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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Read my full thoughts on this book and hundreds more over at Read.Write.Repeat.
As I try to read more books about people very different than me, this story about a transgender artist fit the bill perfectly. This book stretched me. It made me uncomfortable at times, as I expected it to. Ultimately, it's a well-written, compelling story about love and hope and loss and people. It definitely gave me some food for thought.
As I try to read more books about people very different than me, this story about a transgender artist fit the bill perfectly. This book stretched me. It made me uncomfortable at times, as I expected it to. Ultimately, it's a well-written, compelling story about love and hope and loss and people. It definitely gave me some food for thought.
What a beautiful story of love and commitment trials that I doubt many could imagine today, must less almost 80 years. Einar was surrounded by people who loved and understood him and his journey to find and become his true self.
Greta, was beautifully portrayed in a wonderful homage to a woman who let almost nothing come between her and her devotion to Einar and Lili; she unfortunately was not so fairly treated in the annals of history.
Well written, easily flowing story that you won't want to put down.
Greta, was beautifully portrayed in a wonderful homage to a woman who let almost nothing come between her and her devotion to Einar and Lili; she unfortunately was not so fairly treated in the annals of history.
Well written, easily flowing story that you won't want to put down.
I came across this book after seeing a show about Einar/Lili, called Sommerfugl (Danish word for "Butterfly", a fitting metaphor for Lili). I thought the show was beautiful and wanted to know more about Einar/Lili, so I read this book. Ultimately a tender and touching novel about love and self-discovery.
Though I enjoyed the book as a whole, there are clearly problematic elements. The seperation of Einar and Lili as different people residing in the same body seemed off to me from what I know of the transsexual experience. Yet I am willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume that it's the way Lili described her experiences in her diary. Watching the show I could feel myself rooting for Lili and Gerda, that same enthusiasm wasn't as prominent while reading the book.
All in all a very touching and enjoyable read about a very important subject.
Though I enjoyed the book as a whole, there are clearly problematic elements. The seperation of Einar and Lili as different people residing in the same body seemed off to me from what I know of the transsexual experience. Yet I am willing to give the author the benefit of the doubt and assume that it's the way Lili described her experiences in her diary. Watching the show I could feel myself rooting for Lili and Gerda, that same enthusiasm wasn't as prominent while reading the book.
All in all a very touching and enjoyable read about a very important subject.
Meh. This book was written with no warmth or love for its characters, who were largely ciphers with only one or two distinguishing characteristics apiece. I can't help but think this novel did disservice to the true story.
I will still try to watch the movie because I imagine a decent director and skilled actors (like Redmayne and Vikander) could bring life to this book that left me so cold.
⭐⭐
I will still try to watch the movie because I imagine a decent director and skilled actors (like Redmayne and Vikander) could bring life to this book that left me so cold.
⭐⭐
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Ihana, koskettava ja aidon oloinen.
Tarinan kerronta oli mieleeni; välillä hypättiin menneessä tapahtuneeseen ja takaisin. Sekä ympäristöä ja tuntemuksia kuvailtiin niin, että pystyi itsekkin ne mielikuvituksessa näkemään/tuntemaan.
Tämä on kirja jonka ehdottomasti luen uudelleen.
Tarinan kerronta oli mieleeni; välillä hypättiin menneessä tapahtuneeseen ja takaisin. Sekä ympäristöä ja tuntemuksia kuvailtiin niin, että pystyi itsekkin ne mielikuvituksessa näkemään/tuntemaan.
Tämä on kirja jonka ehdottomasti luen uudelleen.
Wow, what a powerful book. It is compelling and fascinating and given the time in which it is set, quite an incredible story.
This was a book discussion group selection. I was glad they picked it because when I saw the movie it didn't occur to me to look for a book. the book gets more into the character's inner thoughts, and into the backstory of the wife, who here is a rich American girl from historical Pasadena. More in the book about the process of making art than there is in the movie, which I also liked. The story is supposed to be about real people, but it is such an imaginative work that it's hard to imagine what parts were "real." That may sound strange, but it's a compliment to the writing.
When I first closed this book after finishing it, I was ready to jump on here, press the five stars, then move on with my day. As I sat in my kitchen thinking about the beautiful writing and vivid imagery that pulled me along through the book, I realized how trivial the main idea was. The idea of identity is a complex topic to contemplate, let alone write a whole book about. Ebershoff did an amazing job a exploring this thing that affects us all; "Each of us is defined by our own past, but also by that of our family and lovers and friends and enemies, as well as our country and civilization," and "A novel is written so nothing can be lost," he explains in the introduction.
Unfortunately I did find my self zoning out while reading this book and having to go back and read entire sections, something that I think could have been prevented if there had been less "fluff" that didn't necessarily add to the story itself. The ending wasn't the sort of cliff hanger that left me in awe wondering how I can continue on without knowing what happened, but more an ending that felt like a dull meal that left me very unsatisfied. Nevertheless, I would recommend reading this book because it brings a new - at least new for me - way of expanding on the feelings of being a transgender person in society.
Unfortunately I did find my self zoning out while reading this book and having to go back and read entire sections, something that I think could have been prevented if there had been less "fluff" that didn't necessarily add to the story itself. The ending wasn't the sort of cliff hanger that left me in awe wondering how I can continue on without knowing what happened, but more an ending that felt like a dull meal that left me very unsatisfied. Nevertheless, I would recommend reading this book because it brings a new - at least new for me - way of expanding on the feelings of being a transgender person in society.
“The rail was bubbling with rust, and it smelled of salt, and Greta wrapped both hands around it as she watched Lily slip across the bridge, across the Inderhavn, the tail of her scarf fluttering like a child’s hand, waving goodbye.”
This is why I read! What a beautiful thing it is, to dive into a book and come up on the other side seeing through someone else’s eyes, feeling someone else’s emotions, carrying their thoughts in my head. Lili’s story was wrought with emotions, highs and lows, barely living to living as her most authentic self.
Normally I’d be upset at not having a clear finish but I appreciated it here.
This is why I read! What a beautiful thing it is, to dive into a book and come up on the other side seeing through someone else’s eyes, feeling someone else’s emotions, carrying their thoughts in my head. Lili’s story was wrought with emotions, highs and lows, barely living to living as her most authentic self.
Normally I’d be upset at not having a clear finish but I appreciated it here.