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Review Date: 8/31/2010
I've ridden all my life, so I enjoyed this book from a horse person's point of view, but Smiley's books are emotionally wrenching, more so after you're finished than while you're reading, at least for me. Kate, the main character, is referred to in many reviews as 'obsessed,' but because I share a lot of personality traits with her, she seems more driven to me than obsessed. She is a person who carries on no matter what and altho for most people that would be a strength, for her, it's her greatest weakness.
The relationships between the 4 children are interesting and complex, and Smiley's dialog is smooth. Her books don't have some huge plot going on, but the day-to-day-ness of them sucks you in and by the time it's over, you're wrung out. I closed this book and the previous one I read, A Thousand Acres, and just sat there, stunned.
I recommend her because she writes very well, but these aren't books to read when you need cheering up. I have a couple more on my shelf and I'm looking forward to them, but I'm taking a break before I start another.
The relationships between the 4 children are interesting and complex, and Smiley's dialog is smooth. Her books don't have some huge plot going on, but the day-to-day-ness of them sucks you in and by the time it's over, you're wrung out. I closed this book and the previous one I read, A Thousand Acres, and just sat there, stunned.
I recommend her because she writes very well, but these aren't books to read when you need cheering up. I have a couple more on my shelf and I'm looking forward to them, but I'm taking a break before I start another.
Review Date: 7/30/2008
Stephen King at his finest. I loved this book. It's full of memorable characters that you come to know well, a great plot, strong imagery - all the things he does best. Plus, it's nice and thick at 879 pgs, so you get a lot of reading for your buck. I highly recommend it.
Review Date: 8/10/2010
A quiet little gem of a book, this is historical fiction at its best. The behind-the-scenes look into the life of a maid in a fine house is written in detail, right down to the petty scheming to get ahead in the eyes of the mistresses of the house. Small-town life and family issues are brought in to the story enough to round it out, but the developing relationship between Griet and Vermeer is the main theme. I like books that are subtle and take their time, and give you a good payoff in the end. This is one of those.
Review Date: 8/10/2010
Absolutely loved this. All the rave reviews were right - this book is a delight. An entire book written in letters isn't a new concept, but it is extremely well done here. The main characters are fleshed out well enough that you get a good feel for who they are. The plot is, at heart, a love story, but with so much more going on that it falls easily into the category of historical fiction. I had no idea what/who/where Guernsey was before I read this book and learning of its history thru this delightful tale was one of the best reading experiences I've had in years. I was sad when it came to an end and very sorry to learn that the author is no longer with us to write more of these. I want a whole series of Guernsey books, but re-reading this one once a year will have to do.
Review Date: 8/10/2010
I liked this book a lot, but I was left with the feeling that perhaps I didn't get everything out of it that I could have. I don't have much of a religious background and I wonder if the story would have been fuller, more rich, to me if I had gotten some of the references, etc. Nevertheless, even on a surface level, I enjoyed the book. Makes me seriously want to visit Venice...
Review Date: 8/10/2010
Helpful Score: 2
When I closed the back cover on this book, I just sat and stared into space for a bit. This book wore me out emotionally. Not that it's full of bad events in and of themselves, but it's so slowly and quietly told that the story builds without you really knowing it, until, at the end, you're left with sort of an 'oh my god' feeling. Other people I've spoken to have said the same sort of thing. It's not terribly depressing, so I recommend it, but it does sort of stop you in your tracks at the end.
This is my first Smiley book, so I don't know if all her stuff is like this, but I have a few more on the shelf, so we'll see.
This is my first Smiley book, so I don't know if all her stuff is like this, but I have a few more on the shelf, so we'll see.
Review Date: 8/10/2010
Helpful Score: 3
When I was finished with this book, I went and revised my top 10 to add it - it's that good. Told from a boy's perspective, it's the story of a somewhat shady brother and sister who come to live in a small town in rural Montana in 1909. The effect these two have on the boy, his widowed father, and the rest of the town is best summed up by the synopsis on the publisher's website - this glimpse into a vanished way of life and eccentric characters is an unforgettable, charming tale of love and loss, truth and lies, and educationconventional and otherwise.
I wasn't familiar with Ivan Doig until this book, but look forward to reading more of his stuff. My husband, an ardent scifi reader, was equally charmed by this book, which is really saying something.
I wasn't familiar with Ivan Doig until this book, but look forward to reading more of his stuff. My husband, an ardent scifi reader, was equally charmed by this book, which is really saying something.
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