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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
What a dense book.
Like many I found it difficult to follow the dialogue. ALthough I am certain this was the author's intention. It reads like you might expect a teenaged society girl to pick up on life - conversations are snippets, non-sequiturs, outrage and excitement. We read it as she might have digested it later; who said what is unimportant as she tries to pick a future path for herself, while surrounded by interpersonal hustle and bustle.
The author has cleverly equated this with Ireland's simultaneous struggle as a nascent nation, Lois' emerging into womanhood is mirrored by Ireland's birth as a republic.
The complexities of each, the overlapping desires of the parties involved, and the leverage of outside influences reflect beautifully.
The author clearly felt a personal affinity for the subject (although was at pains to remove herself from its being autobiographical). We are dragged through the muddled, confused desires and sentiments of youth, while a longer term wisdom prevails. Passages of description enter, passages of insight intrude periodically among the chatter and gossip. It's a wonderful, compassionate book, alive and honest.
Like many I found it difficult to follow the dialogue. ALthough I am certain this was the author's intention. It reads like you might expect a teenaged society girl to pick up on life - conversations are snippets, non-sequiturs, outrage and excitement. We read it as she might have digested it later; who said what is unimportant as she tries to pick a future path for herself, while surrounded by interpersonal hustle and bustle.
The author has cleverly equated this with Ireland's simultaneous struggle as a nascent nation, Lois' emerging into womanhood is mirrored by Ireland's birth as a republic.
The complexities of each, the overlapping desires of the parties involved, and the leverage of outside influences reflect beautifully.
The author clearly felt a personal affinity for the subject (although was at pains to remove herself from its being autobiographical). We are dragged through the muddled, confused desires and sentiments of youth, while a longer term wisdom prevails. Passages of description enter, passages of insight intrude periodically among the chatter and gossip. It's a wonderful, compassionate book, alive and honest.
Wonderful - about a family quietly trying to ignore a war, and all the tensions this represents...
slow-paced
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Like a series of follow shots that gradually open all the way up by the end
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated