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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Enten liker du ikke dette, eller så elsker du det. Jeg tilhører siste gruppe. En bok uten en historie, bare et sveip over to slekters liv fra 1950-tallet og fram til 2010, med et persongalleri det tar litt tid å få oversikt over. Men når du først får oversikten, er det bare å suge til seg. Masse bruddstykker fra persongalleriets liv, der det er tynne, røde tråder mellom hver enkelt, nesten umulig å få tak i, men likevel er de der. Som The Guardian skrev, så er dette små blikk inn i enkeltmenneskers liv, akkurat som livene våre faktisk er.
Jeg gjør meg forøvrig en tanke om hvordan vi som lesere visualiserer det vi leser. Det er så mange personer i denne boken at det er krevende å plassere hver enkelt. Samtidig er forfatteren svart amerikaner, derfor tenker jeg på alle personene i boken som svarte. Det er de ikke. De er jøder, tyskættede, av russisk opphav, svarte, hvite, brune, hele galleriet av bakgrunner. Jeg "ser" menneskene ut fra stereotypier skapt i mitt eget hode når forfatteren ikke gir så mange signaler om bakgrunn.
Settingen: Georgia i USA, New York, Vietnam, Berlin.
For meg var denne novellesamlinglignende, fragmenterte romanen en uhyre fin leseøkt.
Jeg gjør meg forøvrig en tanke om hvordan vi som lesere visualiserer det vi leser. Det er så mange personer i denne boken at det er krevende å plassere hver enkelt. Samtidig er forfatteren svart amerikaner, derfor tenker jeg på alle personene i boken som svarte. Det er de ikke. De er jøder, tyskættede, av russisk opphav, svarte, hvite, brune, hele galleriet av bakgrunner. Jeg "ser" menneskene ut fra stereotypier skapt i mitt eget hode når forfatteren ikke gir så mange signaler om bakgrunn.
Settingen: Georgia i USA, New York, Vietnam, Berlin.
For meg var denne novellesamlinglignende, fragmenterte romanen en uhyre fin leseøkt.
i wish i hadn’t read this book on my kindle, the cast of characters is expansive and following along was difficult without easy reference to the character list at the beginning of the book. i always enjoy a multigenerational novel, and the timeline in this one is extremely unique. the writing is beautiful and the characters are interesting when you can keep track of who’s who.
A multigenerational saga is told through distinct tales of lives that brush against one another in a dance through time that will ultimately weave them into a family. With elegant writing and compelling characters, America is revealed in the breadth of their experiences, and the power of an individual to impact not only the lives they touch directly but also lives yet to be is explored.
CONTENT ADVISORYbrief references to rape and police brutality, infidelity
CONTENT ADVISORY
This was a very good though sometimes confusing book. I wish I had read a paper copy instead of on my Kindle, because it would have been easier to flip back to the EXTENSIVE list of characters. The author does a very good job of interweaving their stories, but it can be a little tough to keep all the relationships straight.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, War
I’m not quite sure how to rate this one so I’m going with 3 stars. There are A LOT of characters and the book is pretty much a collection of short stories or snippets of their lives. The chapters jump in time and between characters. The characters are all loosely related but it was hard to keep track of how each person was related. After a while, I gave up trying and just enjoyed the stories. I did enjoy the characters and glimpses into their lives but I wish it was more traditional with a linear storyline.