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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I must have rented the House of Sand and Fog DVD because I needed one more for a discount. Typically, it isn't the kind of film I would rent but, since the shopkeeper told me to pick up something else for free, I picked the first Oscar nominee that I saw. With a few acting Oscar nominations under its belt, I decided to watch this film more than a decade ago.
I am honest when I say that the film does a better job at executing the story than the book. The film strips away the fat to. tell a clean, lean story about two people trapped between a rock and a hard place, neither willing to give in to the other. The book, while it tells the same compelling story, does sag in places. A story is a series of scenes, and the pacing of a book depends highly on how thinly the author decides to slice it. Slice them too thinly, and you risk the pace slowing down to a crawl.
Imagine, for a moment, if a scene involves the characters leaving a house, entering a car, driving across town and to the desired destination. An author can choose to glaze through portions of this scene, or he may choose to "slice it thinly" and describe everything down to its most minute details. I feel like that is the case here with House of Sand and Fog. Sometimes, we get what the characters are already going through, but the author chooses to slice individual moments up that impacts the pacing a bit. It is not a big problem — even though I make it out to sound like one — but it is one of the few negatives that I can think of.
But the core of the story is as compelling as it is depressing. The fact that I have just returned from Iran and learnt much about its history definitely made the experience a more relatable one. Also, the character of Lester is a lot more realised in the book. You don't necessarily want to spend time with a character as detestable as Lester but, at the same time, it does give him more dimensions on the page. I also prefer the way Kathy is depicted in the book. In the film, she seems to get away with it, or at least that's what the ending of the film suggests.
Still very much recommended, but just know what you are getting into. This is a heavy read.
I am honest when I say that the film does a better job at executing the story than the book. The film strips away the fat to. tell a clean, lean story about two people trapped between a rock and a hard place, neither willing to give in to the other. The book, while it tells the same compelling story, does sag in places. A story is a series of scenes, and the pacing of a book depends highly on how thinly the author decides to slice it. Slice them too thinly, and you risk the pace slowing down to a crawl.
Imagine, for a moment, if a scene involves the characters leaving a house, entering a car, driving across town and to the desired destination. An author can choose to glaze through portions of this scene, or he may choose to "slice it thinly" and describe everything down to its most minute details. I feel like that is the case here with House of Sand and Fog. Sometimes, we get what the characters are already going through, but the author chooses to slice individual moments up that impacts the pacing a bit. It is not a big problem — even though I make it out to sound like one — but it is one of the few negatives that I can think of.
But the core of the story is as compelling as it is depressing. The fact that I have just returned from Iran and learnt much about its history definitely made the experience a more relatable one. Also, the character of Lester is a lot more realised in the book. You don't necessarily want to spend time with a character as detestable as Lester but, at the same time, it does give him more dimensions on the page. I also prefer the way Kathy is depicted in the book. In the film, she seems to get away with it, or at least that's what the ending of the film suggests.
Still very much recommended, but just know what you are getting into. This is a heavy read.
It's been a long time since I read this one, but I still feel depressed just hearing the title. I love plenty of books that have difficult subject matter and don't wrap up all in a nice little bow, but I don't tend to like books where I don't like any of the characters, even just a little bit. This book definitely fit that criteria.
I don’t know what to say about this book. The idea was great. It actually was a pretty good book until things went so catastrophically wrong. As soon as Lester went in his uniform to speak to them, I was unhappy. And then it just kept getting worse. I DID like when she tried to kill herself (as awful as that sounds) but WTF Lester… he really ruined the book for me. I disliked everything he did. I would have preferred a story where they continue the fight legally and it somehow got resolved. I know how it was actually written has more drama and is probably more interesting, but just felt like too much. Kathy just had such poor miserable luck in life- first the luck with her husband, then the tax/house business, then the poor luck to get involved with Lester who was a nut…
MOVIE UPDATE July 29, 2022:
I actually really liked the movie. They did a wonderful job. The casting/filming locations/etc was much better for the movie than it was in my mind while reading the book. My only complaint is that they changed the ending slightly.Behrani didn’t strangle and try to kill Kathy. I didn’t like how Kathy had to find them dead. And who is to say that the police don’t accuse her of murdering them? We didn’t see him write a note. Also, the fact that Behrani wrote a note for his daughter not to take less then xxx amount for the house sort of showed that he cared more about the house/money even at the end… which sort of had a big impact on me when I read the book. It feels like they changed his character at the end to make him seem more victim less jerk. Not that he was a total jerk. It was a bad situation for everyone all around.
MOVIE UPDATE July 29, 2022:
I actually really liked the movie. They did a wonderful job. The casting/filming locations/etc was much better for the movie than it was in my mind while reading the book. My only complaint is that they changed the ending slightly.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
I couldn't really get into this one due to the way in which the author wrote the prose. If I remember correctly, the wording was so flowery I was unable to follow the narrative at all. Though on Goodreads it says I am currently reading, I decided to move on.
Likes: Tension in the storyline, cultural elements
Dislikes: Most of the characters, the ending in the jail.
Overall: Recommend this read - gripping once the plot twist occurs. Before that, it's decent. Then, it gets real. Whew.
Dislikes: Most of the characters, the ending in the jail.
Overall: Recommend this read - gripping once the plot twist occurs. Before that, it's decent. Then, it gets real. Whew.
Such a great read. I loved the vivid and descriptive language and the multiple first person perspectives. You really connect with the characters and understand what they’re thinking and experiencing. Will definitely read other books by the same author.
Kathy Lazaro is a recovering drug addict whose house is auctioned off from under her due to a clerical error. The man who buys her house, Colonel Behrani, is an Iranian-American military man who fled Iran after the Shah was deposed and all his cronies were attacked and many killed. And Lester Burdon is the sheriff's deputy who helps Kathy move out of her house and becomes her white knight. All three are trying to do what's right, but each one has a flaw that means this situation will not be resolved without violence. It's very sad, but wonderfully written. I want to read more by Dubus.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes