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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
"To go by the ages of the kids, we were married for about twenty years. There are Edward, Ricey, Alice, and two more--Christ, I've got plenty of children. God bless the whole bunch of them."
Saul Bellow is one of those writers that puts together interesting stories that I feel like fly right over my head -- I know there is something deeper here that I'm missing and am not smart enough to discern.
In this novel, Henderson, a wealthy man with little to do, heads for Africa, where through a series of events is crowned the Rain King. Antics ensue.
I enjoyed the story, but it didn't feel particularly special or revelatory.
In this novel, Henderson, a wealthy man with little to do, heads for Africa, where through a series of events is crowned the Rain King. Antics ensue.
I enjoyed the story, but it didn't feel particularly special or revelatory.
I did not care much for Henderson the Rain King.
I did not care for the "talking heads" method of exploring the novel's themes (which might be said to include "the meaning of life" and "finding purpose").
I did not care for the protagonist who can be viewed as an egotist with narcissistic tendencies.
I did not care for the way in which women served as props.
Henderson does have a few redeeming qualities: he means well. He can be soft hearted. To some degree, he can appreciate others who are very different from himself, as long as the others are not women. Unfortunately, these redeeming qualities do not redeem the book, in my estimation.
Recommended only for those who what to sample Bellow.
I did not care for the "talking heads" method of exploring the novel's themes (which might be said to include "the meaning of life" and "finding purpose").
I did not care for the protagonist who can be viewed as an egotist with narcissistic tendencies.
I did not care for the way in which women served as props.
Henderson does have a few redeeming qualities: he means well. He can be soft hearted. To some degree, he can appreciate others who are very different from himself, as long as the others are not women. Unfortunately, these redeeming qualities do not redeem the book, in my estimation.
Recommended only for those who what to sample Bellow.
Self importance, doubt, courage, deconstruction of ego, self actualization deep dive into Eugene Henderson. His faults and failings reorient his narrative both in plot and spirit of the book. While the settings and supporting cast are larger than life the book is truly within the intricate and self obsessed Henderson, every relationship is viewed thru the lens of the Rain King. I enjoyed it thoroughly and Bellows creates a character that reflects the times of self actualization in post war America.
My 2nd time through Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King. The first time through I might have had lofty expectations. I'd just read Seize the Day in college and the Counting Crows lead singer wrote a song, "Rain King" that I loved. The first time through I felt the book was great until Eugene Henderson goes to Africa. After that, I struggled to finish.
For my second reading, not much has changed. The anti-hero narration of Eugene Henderson is wonderful. Even though he may be a flawed person that doesn't make his voice less interesting. Saul Bellow's writing is so well done that I've raised my rating from three to four, even though the pace of the Rain King slows when he's in Africa. The ending makes up for any struggles in the middle. I'd recommend reading Henderson the Rain King.
For my second reading, not much has changed. The anti-hero narration of Eugene Henderson is wonderful. Even though he may be a flawed person that doesn't make his voice less interesting. Saul Bellow's writing is so well done that I've raised my rating from three to four, even though the pace of the Rain King slows when he's in Africa. The ending makes up for any struggles in the middle. I'd recommend reading Henderson the Rain King.
By far the funniest book I have ever read! If you have a dry sense of humor, Henderson the Rain King is meant for you.
This is now one of my favorites. There is no book like it. It's just amazing. I want to read it all over again right now.
"Whatever gains I ever made were always due to love and nothing else."
Henderson is soooooooo flawed, yet so lovable. What a great character. What a great story. What a great book.
"But maybe time was invented so that misery might have an end. So that it shouldn't last forever? There may be something in this. And bliss, just the opposite, is eternal? There is no time in bliss. All the clocks were thrown out of heaven."
"...the geniuses love common life a great deal...Light itself was all Einstein needed. What could be more common?"
"All human accomplishment has this same origin, identically. Imagination is a force of nature. Is this not enough to make a person full of ecstasy? Imagination, imagination, imagination! It converts to actual. It sustains, it alters, it redeems!"
"I think that part of the beauty emotion does result from an overcoming of fear. When the fear yields, a beauty is disclosed in its place. This is also said of perfect love if I recollect, and it means that ego-emphasis is removed."
I would recommend this book to everyone, because even if someone were to get nothing out of it, it's short and a fun read to top it all off.
"Whatever gains I ever made were always due to love and nothing else."
Henderson is soooooooo flawed, yet so lovable. What a great character. What a great story. What a great book.
"But maybe time was invented so that misery might have an end. So that it shouldn't last forever? There may be something in this. And bliss, just the opposite, is eternal? There is no time in bliss. All the clocks were thrown out of heaven."
"...the geniuses love common life a great deal...Light itself was all Einstein needed. What could be more common?"
"All human accomplishment has this same origin, identically. Imagination is a force of nature. Is this not enough to make a person full of ecstasy? Imagination, imagination, imagination! It converts to actual. It sustains, it alters, it redeems!"
"I think that part of the beauty emotion does result from an overcoming of fear. When the fear yields, a beauty is disclosed in its place. This is also said of perfect love if I recollect, and it means that ego-emphasis is removed."
I would recommend this book to everyone, because even if someone were to get nothing out of it, it's short and a fun read to top it all off.
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
I couldn't continue this thing anymore.