions and experiences to represent Dani Shapiro's life and relationships.
I love her style and found this to be a raw and honest insight into the author's life.
It makes sense that the sub title lists Time, Memory and Marriage as its themes though the title of Hourglass appeals to me most. I can understand how the narrowing of an hourglass is a perfect analogy for the constraints of middle age. Her early life is presented to us in vignettes and expanses of opportunity just like the top half of an hourglass. And I can only imagine she anticipated her readers to think of later life experiences as having a parallel sense of widened opportunity.
I found it interesting that Shapiro made frequent references back to her teenage journals and writings from her past. I also love how she intertwines various memories of places she has lived and her past lives or selves.
Shapiro's writing is masterful and poetic so that I immensely enjoyed reading this short memoir. I noticed how elements of her own life and people she has known influenced her recent novel Signal Fires, which I loved. In particular, her references to Altzheimer's. I will be seeking out another of her novels in coming months: Black and White.
I love her style and found this to be a raw and honest insight into the author's life.
It makes sense that the sub title lists Time, Memory and Marriage as its themes though the title of Hourglass appeals to me most. I can understand how the narrowing of an hourglass is a perfect analogy for the constraints of middle age. Her early life is presented to us in vignettes and expanses of opportunity just like the top half of an hourglass. And I can only imagine she anticipated her readers to think of later life experiences as having a parallel sense of widened opportunity.
I found it interesting that Shapiro made frequent references back to her teenage journals and writings from her past. I also love how she intertwines various memories of places she has lived and her past lives or selves.
Shapiro's writing is masterful and poetic so that I immensely enjoyed reading this short memoir. I noticed how elements of her own life and people she has known influenced her recent novel Signal Fires, which I loved. In particular, her references to Altzheimer's. I will be seeking out another of her novels in coming months: Black and White.
kimmeyer's review against another edition
4.0
This is written as a collection of moments and thoughts, stream of consciousness style. Shapiro's excellent writing makes the book.
cheesehead_reader's review against another edition
4.0
Read (or actually listened to) this book based on the recommendation of a book club selection. I don't think I would have found it otherwise. I loved her style of writing. Listening to the audio version, it just felt as if she were speaking to me personally about her life. I could imagine the pictures of their life flitting by on their tv screen.
The most profound part of this book was talking about couple's "third thing". As a woman, approaching 50, married for over 25 years, my husband and I lost (or maybe never had) our third thing. Moments like this were eye opening and yet made me want to cry.
This book definitely touched me. Yet I don't think it's for everyone... or I should say I don't think it will have an impact on everyone. I'd love to have my daughters read it but I'm not sure they'd get it. As for me, I will probably listen to it again.
The most profound part of this book was talking about couple's "third thing". As a woman, approaching 50, married for over 25 years, my husband and I lost (or maybe never had) our third thing. Moments like this were eye opening and yet made me want to cry.
This book definitely touched me. Yet I don't think it's for everyone... or I should say I don't think it will have an impact on everyone. I'd love to have my daughters read it but I'm not sure they'd get it. As for me, I will probably listen to it again.
jessiereads315's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written with several gems hidden within.
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
4.0
Shapiro does get better as a writer as she goes along. This was a moving look at nearly twenty years of marriage, at life together deepened and challenged by tragedy and disappointment.
katiez624's review against another edition
4.0
After reading her deeply personal memoir, [b:Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love|40364332|Inheritance A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love|Dani Shapiro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531185781l/40364332._SX50_.jpg|62645055], and loving it, I was curious what Shapiro had to share about the inner workings of her marriage. While I usually don't mind a nonlinear format, this one started to become disjointed, and I was hoping for a more coherent story. She adds in quotations from works of literature as well as excerpts from her own journals.
It is undeniable that Shapiro is a gifted writer. There were a number of passages that were poignant and insightful, but as a whole, the book did not grab me.
3.5 stars
It is undeniable that Shapiro is a gifted writer. There were a number of passages that were poignant and insightful, but as a whole, the book did not grab me.
3.5 stars
rovwade's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.0
valouis13's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book...reflections on life, relationships with interludes from other thinkers
connieaw's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I can relate to so many experiences she's had. I've also kept journals (I burned mine) and have been married more than once. Meeting 'the one' later in your life and realizing you will never know the man he was before you were married and watching him get older. 'Time is like a tall building of playing cards until a strong gust of wind blows the whole thing skyward.'