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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I just really loved it. wow what a novel, the language the ideas the personas. wow
emotional
inspiring
reflective
The book had a slow start and at times went on and on but I really enjoyed it. I liked the character development of alma. She's an intelligent and introspective woman.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting read via audiobook, I’m not sure what I expected with this one but Alma makes an intriguing character in a lot of ways, glad I read it
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ik stop weet eventjes maar mijn hele gezin heeft gesmuld van dit boek en ik heb grote sympathie voor Elizabeth Gilbert
er gebeurt zoveel
er gebeurt zoveel
Reviewed for Books and livres
I wanted to take some time to think and write an intelligible review, but it seems the review is going to be far from polished, be warned. It's very hot here today, it doesn't help.
First, let's just say that the book came to me, I didn't go get it. I thought Elizabeth Gilbert was writing chick lit with some sort of meditation thrown in (Eat, pray, love) and I wasn't very keen to read any of her books. I looked at the reviews on Goodreads and concluded I risked nothing in giving it a try. Plus, it is about botany and I love plants, so...
Then, I found the book wasn't at all what I expected because the characters were really unusual, not formulaic at all, which I duly appreciated. Even the dog was unusual ! It was very refreshing. At the same time, I enjoyed reading about them but I felt like I was looking at them live and grow, detached, which bothered me some. But after all, I think it's the way Alma was raised, in a non conformist education but strictly proper at the same time. There is not much physical touching in here - from character to character - but there is a lot of observing, studying, analyzing. So that's what we do with them. Those poor people who lacked physical touch so much...
My heart went out to Alma all the same, and later to her sister Prudence, or Retta, so I think the author managed to get a hold on me. And yet, I started reading the book, enjoying it, putting it down, felt no hurry to pick it back up, then reading, enjoying, and so forth. But one of my coworkers died at the same time, so it didn't make reading easy.
Maybe it's because of my personal tastes, but I also enjoyed the scientific aspect that never bore me and was surprised to see Darwin mentioned - I recently bought his book on the theory of evolution, and I saw another author mentioned that I do want to read because to see him in the book made me widely curious.
It's hard to summarize the story (the life of one woman and those who gravitate around her ?), and it's hard for me to find the words that might make you want to read it, just let me say that I wasn't keen on reading this novel at first but finally, the book won ! And not only did I love it, but it's a book that will remain distinct from all those I read for a long time and is still making me think. Which is very good, because the characters were great and how many books have that effect on us readers, uh ?
I wanted to take some time to think and write an intelligible review, but it seems the review is going to be far from polished, be warned. It's very hot here today, it doesn't help.
First, let's just say that the book came to me, I didn't go get it. I thought Elizabeth Gilbert was writing chick lit with some sort of meditation thrown in (Eat, pray, love) and I wasn't very keen to read any of her books. I looked at the reviews on Goodreads and concluded I risked nothing in giving it a try. Plus, it is about botany and I love plants, so...
Then, I found the book wasn't at all what I expected because the characters were really unusual, not formulaic at all, which I duly appreciated. Even the dog was unusual ! It was very refreshing. At the same time, I enjoyed reading about them but I felt like I was looking at them live and grow, detached, which bothered me some. But after all, I think it's the way Alma was raised, in a non conformist education but strictly proper at the same time. There is not much physical touching in here - from character to character - but there is a lot of observing, studying, analyzing. So that's what we do with them. Those poor people who lacked physical touch so much...
My heart went out to Alma all the same, and later to her sister Prudence, or Retta, so I think the author managed to get a hold on me. And yet, I started reading the book, enjoying it, putting it down, felt no hurry to pick it back up, then reading, enjoying, and so forth. But one of my coworkers died at the same time, so it didn't make reading easy.
Maybe it's because of my personal tastes, but I also enjoyed the scientific aspect that never bore me and was surprised to see Darwin mentioned - I recently bought his book on the theory of evolution, and I saw another author mentioned that I do want to read because to see him in the book made me widely curious.
It's hard to summarize the story (the life of one woman and those who gravitate around her ?), and it's hard for me to find the words that might make you want to read it, just let me say that I wasn't keen on reading this novel at first but finally, the book won ! And not only did I love it, but it's a book that will remain distinct from all those I read for a long time and is still making me think. Which is very good, because the characters were great and how many books have that effect on us readers, uh ?
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I think you have to be in a particular mind space to appreciate this sprawling, crawling, happysad read. You gotta want to follow this woman’s life for 80+ years. You have to be willing to live it along side of her. Slow down in the dull moments, let your heart race in the exciting ones. You have to be open to learning something slowly.
My most common thought was: damn this is still going!