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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
Rating's actually 4.5 stars.
So this is my first Book read in January & in 2016 & it's great. It's elegantly, sensitively written-Yet still no holds barred, with beautiful description & heartbreaking detail regarding the thoughts & feelings of everyone involved in this amazing story.
The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 star rating, is because at times, although I appreciated the detail of the characters backstories {more so Lilli's} I was impatient to get back to the present events. Also, I wanted more right at the end of the story. You'll perhaps see what I mean when/if you read it.
But other than that, it's great & I definitely recommended it-I couldn't put it down.
So this is my first Book read in January & in 2016 & it's great. It's elegantly, sensitively written-Yet still no holds barred, with beautiful description & heartbreaking detail regarding the thoughts & feelings of everyone involved in this amazing story.
The only reason why I didn't give it a 5 star rating, is because at times, although I appreciated the detail of the characters backstories {more so Lilli's} I was impatient to get back to the present events. Also, I wanted more right at the end of the story. You'll perhaps see what I mean when/if you read it.
But other than that, it's great & I definitely recommended it-I couldn't put it down.
I WANTED to like this book so much more than I actually did. I first heard about it when I saw the trailer for the film with Eddie Redmayne and I was incredibly interested because it looked so beautiful. I never did see the film, but I found the book and read it with high expectations. It was...okay. There were some portions of the book that were beautifully written, but, overall, it just didn't touch me on an emotional level. Oh well.
I'm glad David Ebershoff discovered Lili Elbe's story and saved her from obscurity, it's remarkable from the perspective of someone being brave enough to be the first person to undergo this type of surgery. The journey was gripping and I found myself largely invested in the cast of characters.
At times, I found the dreamy imaginings a little jarring and the lavishing of detail felt like a barrier to me finding out what was going to happen, rather than enhancing the story. I'm also a little unclear as to why Einar and Greta married in the first place - this felt like an unexplored gap in the twisty narrative. Still, an incredible story and a touching study of love in the realms of the unconditional.
At times, I found the dreamy imaginings a little jarring and the lavishing of detail felt like a barrier to me finding out what was going to happen, rather than enhancing the story. I'm also a little unclear as to why Einar and Greta married in the first place - this felt like an unexplored gap in the twisty narrative. Still, an incredible story and a touching study of love in the realms of the unconditional.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
The Danish Girl asks the question, how far would you go for someone you loved?
When her model cancels, Greta Wegener thinks nothing of it when she asks her husband to step in just so she can finish the bottom half. Donning women's stockings and shoes, Einar Wegener suddenly feels something he hasn't in a long time - free. This begins the emotional roller coaster that becomes the Wegener marriage.
I'm not sure how close the author came to realistically portraying what a transgendered person goes through, I have heard mixed reviews regarding this. However, for me, there were times within this book where I was really confused by Greta's actions. Instead of talking to her husband about what's going on, she thinks of it as some game Einar is playing. I viewed it as she was almost in denial? The man she loved was disappearing. After the heartache she already had to suffer through with her first husband, she was again losing her second.
It was a beautifully written book. A little slow at times but paced well for what the subject matter was. I'm looking forward to watching the movie a little more now just to see how the cast brings this to life.
When her model cancels, Greta Wegener thinks nothing of it when she asks her husband to step in just so she can finish the bottom half. Donning women's stockings and shoes, Einar Wegener suddenly feels something he hasn't in a long time - free. This begins the emotional roller coaster that becomes the Wegener marriage.
I'm not sure how close the author came to realistically portraying what a transgendered person goes through, I have heard mixed reviews regarding this. However, for me, there were times within this book where I was really confused by Greta's actions. Instead of talking to her husband about what's going on, she thinks of it as some game Einar is playing. I viewed it as she was almost in denial? The man she loved was disappearing. After the heartache she already had to suffer through with her first husband, she was again losing her second.
It was a beautifully written book. A little slow at times but paced well for what the subject matter was. I'm looking forward to watching the movie a little more now just to see how the cast brings this to life.
Read this review along with others on my blog @ libroliv.com
To say this book educated me is an understatement.
My previous understanding of the transgender community is so limited, I now resent my infantile past self for assuming she knew so much.
She didn't.
I do, however, also thank my past self, for she picked this book up in the first place. Good idea.
To separate this books quality and how it made me feel is a difficult feat. Obviously, the story was beautiful - even the synopsis gave me chills - and it was so current to our evolutionary world that I was routinely shocked when I was reminded that this novel is set in the 1920s, post WW1, pre WW2. The struggles Einar and Lili battle are the kind people worldwide battle everyday in the 21st century, and - with the LGBTQ community growing and aiding more people everyday - such a battle couldn't be more current.
So, in terms of storyline, that's a big thumbs up from me!
As aforementioned in my Goodreads updates, Einar is a very appreciative narrator. What I mean to say is that Ebershoff's writing is very beautiful; he takes his time describing the surroundings, doing so in a careful and elegant way. However, this is just as Einar, and you can easily tell the difference between narrators via Ebershoff altering his writing style. Frankly, Lili and Greta are much more emotional and straight to the point with said emotions than Einar is; they spend less time considering their surroundings, and more time considering their history, and how to deal with the issues facing them at that point. This contrast was a really nice mixture of perspectives to read from.
My only complaint with such a perfect book would be its pacing. At times, the pacing was perfect, and I was fully immersed in the story, and interested in everything that was happening as if the characters were my friends. (That's how nicely Ebershoff writes - it develops a home-from-home feeling.) However, many of the chapters felt a little slow and dragged out for my taste. Obviously, I can appreciate the fact that such a touching story should be expressed in detail, but what really slowed this book down was a combination of excessive detail, complex terminology, and - at times - a lack of action. I.E. Reading about Lili shopping in town on multiple occasions got a little tedious.
In terms of how this book made me feel, it primarily evoked the idea that I was uneducated in the field of trans people. At school, LGBTQ gets as far as the 'B', mainly focusses on the 'G', and blatantly ignores 'T' and 'Q'. Thus, I was uneducated on this subject, yet diving into the deep end and choosing to read such a book was the first step to ensuring I become educated. I'm really interested by this topic, and it was so eye-opening to read a true story - despite this fictitious adaptation on Ebershoff's part - on the topic. Never before have I read such an emotional story about real people. The choices and decisions made by each and every character in this book are so selfless, so arduous, so contentious, and so brave. This collection of people are the strongest I've ever read about.
Thus, overall, and taking all the previous notes into consideration, I decided to award this book 4/5 stars. Next on my to do list: watch the movie!
To say this book educated me is an understatement.
My previous understanding of the transgender community is so limited, I now resent my infantile past self for assuming she knew so much.
She didn't.
I do, however, also thank my past self, for she picked this book up in the first place. Good idea.
To separate this books quality and how it made me feel is a difficult feat. Obviously, the story was beautiful - even the synopsis gave me chills - and it was so current to our evolutionary world that I was routinely shocked when I was reminded that this novel is set in the 1920s, post WW1, pre WW2. The struggles Einar and Lili battle are the kind people worldwide battle everyday in the 21st century, and - with the LGBTQ community growing and aiding more people everyday - such a battle couldn't be more current.
So, in terms of storyline, that's a big thumbs up from me!
As aforementioned in my Goodreads updates, Einar is a very appreciative narrator. What I mean to say is that Ebershoff's writing is very beautiful; he takes his time describing the surroundings, doing so in a careful and elegant way. However, this is just as Einar, and you can easily tell the difference between narrators via Ebershoff altering his writing style. Frankly, Lili and Greta are much more emotional and straight to the point with said emotions than Einar is; they spend less time considering their surroundings, and more time considering their history, and how to deal with the issues facing them at that point. This contrast was a really nice mixture of perspectives to read from.
My only complaint with such a perfect book would be its pacing. At times, the pacing was perfect, and I was fully immersed in the story, and interested in everything that was happening as if the characters were my friends. (That's how nicely Ebershoff writes - it develops a home-from-home feeling.) However, many of the chapters felt a little slow and dragged out for my taste. Obviously, I can appreciate the fact that such a touching story should be expressed in detail, but what really slowed this book down was a combination of excessive detail, complex terminology, and - at times - a lack of action. I.E. Reading about Lili shopping in town on multiple occasions got a little tedious.
In terms of how this book made me feel, it primarily evoked the idea that I was uneducated in the field of trans people. At school, LGBTQ gets as far as the 'B', mainly focusses on the 'G', and blatantly ignores 'T' and 'Q'. Thus, I was uneducated on this subject, yet diving into the deep end and choosing to read such a book was the first step to ensuring I become educated. I'm really interested by this topic, and it was so eye-opening to read a true story - despite this fictitious adaptation on Ebershoff's part - on the topic. Never before have I read such an emotional story about real people. The choices and decisions made by each and every character in this book are so selfless, so arduous, so contentious, and so brave. This collection of people are the strongest I've ever read about.
Thus, overall, and taking all the previous notes into consideration, I decided to award this book 4/5 stars. Next on my to do list: watch the movie!
This is a beautifully written novel, my criteria being that never once was I ejected from the prose by what felt like an out of place word. I enjoyed the portrayal of deeply interesting characters with unique life experiences, and took it at its word that it was not trying to portray a real historical event, merely taking inspiration from one.
There were things I found completely satisfying: the artists at work, the rich locations, the identity confusion we all face--to greater or lesser extent--as we come of age and our physical bodies mature. What I see as the true strength of the book is the way it illuminates the shining acceptance and flexibility of good people, acting from a place of love.
There were also things in the book that disturbed me: I wanted just a little more medical details (not graphic) in order to understand the mechanics of what was physically happening. Not enough to want to look them up, but if the book let me down in some way it was in denying my modern understanding of medicine with hints instead of descriptions. Certain interactions that I longed for between characters were also left out. I think this portrays the reality of life, it doesn't get tied up in a neat little bow, but I was sad as a reader not to be gifted by the author with certain scenes between characters.
There were things I found completely satisfying: the artists at work, the rich locations, the identity confusion we all face--to greater or lesser extent--as we come of age and our physical bodies mature. What I see as the true strength of the book is the way it illuminates the shining acceptance and flexibility of good people, acting from a place of love.
There were also things in the book that disturbed me: I wanted just a little more medical details (not graphic) in order to understand the mechanics of what was physically happening. Not enough to want to look them up, but if the book let me down in some way it was in denying my modern understanding of medicine with hints instead of descriptions. Certain interactions that I longed for between characters were also left out. I think this portrays the reality of life, it doesn't get tied up in a neat little bow, but I was sad as a reader not to be gifted by the author with certain scenes between characters.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No