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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
I always give books 60 pages before I give up on them. I just couldn't get into this book. I really wanted to, but it just didn't happen. The writing is beautiful but the story just wasn't pulling me in.
This novel contained a mediocre story that was written like poety. The language was beautiful and the only redeeming part of this work of fiction. It was really difficult to relate to the main character, who pretty much has no emotions. However, I found myself marking page after page with my post-it tabs because I loved the sayings so much. Amongst what I marked, my favorite quotes are:
"Perhaps it’s too easy and unofficial to go around stating what you are and expecting people to embrace strictly personal claims. However, it seems equally unfair to be categorized as something simply because you do it every day – ask any 'housewife.'" pg 80
"There was so much to do, my body reminded me, though for the life of me, my mind could not conceive of what." pg 81
"If certain people could not be blamed for the lack of enthusiasm in regard to the Pledge, it certainly didn’t feel right for the rest of us to leap up and swear allegiance to a nation that was already working out to be more liberal and more fair for some than for others." pg 90
"Frequently there is more time to think than there are things to think about, and you sit around contemplating the most trifling details. Other times it feels you live your life in a minute. Not in the sense of things racing past, though there is that, but of things spilling out in an undulating twist, simultaneous and unoriented, flat and circular, present and future, like a Mobious strip." pg 268
"Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without god. How could there be god in loneliness when God is presence?" pg 334
"Biggest lesson of my life – there is no family other than the one you make for yourself." pg 571
"Perhaps it’s too easy and unofficial to go around stating what you are and expecting people to embrace strictly personal claims. However, it seems equally unfair to be categorized as something simply because you do it every day – ask any 'housewife.'" pg 80
"There was so much to do, my body reminded me, though for the life of me, my mind could not conceive of what." pg 81
"If certain people could not be blamed for the lack of enthusiasm in regard to the Pledge, it certainly didn’t feel right for the rest of us to leap up and swear allegiance to a nation that was already working out to be more liberal and more fair for some than for others." pg 90
"Frequently there is more time to think than there are things to think about, and you sit around contemplating the most trifling details. Other times it feels you live your life in a minute. Not in the sense of things racing past, though there is that, but of things spilling out in an undulating twist, simultaneous and unoriented, flat and circular, present and future, like a Mobious strip." pg 268
"Hell is only loneliness, a place without play for the soul, a place without god. How could there be god in loneliness when God is presence?" pg 334
"Biggest lesson of my life – there is no family other than the one you make for yourself." pg 571
The lyricism reads like a classic in the good way, but also like a classic, women in this book are experienced only in relation to men. If a point is to be made about how many women find themselves in the shadow of men, then it’s a strong one, but unfortunately I don’t think this theme was intentional by the author because it’s not mentioned in the author q&a at all. I also felt like some scenes could’ve been trimmed, but aside from those two things I was really captivated by the casual depression and feeling what it’s like to be an observer in your own life until you decide you’ve had enough. I loveee the 70s music lyrics throughout, and I’ve even made a spotify playlist of all the songs since there was a reference list in the back. I’m also pleasantly surprised that by the end, the character I feel for the most is Jack. It’s a shame this is Hamann’s only book because I would definitely read her others.
It seems as though this is one of the books that is either loved or hated. I loved it.
Tried but couldn't get past the 1st few pages! Usually give things 50 pages but got sick of looking at it on my shelf.
I debated between 1 and 2 stars, even though I already wasted way too much time on this book. I just didn't get what all the hype was about.
There are some beautiful sentences in this book - but the main character sort of got on my nerves. Every man she meets falls in love with her. Seriously EVERY ONE. That got really annoying. The part I liked the least was during the time when she was actually living with her lover. She lost all sense of self and I had to try really hard to not put down the book. And then at the end during her eulogy at Jack's funeral I thought, Where the hell did that come from?? Totally out of character for her since she always seemed to hide from everyone. But really the beautiful writing is what kept me intrigued and ultimately made me want to finish reading.
I got into this without realising what a sprawling epic journey it would be - but that's reading on a Kindle for you. It took me a while to read because there are parts of the book that are slightly less compelling than others.
The book centres around learning to be a woman in America in the late 70s/Early 80s - I think reading it as a younger girl would've allowed me to love it more - as it was a lot of the description of the love of Evie's life (Rourke) verges on Edward in Twilight territory - I know that this is often how you feel as a teen so it was difficult for me to figure out whether the book itself is annoying or it's just Evie's character.
My other complaint is that (I assume) because Evie is such an "artist" the story is often not congruent and she darts from place to place without filling in the appropriate backstory. Usually this type of thing doesn't bother me, but with something this sprawling it became a little irritating.
All of this aside it was a great book to sink into and get swept up in, there's enough tragedy and hopelessness and "will love conquer all" stuff to keep anyone happy, but alongside this the book is well written (as a whole) and smart - something you don't tend to come across all that much in the genre that is romance.
The book centres around learning to be a woman in America in the late 70s/Early 80s - I think reading it as a younger girl would've allowed me to love it more - as it was a lot of the description of the love of Evie's life (Rourke) verges on Edward in Twilight territory - I know that this is often how you feel as a teen so it was difficult for me to figure out whether the book itself is annoying or it's just Evie's character.
My other complaint is that (I assume) because Evie is such an "artist" the story is often not congruent and she darts from place to place without filling in the appropriate backstory. Usually this type of thing doesn't bother me, but with something this sprawling it became a little irritating.
All of this aside it was a great book to sink into and get swept up in, there's enough tragedy and hopelessness and "will love conquer all" stuff to keep anyone happy, but alongside this the book is well written (as a whole) and smart - something you don't tend to come across all that much in the genre that is romance.
First of all, this book is ridiculously long. Exhaustingly long. Good grief, it is long.
However. It is beautiful and tragic. This books makes sweeping sociological statements that are SO IMPORTANT and I wish I could put them up on a banner for everyone to read. And if I manage to hold onto this book through the years, it will be strictly because I think it's message is important enough that I want to hold it and keep it for my future daughter to read when the time is right. These messages are so important. Lifetimes of messages contained in one novel.
If you want a novel to challenge you, read this. If you want something fluffy and easy and nothing that will cause you pain and melancholy and to THINK about what it is to love and grow and the beliefs that you hold, read something else entirely.
However. It is beautiful and tragic. This books makes sweeping sociological statements that are SO IMPORTANT and I wish I could put them up on a banner for everyone to read. And if I manage to hold onto this book through the years, it will be strictly because I think it's message is important enough that I want to hold it and keep it for my future daughter to read when the time is right. These messages are so important. Lifetimes of messages contained in one novel.
If you want a novel to challenge you, read this. If you want something fluffy and easy and nothing that will cause you pain and melancholy and to THINK about what it is to love and grow and the beliefs that you hold, read something else entirely.