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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
10
Extremely eloquent, perfectly simple and effective prose combined with imaginative and realistic dialogue creates one of the most fulfilling reading experience ive had.
Theres no grand-purpose, huge-stakes plot here. No characters relying on archetypes and cliches and tropes so that readers can recognize the charactertype and know how to feel about them. Its just people. Normal people. Insignificant people. People who, like in real life - you dont know anything about until you talk to them. Steinbecks razor-sharp writing shows us that even the most insignicant and average people can live the most fantastical lives, and carry the the most mythical and beautiful wisdom in them. All you have to do is listen to them talk.
MUST READ!!
Some quotes i like:
"It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of a deity, saying "i couldn't help it; the way was set." But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man.
"In human affairs of danger and delicacy, successful conclusion is sharply limited by hurry. So often men trip by being in a rush. If one were properly to perform a difficult and subtle act, he should first inspect the end to be achieved and then, once he had accepted the end as desirable, he should forget it completely and concentrate solely on the means. By this method he would not be moved to false action by anxiety or hurry or fear. Very few people learn this."
"You're going to pass something down no matter what you do or if you do nothing. Even if you let yourself go fallow, the weeds will grow and the brambles. Something will grow."
Extremely eloquent, perfectly simple and effective prose combined with imaginative and realistic dialogue creates one of the most fulfilling reading experience ive had.
Theres no grand-purpose, huge-stakes plot here. No characters relying on archetypes and cliches and tropes so that readers can recognize the charactertype and know how to feel about them. Its just people. Normal people. Insignificant people. People who, like in real life - you dont know anything about until you talk to them. Steinbecks razor-sharp writing shows us that even the most insignicant and average people can live the most fantastical lives, and carry the the most mythical and beautiful wisdom in them. All you have to do is listen to them talk.
MUST READ!!
Some quotes i like:
"It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of a deity, saying "i couldn't help it; the way was set." But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man.
"In human affairs of danger and delicacy, successful conclusion is sharply limited by hurry. So often men trip by being in a rush. If one were properly to perform a difficult and subtle act, he should first inspect the end to be achieved and then, once he had accepted the end as desirable, he should forget it completely and concentrate solely on the means. By this method he would not be moved to false action by anxiety or hurry or fear. Very few people learn this."
"You're going to pass something down no matter what you do or if you do nothing. Even if you let yourself go fallow, the weeds will grow and the brambles. Something will grow."
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A book that tells an inter-generational story, mostly centered around the Trask line. It's beautifully descriptive, particularly of the rural landscapes. Lee is the obvious highlight of the book, and plays the moral compass but also this just gentle and wonderful character. But I'd say all the PoV characters are very strong and unique, with powerful perspectives. I really enjoy Cathy/Kate - unlikeable obviously, but also felt like a woman simply born in the wrong time. Loved Abra, Cal and for the short time he was there, Charles also.
The little valley changes a lot across this book, where the trade of farming is replaced by things like marketing. It's a pretty interesting and expansive dive into the history of the USA. I've only really read European classics, and this really had a totally different feel and perspective in comparison to a Dostoevsky. But meant it felt pretty fresh to me also.
I will say this one was maybe a bit overhyped for me, it's not an all timer for me. But still a fantastically written piece of fiction which holds both historical significance alongside it's place as a literature classic.
The little valley changes a lot across this book, where the trade of farming is replaced by things like marketing. It's a pretty interesting and expansive dive into the history of the USA. I've only really read European classics, and this really had a totally different feel and perspective in comparison to a Dostoevsky. But meant it felt pretty fresh to me also.
I will say this one was maybe a bit overhyped for me, it's not an all timer for me. But still a fantastically written piece of fiction which holds both historical significance alongside it's place as a literature classic.
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Was für ein Meisterwerk! Der erste Teil des Romans hatte solch ein Affentempo, dass ich ihn gar nicht aus der Hand legen konnte, ja seit langem mal wieder ein Ich-komme-nach-Hause-und-muss-sofort-weiterlesen-Erlebnis hatte. Das Tempo nimmt er zwar nach einem guten Viertel wieder raus. Dann aber wird die Handlung einlullend, das Tempo mehr einer gründlich erzählten Geschichte angepasst, und nicht minder spannend.
Die mehrere Generationen umspannende Familienchronik schafft es dabei, humorvoll und mit unerwarteten Wendungen einen Sog zu entwickeln, wie ich ihn bei wenigen Büchern erlebt habe. Da fährt Steinbeck wohl einen Punkt gegen Thomas Manns durchaus tolle Buddenbrooks ein, was das Genre Familienchronik angeht.
Allerdings ist Steinbecks Geschichte schon eine "Männergeschichte". Es ist auffallend, wie er sich für den Großteil der männlichen Protagonisten Mühe gibt und Zeit nimmt, sie sorgfältig (und gelungen!) zu entwickeln, es für die weiblichen Charaktere allerdings gar nicht tut, abgesehen davon, dass Cathy eigentlich die einzige weibliche Persönlichkeit ist, die eine bedeutende Rolle neben einer Unmenge an Männern in der Romanhandlung hat. Cathys Entwicklung ist teilweise undurchsichtig, ihr Zorn gegenüber der Welt nur bedingt nachvollziehbar, wäre er doch plausibler, wenn er nur und ausschließlich gegen jene Männer gerichtet wäre. Alle anderen weiblichen Charaktere bewegen sich innerhalb des damals erwartbaren Frauenbilds, sind unoriginell. Wohlwollend könnte man wohl für Steinbeck argumentieren, er sei Opfer seiner Zeit. Andererseits denke ich, dass ein Schriftsteller mit diesem Weitblick schon in der Lage gewesen wäre, den weiblichen Charakteren mehr Tiefe zu verleihen.
Die mehrere Generationen umspannende Familienchronik schafft es dabei, humorvoll und mit unerwarteten Wendungen einen Sog zu entwickeln, wie ich ihn bei wenigen Büchern erlebt habe. Da fährt Steinbeck wohl einen Punkt gegen Thomas Manns durchaus tolle Buddenbrooks ein, was das Genre Familienchronik angeht.
Allerdings ist Steinbecks Geschichte schon eine "Männergeschichte". Es ist auffallend, wie er sich für den Großteil der männlichen Protagonisten Mühe gibt und Zeit nimmt, sie sorgfältig (und gelungen!) zu entwickeln, es für die weiblichen Charaktere allerdings gar nicht tut, abgesehen davon, dass Cathy eigentlich die einzige weibliche Persönlichkeit ist, die eine bedeutende Rolle neben einer Unmenge an Männern in der Romanhandlung hat. Cathys Entwicklung ist teilweise undurchsichtig, ihr Zorn gegenüber der Welt nur bedingt nachvollziehbar, wäre er doch plausibler, wenn er nur und ausschließlich gegen jene Männer gerichtet wäre. Alle anderen weiblichen Charaktere bewegen sich innerhalb des damals erwartbaren Frauenbilds, sind unoriginell. Wohlwollend könnte man wohl für Steinbeck argumentieren, er sei Opfer seiner Zeit. Andererseits denke ich, dass ein Schriftsteller mit diesem Weitblick schon in der Lage gewesen wäre, den weiblichen Charakteren mehr Tiefe zu verleihen.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes