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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
I'm still reeling from the fact that I finished this book, finally...ugh. I don't know what to make of it yet. I wish I remember where I first saw its title - I got it from PaperBackSwap back in April of 2008, although I know I'd had it on my to-read list for years. I saw it in SOMEone's "best books ever" list, and I figured it had to be worth my time. Um - NO. I can't believe I held out through the whole thing, although I DO have trouble not finishing a book I start. Even if I feel like it's a huge waste of my time. The characters frustrated me, and the ending was NOT all it was cracked up to be.
I had no idea that Jonathan Franzen was a big proponent of this book OR that his novel Freedom has been compared to it; it was interesting to learn that just now when reading others' reviews! Weirdly enough, I was reading them both at the same time, and it IS interesting to note the similarities, particularly amongst the dysfunctional families. In any case, I will have to look up that Franzen article, and I know I have to read Randall Jarrell's introduction to the book again, at the very least to simply be reminded of why he was so enamored of this work. Perhaps it will change my mind a bit, too....
I had no idea that Jonathan Franzen was a big proponent of this book OR that his novel Freedom has been compared to it; it was interesting to learn that just now when reading others' reviews! Weirdly enough, I was reading them both at the same time, and it IS interesting to note the similarities, particularly amongst the dysfunctional families. In any case, I will have to look up that Franzen article, and I know I have to read Randall Jarrell's introduction to the book again, at the very least to simply be reminded of why he was so enamored of this work. Perhaps it will change my mind a bit, too....
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-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
My first thoughts after finishing it: "Blessed are those whose parents actually love each other. Blessed, or privileged." I am not sure why this book is not more popular. It's just as exasperating (in a good way!) as it is mind-blowing and the author either had to be sick or genius to create such characters. I'm surprised I didn't have nightmares on the nights after reading it, even though it is theoretically just your good ol' family drama and not a schizoid over-descriptive horror. Go figure. No, I mean, really, go and figure this book out for yourselves.
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
slow-paced
I couldn’t finish this book and stopped when one of the children was asked to do something horrible. The writing was interesting but so steeped in phrases and tone from the time that it was difficult to read, when such casual racism and sexism should not be acceptable. Just not for me. DNF at 20%.
Lit fic written in 1940s
I just couldn't get into Christina Steads' (the horribly titled) "The Man who Loved Children." I really wanted to like this book, but found myself just struggling to read it page after page. I think it was the writing itself that really made this difficult for me.
The Pollits are an extremely dysfunctional family -- Henny and Sam haven't really spoken in years except to bark at each other. The impact of their circumstances is felt differently by each member of their large family.
Sam and Henny are both brutal characters in their own separate ways. I had a hard time with Sam, who talks in baby talk to his children and has a creepy way of interacting with them that I really disliked. I liked the ideas and the central story in this one, but not the way it was written, if that makes any sense.
The Pollits are an extremely dysfunctional family -- Henny and Sam haven't really spoken in years except to bark at each other. The impact of their circumstances is felt differently by each member of their large family.
Sam and Henny are both brutal characters in their own separate ways. I had a hard time with Sam, who talks in baby talk to his children and has a creepy way of interacting with them that I really disliked. I liked the ideas and the central story in this one, but not the way it was written, if that makes any sense.
Ik heb dit na een pagina of honderd opgegeven. Een portret van een krankzinnige familie, het oefent een zekere fascinatie uit maar het is ook nogal vermoeiend. Dat ligt aan de inhoud (de leden van gezin dat Stead beschrijft lijken knettergek) én aan de stijl, die mij veel te wijdlopig is. Of eerder overdadig: enorm lange zinnen met veel te veel adjectieven en (mij niet altijd even duidelijke, en zeker niet altijd nodige) metaforen. Ik kreeg na honderd pagina's ook niet de indruk dat er nog veel zou veranderen: het boek lijkt eerder een situatie dan een ontwikkeling te schetsen. Ik kan het niet weten, maar ik maak me sterk dat alle personages er aan het eind nog ongeveer net zo bij zitten als aan het begin. En dan weet ik het nu wel.
Een beetje meer soberheid van stijl had van mij wel gemogen.
Een beetje meer soberheid van stijl had van mij wel gemogen.
Exhausting, infuriating, devastating -- a powerful work of art, too rich for only one reading, though that will have to be a start. Is one a marlin? Or is one a dolphin? And does one get to choose, even if one has the rare curse/blessing of seeing clearly enough?