I am quoting my lovely reading friend 's review when I start this review.
"Yikes....it takes a saint to read “Listen To A Marriage”....or a masochist..I am quoting my lovely reading friend 's review when I start this review.
"Yikes....it takes a saint to read “Listen To A Marriage”....or a masochist.....not sure which.......NAILS ON A CHALKBOARD grueling patience!!!"
I am not a saint, or a masochist, or do I have the patience. I would only fully read this book if it was the last one on earth. (as it was I read the first 100 pages and skimmed the last 100).
First, the book is misnamed. It should be called Talk About a Marriage... and talk, and talk, and talk. This book is mostly one big, long, confusing conversation.
There is absolutely nothing to like about the three characters: immature, whining are two adjectives that come to mind. Even the psychologist and her methods are very suspect in my mind. Now that does not always bother me but even the writing does not save this book.
There might be some lessons to learn from this book about how to make a marriage better, but I am unable to understand them, if they are there.
2 stars
Postscript: OK, I did see the emphasis on good communication being important in marriage. I know I do need to add something nice about this book. (Lesson from Mom: if you cannot say anything nice, do not say anything at all.)...more
Adichie has written a letter of recommendation on how to bring up a female as a feminist.
Any female of any age can leA very short and beautiful read.
Adichie has written a letter of recommendation on how to bring up a female as a feminist.
Any female of any age can learn from this book, not only on how to bring up a daughter, but also on how to be a feminist: insist on equality with males and spurn hackneyed gender roles.
I am 70 years old, never had any children, much less a girl. If I had, I would find many beautiful instructions on how to raise her. As it is, I have found many ways to view myself and how I should interact with the world.
But, luckily, I do have a step-daughter and a girl grandchild. I found myself thinking of them throughout the reading of this book. So even though my daughter has three children and a full time job, I bought this for her. I know she will find the time to read it and love it as much as I did.
5 stars
Update 3/27: Saw things this second time I did not see the first. Definitely worth the re-read....more
This book was a slow starter, but as the story progressed, it got more and more gripping and engaging.
CeeCee Wilkes is 16. She falls hard for an olderThis book was a slow starter, but as the story progressed, it got more and more gripping and engaging.
CeeCee Wilkes is 16. She falls hard for an older man who has a plan to save his sister from the death penalty. CeeCee is so in love that she assists in this illegal plan, which involves kidnapping the governor's wife so that the governor will commute the sister's sentence.
I got so involved in this book that I started to have anxious feelings about what was happening. Almost like they were happening to me.
There is so much more that I could say, but don't want to give anything away. I've never read a book with this type of story line, so I was greatly entertained.
I listened to the audio beautifully narrated by Cris Dukehart.
A Place for Us tells the story of an Indian-American Muslim family. It starts at the wedding of Hadia, the oldest daughter, to a man she has selected A Place for Us tells the story of an Indian-American Muslim family. It starts at the wedding of Hadia, the oldest daughter, to a man she has selected on her own to love and marry. We immediately meet Asar, the youngest child and her estranged brother. The parents are Layla and Tariq, whose marriage was arranged. Their three US-born children (Hadia, Huda, and Amar) struggle with following their parents' religious and cultural practices, but the youngest, Amar, finds it especially challenging. He spends his entire life trying to find where he fits in and never truly feels that he belongs anywhere. Despite that, his mother seems to love him the best.
I loved the book for what I learned, especially about the culture of the Muslim. The parents exhibit a devout faith. The girls are more involved than the son, who admits, at least to himself, that he is not even sure if there is a God. The Muslim concept of sin was very revealing as well. "What happens when you sin? Mumma asked them.... You get a speck on your heart, a dark, small speck. Yes... a permanent stain. And with every sin, the heart grows harder and darker".
I was less entranced with the author's writing style. Especially in the first two parts, there was an alternating flashback-present tense format. I found it disconcerting to keep track of where in the life of this family we were reading. But I must also say that Part Three (back to the wedding) and Part Four (Father talking to his son) were beautifully written and made the book for me.
I highly recommend this book. I am sure that, forewarned, the prospective reader will not be as dismayed by the initial writing style as I.
The book Harbor of Spies takes place in a six month time period in 1863 in Havana Cuba.
This book was a real eye opener for me.
Little did I know thatThe book Harbor of Spies takes place in a six month time period in 1863 in Havana Cuba.
This book was a real eye opener for me.
Little did I know that foreign countries were interested in the outcome of the Civil War. Nor did I know that countries such as England and Spain attempted to interfere. Cuba's involvement does make sense as they were, at the time, a slave-based economy. Of course the sugar cane plantation owners wanted the South to win.
The book opens with Everett Townsend sailing into Havana Harbor as interim captain. The original Captain Evans had been killed during the voyage when the schooner's foresail had swung out smashing the Captain in the head and sweeping him overboard. Townsend feels guilty of his inability to save the man. But he does not think of this for long. As he passes El Morro Castle, Havana's prison, he and his first mate hear a man calling out for help as he struggles against a shark in the water. They save him and the story proceeds from there.
The main threads of the story are the mysterious death of English diplomat George Backhouse, the involvement of Michael Abbot (the man rescued) to solve the murder and Townsend's involvement with Don Pedro Alvarado Cardona as a blockade runner.
This story is a complex one with many characters and twists and turns. The story is compelling and full of historical facts. Lloyd also has researched (or just knows!!) many technical terms for sailing vessels of the era.
I really need to write a review on how much I liked this book.
Suffice it to say I do love Egger's writing in this book and have decided Mokhtar AlkhaI really need to write a review on how much I liked this book.
Suffice it to say I do love Egger's writing in this book and have decided Mokhtar Alkhanshali is my newest hero. He defied death and insurrectionists to bring Yemen coffee (the world's ORIGINAL coffee) to America and the world. After much effort and suffering, he finally did that and his first cups cost $16.00.
If you like coffee, you will like this book as it relates how coffee beans are harvested and made into coffee and what it takes to be an authentic coffee evaluator.
I was blessed to hear Dave Eggers interview Mokhtar at the Library of Congress Book Festival on Sep 1 of this year. Having already read the book, I smiled and nodded throughout the 50 minutes of interview.
5 stars
BTW, this review is dedicated to my friend, Elyse, who turned me on to this book....more
William Styron is a beloved author having written such classics as The Confessions of Nat Turner and Sophie's Choice.
I read 'Nat' soon after it was puWilliam Styron is a beloved author having written such classics as The Confessions of Nat Turner and Sophie's Choice.
I read 'Nat' soon after it was published (1967) and neither remember it or this author's wonderful writing style.
Needless to say I knew nothing about his descent into a very dark depression. This book chronicles that descent. At first I was nervous about reading this book because my mother was bipolar, my paternal grandfather suffered from serious depression, and my sister died because of her depression, taking her own life.
I need not have been afraid. Styron wrote about his experience almost lovingly. Never did he portray the attitude of 'why me' or write the words of a martyr.
I am so sorry that Styron had to endure this but so glad he lived to write about it and share it with us.
His ultimate stay in a very good hospital for 7 weeks effected the cure he needed. I was especially impressed with his description of his hospital stay. That it was a place of peace where he could start to heal.
There are many other lessons to be learned from this book. Depression was a very big influence on my family and I am glad I read this special book.
Next I need to reread 'Nat' and read Sophie's Choice and his first book, Lie Down in Darkness (1951).
Tracy K. Smith was appointed Poet Laureate for the United States in 2017. How lucky the United States.
Wade in the Water is her latest contribution to Tracy K. Smith was appointed Poet Laureate for the United States in 2017. How lucky the United States.
Wade in the Water is her latest contribution to the wonderful world of poetry. Written mostly in non-rhyming prose, it describes and uses private experiences and public documents.
My favorite sections are borrowed from real letters written by real people during the Civil War. I have read so many books about slaves and their experiences, these poems were very real to me.
Smith is a professor at Princeton and in two of her works mentions Harrison Street. Having lived about 10 miles from Princeton in the 80's and 90's, the mention of Harrison Street made me smile.
My very favorite, though was Ash. It made a house a character with feelings and experiences and it rhymed!! (I DO like poems that rhyme).
Thank you Tracy K. Smith for your contributions to poetry and this shining example of your work.
The short story… what a wonderful medium for the written word. A subject not always wholly developed. Just enough to tantalize and tease.
May is Short The short story… what a wonderful medium for the written word. A subject not always wholly developed. Just enough to tantalize and tease.
May is Short Story Month. Reading Sweet and Low is a wonderful way to celebrate it. The stories are not ‘sweet’ however. Each one seems to speak of a difficult subject. Certainly not for the faint of heart. But the writing is exquisite and the thoughts are honest, though frequently troublesome.
My favorite of all the stories was the fourth: THESE HEAVENLY BODIES. Its plot kept me mesmerized as Benjamin thought of and encountered the Cade sisters.
Others are good too. They describe relationships with peers, parents and others!!
And the stories, shortly described, ARE:
PART I HEAVENLY BODIES THE LOVERS Do you really want to know a person? This question is asked and maybe answered!!
COTTONMOUTH, TRAPJAW, WATER MOCCASIN The snake – not ALWAYS bad.
GATLINBURG Bears and Love?
THESE HEAVENLY BODIES Benjamin and the Cade sisters
PART II THE EXAGGERATIONS SWEET AND LOW Forney and Mama, the singer
THE EXAGGERATIONS Forney and Uncle Lucas, the exaggerator What a quote: ‘my uncle could stretch the truth so thin that you could read the newspaper through it.’
BREAK Forney, Regan and Tucker – one spring break at Mama’s house
LADY TIGERS Forney, the coach, and Rusty, the team bus driver. And, the Lady Tigers, are a ______ team. On page 1, I assumed wrong. The clue was on page 2.
THE CURATOR The Author – never identified, but he IS, at least loosely, based on someone famous. And the narrator of this story is the curator of his museum home.
THE LAST OF HIS KIND An American ivory-billed woodpecker comes to call. ***********
Nick White really knows how to turn a phrase. I recommend this book.
I belong to 52 Weeks Around the Year Group which provides a prompt a week to be matched to a book which should then be read. ;-)
Week 19: A book nominaI belong to 52 Weeks Around the Year Group which provides a prompt a week to be matched to a book which should then be read. ;-)
Week 19: A book nominated for the Edgar Award or by a Grand Master author
OK, let's look into this: The Edgar Allan Poe Awards (popularly called the Edgars), named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America, based in New York City. They honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film, and theater published or produced in the previous year.
The Grand Master Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Mystery Writers of America. It recognizes lifetime achievement and consistent quality.
At the beginning of April, Walter Mosley, Grand Master Author, was interviewed on CSpan Book TV's new monthly program featuring a fiction writer. OK, I think I would like to read one of his.
So.... I opted for Mosley's latest book, Down the River Unto the Sea. I was in for a treat. From the Book Browse Review:
The protagonist, Joe King Oliver , is a former New York City policeman. He's divorced with a teenaged daughter named Aja-Denise who works for him part time at the front desk of his private detective agency. He's a man carrying a heavy grudge and it weighs on his every move. It began over a decade ago when, as a cop, he was dispatched to arrest a car thief. But he was set up. Thrown in jail, he suffered horrible cruelties.
Ten years later, still suffering from his incarceration, he is now a PI. A new client wants to hire Joe to investigate why a Black activist is being framed for the murder of two cops. He decides to take both cases on, this new one and his own.
*******
I was really entranced with Joe's thought processes. I have highlighted a few phrases that caught my attention and am sharing them with you, the reader of this review.
Walter Mosley has a unique style all of his own. This book is stand alone but he has also written at least 3 series and 30 works in all.
Would you like to read an authentic cultural Japanese book written by a woman who experienced the Japanese culture? Then please read The Earthquake DoWould you like to read an authentic cultural Japanese book written by a woman who experienced the Japanese culture? Then please read The Earthquake Doll.
This book is one in a million. The author is NOT Japanese, yet she wrote a book that is so genuine.
As I read the book, I got the feeling over and over again how beautiful the phrasing and how much it felt like a Japanese person had written it.
But Candace Williams has only experienced the Japanese culture. She is not Japanese.
Synopsis It is after the Second World War (1952, to be exact). Some women have found a new way of thinking. Some still think the traditional way. The heroine is Miyoko. She believes in traditional values. Does Miyoko have to marry someone she does not love, just to keep her family's co-op alive?
There is that and there is also an earthquake, that affects both Americans and Japanese. Lots of things go on in this book, but no spoilers here!!
Review VERY well written. VERY entertaining plot. Please read. I especially liked the character list, the Japanese phrase list, AND the explanations of what was based on real experience and what was made up. Way to go, Candace.
Personal Connection Ohayou Gozaimasu, good morning in Japanese.
When I was in the third grade (about 60 years ago), our pastor would gather us into the gym and read The Last Days of Pompeii. He knew Japanese; he must have been a chaplain in a Japanese speaking country during the war. He would greet us with the Japanese greeting. I remembered the SOUNDS for most of my adult life... I remembered Ohio Gazymus. Now I see it in writing, spelled more correctly. What wonderful memories it evokes. He also said How are you and we said fine, but I do not know how to phonetically type that!! (but something like 'Ekadadisqua. Yanqui dis'. Candace, can you help me??
Loved this book by a budding independent writer. Candace, can we convince you to write more?
A well-written and engaging historical fiction novel centering on a NYC iconic edifice: Grand Central Terminal.
Two women, separated by 50 years, are A well-written and engaging historical fiction novel centering on a NYC iconic edifice: Grand Central Terminal.
Two women, separated by 50 years, are featured in this book. Clara Darden is an illustrationist at Vogue Magazine and also teaches illustration at Grand Central School of Art. Clara is modelled after the real illustrationist Helen Dryden. Virginia Clay is a divorcee with a college age daughter, who in 1974, is struggling to become independent and self-sufficient. She is able to obtain a job at Grand Central Terminal at the information booth.
The two women’s stories are interwoven in a seamless way. And those stories are BOTH captivating. The story of Grand Central Terminal and Penn Central’s fight to raze it and build a 55 story high rise is also explored.
I read about Helen Dryden on Wikipedia and noted the similarities between Clara and Helen. I was able to also view Dryden’s Vogue covers. Fiona Davis’ Author’s Note at the end of the book also clarifies what is fact and what is fiction in the story.
It would not surprise if every review of this thought-provoking book started out with these three quotes:
Novel: A small tale, generally of love. —SamuIt would not surprise if every review of this thought-provoking book started out with these three quotes:
Novel: A small tale, generally of love. —Samuel Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language (1755)
Would you rather love the more, and suffer the more; or love the less, and suffer the less? That is, I think, finally, the only real question.
Most of us have only one story to tell. I don’t mean that only one thing happens to us in our lives: there are countless events, which we turn into countless stories. But there’s only one that matters, only one finally worth telling. This is mine. ************* These are the three quotes which introduced me to The Only Story, Julian Barnes most recent novel. Paul is the narrator and this story is a recollection of his life and the effects of his "Only Story". It is related in three parts and here are some brief thoughts about these three:
Part 1: Boy meets woman; he is 19, she is 48 and married. Relationship blossoms anyway. Writing is light, frivolous, predictable. Told in 1st person. Paul is a risk taker at this point in his life and does not care about money or what people think.
Part 2: Susan leaves her husband and Paul and Susan live together. Life is still good, still written in first person. But the relationship begins to deteriorate and the writing changes to second person. The relationship is becoming distant, symbolized by this change from "I" (more intimate) to "You" (less so). Paul no longer wants to be connected to Susan in an intimate way. He steps back and eventually away.
Part 3: Paul looks back on his life with Susan. His thoughts become much more philosophical. Almost every other sentence is worthy of an underline or highlight. Paul is still in touch with Susan but no relationship exists. Now the story becomes a third person tale. Paul is even more remotely connected to her than before.
Some people have thought this book boring; not I. So many of the sentences meant so much to me, undoubtedly because of my life experiences. I read this book from an arc provided by FirsttoRead, but did not finish it before it expired. I read Part 3 mostly from a library book. I have now bought the Kindle just so that I can re-read Part 3 and highlight many of the sentences. They meant that much to me.
I know this book is not for everybody. It does start out slow and is, in some respects, trite. But as you can see from my review, I felt it got REALLY good.
I am going to do something I have never done before: write a review with the help of the author.
As soon as I finished this book, I knew there were somI am going to do something I have never done before: write a review with the help of the author.
As soon as I finished this book, I knew there were some complex messages here, but the book sometimes confused me and at other times I was entranced. Sooo.. I turned to the author for answers.
Brief Summary Lucas Amado is married to Callie and has one son, Johnny. Lucas works at Galaxy Alarms maintaining home security systems. He has an extra-marital encounter with one of his co-workers, Callie finds out about it and leaves him. He loves her very much, wants her back and spends the book trying to do it. Seems pretty simple, right? Here's the rub: this story is an allegory, I think. So I am spending a lot of time trying to determine the purpose of some of the characters in the book. And there are MANY: parents/inlaws, siblings, fellow workers, customers and Bear. What role is each playing and why are they included in the book? There is one character I have no question about though: Stan is a loving, merciful God.
So I asked questions and Ramon answered.
The best way to think of this novel, says Ramon, is as a journey toward total self-giving love. From selfish lust, to passionate love that gives but also receives, to complete self-giving love that gives with no expectation of receiving. Wow!!
Celia: I would like to understand the relevance of certain characters
Ramon: You are right in supposing that the novel, at least in part, is allegorical. Characters and actions sometimes are symbolic representations of moral or spiritual issues.
Celia: So some characters are meant to symbolize evil and others good?
Ramon: Yes
Celia: The first two thirds of the book did not engage me like the last third. Somehow I heard an irreverent narrator in the first two thirds. Then it became reverential.
Ramon: Here is my take on this. For me to effectively write the kind of book I felt called to write (showing a young man’s progression from self-centered lust to romantic give-and-receive love to complete self-giving love) I had to write in that young man’s language, and in his Legacy City voice. I had to be truthful and hope that people could understand why the book was written the way it was.
Celia: I now understand, thank you.
Celia: Are parts of the story a dream and others real? Is it important to know if there IS both DREAM and reality?
Ramon: In a broad sense, the “unfinished dream” of the novel’s title sets a tone. From the outset, the reader might expect dream to play an essential role in the story. But what is dream? We could think of life as a dream, as the Spanish playwright, Calderón de la Barca, wrote. For people of faith, the idea of an “unfinished dream” could be the journey toward ultimate union with God (For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face... 1 Cor 13: 12). For unbelievers the unfinished dream might be the journey toward attaining a goal or fulfilling an ambition (the hope is that after reading the novel they will come to at least consider the unfinished dream from the perspective of the believer).
Parts of the story are dream, and parts are “real.” But “real” is a loaded word. What one reader might interpret as real, another might interpret as dream.
Which brings me to the second part of your question. Is it important to know if there IS both DREAM and reality? A wonderful question. Yes, both! One reader could make a valid argument that a certain scene was real, while another reader could make an equally valid argument that that same scene was dream. Isn’t life like this? We all see things differently because God made us unique and our experience of life is like no other.
My questions being so satisfactorily answered, I pass on the answers to you, the reader of my review. I highly recommend this book, especially to those of you who are spiritually inspired.
The Torrents of Spring by Ivan Turganev was written in 1870 but thought to be a highly autobiographical rendition of events that occurred in his life The Torrents of Spring by Ivan Turganev was written in 1870 but thought to be a highly autobiographical rendition of events that occurred in his life in 1840. it is considered to be one of his greatest novels. It is the first for me.
The hero of this book is named Dmitri Savin. On a trip to Frankfurt Germany, he meets and falls in love with a beautiful young lady, Gemma. He proposes and when questioned by her mother about finances, promises to sell his estate in Petersburg to raise the proper funds. A friend's wife is purported to show an interest, so he meets with her to discuss the sale. (view spoiler)[But she has other things in mind. (hide spoiler)]
I have read 11 books considered classics this year and the ones written in the 19th Century continue to amaze me. I am a true lover of contemporary fiction, but am developing a love for the classics as well. They are written using lovely phrasing and language and the plots are creative. Certainly liked this book and have another Turgenev planned: First Love.
Angels in the Dust is a beautifully written and beautifully illustrated children's book. It is based on the Depression and the effects of the Dust BowAngels in the Dust is a beautifully written and beautifully illustrated children's book. It is based on the Depression and the effects of the Dust Bowl that occurred. It is historical fiction for the young.
Black blizzards blew in from the north. Each night before bed, Annie and Bessie stuffed paper into the cracks so that the dust would not blow in. Even so, in the morning, the sandy grit covered them from head to toe. It covered the kitchen table as well. Annie, the older child helped Bessie write out her name in the dust. Annie, Mama would say, you make me think nothing’s so bad that it isn’t good for something.
In the Author's Note, Raven states there really was an Annie Bender who experienced these storms. Annie grew up in Guymon, OK, the heart of the storms. Between 1933 and 1937, the town weathered 352 storms, one every five days!!
It is heartwarming to read such a book for children. Imagine what they have learned. I learned something, too.
Thank you to my friend, booklady, who reviewed and introduced me to this book.
Every once in a while a book touches your heart and soul deeply. Two books in my reading history that fall into this category are A Gentleman in MoscoEvery once in a while a book touches your heart and soul deeply. Two books in my reading history that fall into this category are A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and News of the World by Paulette Jiles. Today I will add a third: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne.
While reading this book, I was on an emotional roller coaster, laughing one minute, crying the next. The story of Cyril Avery is that well-crafted: well-developed characters, compelling prose, engaging plot line.
Cyril Avery's life is detailed here: from 5 months in the womb to a few months before his death. He was conceived out of wedlock to Catherine Goggin. When born, he is delivered to a hunchback nun from whom the Averys adopt Cyril.
The Averys are a very unconventional couple. The way they treat Cyril makes the reader think why did they even adopt him? His adoptive father continually tells him 'You are not a real Avery'. His adoptive mother is an author and usually does not even talk to Cyril, much less nurture him.
But, in MHO, Cyril turns out fine anyway. The road to that 'fine' is full of big bumps and bruises however. You see, Cyril is a homosexual born in an Ireland that considers homosexuality a crime. He must hide his proclivities from his best friend and his girl friends.
Through the years Cyril is involved with so many people. We see them through his own eyes and emotions. As hinted at earlier in my review, Cyril grows in understanding and maturing, sorry he has lived a lie for so long and hurt people along the way.
There are many hints to what happens in this book in this review, but a lot more happens in the book that I have NOT disclosed. Everyone I know who has read this book has loved it. If you don't believe me, please consider the average 4.46 star rating as of this date.
I rate this book 6 stars; unfortunately GR does not support this level....more
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