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nic_fish's review against another edition
4.0
For this book out after accidentally getting it when looking for another book of the same name but really enjoyed it. A woman in the 30's thinking for herself.
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
It would be nice to know how much O’Hara expects us to like Desdemona Hart Spaulding, the heroine of Cascade. Unfortunately, I think we may be thrust too abruptly into Dez’s troubles to get to like her.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/cascade/
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/cascade/
snance's review against another edition
I really wanted to like this. I heard rave reviews. And the author is coming to my library next week. I got about 70 pages in and stalled. Put it down. Picked it up and put it down again. Finally gave up after 4 weeks because there is a waiting list for it at the lib. I didn't like the main character pretty much immediately and couldn't get past that, even though I was interested in her art, the theater, and the area, and the creation of the reservoir. Maybe I'll pick it up again at some point. ?
kinx128's review against another edition
4.0
Cascade is a poignant novel about a woman trying to escape the sphere of domesticity to live her life as she always intended. So many people faced desperate situations during the Great Depression and Maryanne O’Hara captured that desperation with such texture and detail. Desdemona’s own desperation runs throughout the book.
Desdemona, or Dez, is a wonderful character. She sacrificed her life in the art world to save her father’s dreams and marries just for financial security. Her claustrophobia sets in very quickly where she continues to dream and fixate on water and drowning. Her home town of Cascade faces total destruction to make way for a new reservoir and she feels trapped. Her only outlet is her art and Jacob. I can’t image what it would be like to be a woman artist in the 1930s. Your opportunities would be so limited. You are expected to marry and have children. A woman’s place is in the home. Dez’s struggle with domesticity is a continuing theme in the book.
At heart, Dez is an artist. That is the only way she can survive. At times, she is very self-absorbed but I think that is a common characteristic for any artistic person. Her husband could not understand that about her. Her world could not revolve around him. She has to live through her art. She can make some serious bad decisions. But she is very human and trying to find her place in the world.
Bigotry is also a running theme through this book. World War II is about to begin and there is huge back lash against the Jewish community. When Dez falls in love with Jacob she sees firsthand how people are treated even though they’ve done nothing wrong. Her feelings of guilt are strong on how Jacob is treated.
I found Cascade to be very emotional book and I highly recommend it.
Desdemona, or Dez, is a wonderful character. She sacrificed her life in the art world to save her father’s dreams and marries just for financial security. Her claustrophobia sets in very quickly where she continues to dream and fixate on water and drowning. Her home town of Cascade faces total destruction to make way for a new reservoir and she feels trapped. Her only outlet is her art and Jacob. I can’t image what it would be like to be a woman artist in the 1930s. Your opportunities would be so limited. You are expected to marry and have children. A woman’s place is in the home. Dez’s struggle with domesticity is a continuing theme in the book.
At heart, Dez is an artist. That is the only way she can survive. At times, she is very self-absorbed but I think that is a common characteristic for any artistic person. Her husband could not understand that about her. Her world could not revolve around him. She has to live through her art. She can make some serious bad decisions. But she is very human and trying to find her place in the world.
Bigotry is also a running theme through this book. World War II is about to begin and there is huge back lash against the Jewish community. When Dez falls in love with Jacob she sees firsthand how people are treated even though they’ve done nothing wrong. Her feelings of guilt are strong on how Jacob is treated.
I found Cascade to be very emotional book and I highly recommend it.
guylou's review against another edition
3.0
First of all, before I tell you how much I like this book, I would like to thank Penguin Group for giving me an advance copy of this great book. It is always nice to get a free book!
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe because I related so much to the main character, Dez. Her life and ambitions are so similar to mine and deep down; I wish that my future will be similar to hers. The characters were real and likable and sometime not so much. The author portrayed the time period very well and overall the book was believable.
The descriptions of Dez's paintings were vivid and made me want to see them in person if this would have been possible. Some parts of the book were a bit long and some side stories a bit derailing. But beside that, it was a great read.
I really enjoyed this book. Maybe because I related so much to the main character, Dez. Her life and ambitions are so similar to mine and deep down; I wish that my future will be similar to hers. The characters were real and likable and sometime not so much. The author portrayed the time period very well and overall the book was believable.
The descriptions of Dez's paintings were vivid and made me want to see them in person if this would have been possible. Some parts of the book were a bit long and some side stories a bit derailing. But beside that, it was a great read.
brontejane's review against another edition
2.0
It just seemed to be trying to be about too many things (art, married life, anti-semitism, fate of a town, etc.), if that makes any sense. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
lovetoread62's review against another edition
It was great . . . I'm not so sure how much I liked the main character though. She was a bit selfish.
heartofoak1's review against another edition
4.0
found this slow going for the first 100 pages or so. didn't especially like the main character, Desdemona Hart Spaulding, and found the art references (how painters paint) boring. the themes of the story: loss, drowning, losing oneself were handled deftly and left an impression. the writing was beautiful.
paige1947_'s review against another edition
1.0
I think some people will find this a good book- will love it in fact. It was just not for me. Too slow moving and I did not like any of the characters. If you are thinking of reading this book do not go by this review