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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance! is a touching book about all of the events in Harriet's life. Though not a perfect person, Harriet changes and develops and learns from everything that has happened to her. The skipping back and forth from the present to different parts of Harriet's past makes the book move quickly- as does the worry that this Alaskan cruise is going to be a defining moment in Harriet's existence.
Also, extra points for one of the prettiest covers I've seen in a while.
Also, extra points for one of the prettiest covers I've seen in a while.
A quick, easy read that makes us think we *almost* know the plot twist -- until it's actually a different twist. I can't stop feeling sad for Harriet, several days after finishing the book.
My first sampling of Mr. Evison's work was prompted by coming across it on New Release shelves in the library, Ms. Jami Attenberg's blurb calling Mr. Evison a "ridiculously gifted storyteller", and its subject matter of a woman nearing life's finale, accepting her "diminishing capacities" while taking stock and discovering the truth of what has gone before. With a Ralph Edwards-ian, omniscient-ish narrator hurtling us through a guided tour of the milestones (and millstones), we revisit from birth the people and places who made her what she is -- and is not. While the tone is light-hearted and suffused with humor, the elegiac subject-matter and theme to do with choices, lack of choices, bad choices, and chance, is ultimately quite grim. The discoveries and revelations are less than uplifting, often involving betrayal and deceit, a life-story full of hiding, shame, and purposeful ignorance of the obvious as survival technique. It is a fast read, it is well-written, but ultimately, its message seems without hope: Here was a sad life, any possible redemption happens only in death. It left me a bit blue - which may have been the aim, the point, its purpose, but, it's not the romp its blurbs led me to believe it would be.
Interesting (to me) that Harriet Chance -- the journey of a senior woman -- was penned by a youngish man. While I am not of the school that believes authors ought only write about their own cohort, I think the reason this book failed for me was a lack of authenticity; the experiences of Harriet ultimately seemed observed rather than lived, looked at from a distance rather than experienced.
Interesting (to me) that Harriet Chance -- the journey of a senior woman -- was penned by a youngish man. While I am not of the school that believes authors ought only write about their own cohort, I think the reason this book failed for me was a lack of authenticity; the experiences of Harriet ultimately seemed observed rather than lived, looked at from a distance rather than experienced.
A super fast and easy read, this story was entertaining, with more depth to it than I anticipated. I enjoyed the way the chapters depicted Harriet at different ages (although I'll admit the narrator of those sections was annoying at times) and showed how the things that happened to her throughout her life shaped her into the woman she became. It's an interesting exploration of family relationships, struggles, feminism, love, betrayal, loss and more. Recommended.
Well, I actually got through half of this book before I decided to be done. It's fine, but I just never got interested enough. The author jumps around during her life and describes scenes so that details slowly emerge, and they are largely negative though the character is likeable.
What a charming, weird, depressing-yet-whimsical little story. I look forward to reading more by this author.
In the acknowledgments, the author thanks "the women who have often settled for less, the women who've never quite gotten their fair share, who have soldiered on in the face of inequity, frustration, and despair, who have forgiven beyond reasonable measure, absorbed beyond reasonable expectation, and given, given, given with no promise of recompense." I was in full mom martyr mode when I finished this and I really appreciated that. Really cool and charming book.
An easy read, without any real depth or humour, I found it to be just okay
This was a quick listen - good, but slightly vague ending. At times it was confusing because it pinballed all over Harriet's life - i kept forgetting what she she was, which age she just was. It was interesting to hear all the pieces of her life fit together. However, the ending was a bit quick and not nice and tight.