Take a photo of a barcode or cover
854 reviews by:
specificwonderland
I wasn't looking forward to reading this. For one, it's an Oprah selection and I'm not outdoorsy, really. But I recently heard it's being made into a movie and something about that (which would also usually, equally, repel me) intrigued me. A few people I know have read and liked it well enough and I tend to like memoirs, especially when they deal with death and addiction.
Strayed's story is interesting and heartbreaking. I guess I am the demographic for this book. She writes well and feels like a real person you could meet. She's not perfect and doesn't try to be.
She's insecure but earnest. She's book smart but a little relationship inept. I don't know, I just liked her. I don't find it to be haughty or hipstery. And even if parts are fabricated, the tone of the book is earnest and I appreciate that.
The downside of this book is how monotonous it is. The last 20% or so really dragged for me and I felt myself thinking, "I GET IT. What's the point?"
And a brief note about my edition, I borrowed it from Overdrive in Multnomah County and the version I have is Oprah's... as in, highlighted passages all over the place with superscripted O's all over the place. V. annoying. Let me form my own opinion of the book before you start rubbing your stench all over it, Oprah. But, begrudgingly: good pick.
Strayed's story is interesting and heartbreaking. I guess I am the demographic for this book. She writes well and feels like a real person you could meet. She's not perfect and doesn't try to be.
She's insecure but earnest. She's book smart but a little relationship inept. I don't know, I just liked her. I don't find it to be haughty or hipstery. And even if parts are fabricated, the tone of the book is earnest and I appreciate that.
The downside of this book is how monotonous it is. The last 20% or so really dragged for me and I felt myself thinking, "I GET IT. What's the point?"
And a brief note about my edition, I borrowed it from Overdrive in Multnomah County and the version I have is Oprah's... as in, highlighted passages all over the place with superscripted O's all over the place. V. annoying. Let me form my own opinion of the book before you start rubbing your stench all over it, Oprah. But, begrudgingly: good pick.
This story started out as a sweet, winsome familial tale of a lower-tier theme park based around alligator pugilism and acrobatics and a family reeling after a death, all members processing the death in an oblique, incremental way while the park flounders.
It draws energy from it's rough and tumble Ava, who tempers her sister's foray into the spiritual ghost world and her brother's ambitious education goals by being matter of fact and a sort of Scout character. Ava was a really well done character. I could feel all her relationships vividly, her respect of The Chief, the love for her mother, her loyalty to her only sister, Osceola and the skepticism she brings to all these interactions. She's being pulled along by these relationships but she isn't powerless.
Plot wise, really took a turn around the 80% mark. I was horrified and couldn't let the story go.
I loved Russell's descriptions of things, from her elegance in describing commonplace things to her encyclopedic knowledge of the Ten Thousand Islands. I never even knew this part of the country existed and now I want to visit, despite the grisly recounting. Her folklore and the sense of community she shares about this area is really engaging and makes me regret this Big City life I live. As poor and uncouth as the kids are, they are loved and the community cares for them.
I would definitely recommend this book and hope she writes for a long time. I read this book as part of the Huffington Post list of 25 Books Every Woman Should Read. I have to agree.
Spoiler alert:
This is what I wanted the Lovely Bones to be like. This book is SO SO SO much better. The plot points surprised me, thrilled me and stayed with me after reading.
It draws energy from it's rough and tumble Ava, who tempers her sister's foray into the spiritual ghost world and her brother's ambitious education goals by being matter of fact and a sort of Scout character. Ava was a really well done character. I could feel all her relationships vividly, her respect of The Chief, the love for her mother, her loyalty to her only sister, Osceola and the skepticism she brings to all these interactions. She's being pulled along by these relationships but she isn't powerless.
Plot wise, really took a turn around the 80% mark. I was horrified and couldn't let the story go.
I loved Russell's descriptions of things, from her elegance in describing commonplace things to her encyclopedic knowledge of the Ten Thousand Islands. I never even knew this part of the country existed and now I want to visit, despite the grisly recounting. Her folklore and the sense of community she shares about this area is really engaging and makes me regret this Big City life I live. As poor and uncouth as the kids are, they are loved and the community cares for them.
I would definitely recommend this book and hope she writes for a long time. I read this book as part of the Huffington Post list of 25 Books Every Woman Should Read. I have to agree.
Spoiler alert:
This is what I wanted the Lovely Bones to be like. This book is SO SO SO much better. The plot points surprised me, thrilled me and stayed with me after reading.
I picked this book up because it was on a recent science fiction list.
Like many other reviewers, I'm not sure what happened. Was Harry never there? Was he there and met his demise? Was there truly one resident left in the building? What the heck happened with Claudia and Michel and Mr Otokos suit after the bath? So many questions.
Six resupplies and they never checked out the lobby kitchen for food or towels? Furthermore, never looked out a window from above to survey damage?
But I truly loved the short dialogues between Harry and Michel. I clearly saw Christoph Waltz as Harry, complete with walnut aroma. I cowered with The Guard over those gruesome and graphic chapters. What do we make of his porcelain cats indeed? Perhaps a statement about susceptibility and suggestion in small groups and maintaining individual thoughts in the face of catastrophe. Dark, but I wouldn't say darkly funny. Just dark.
My final plot synopsis--spoiler alert--
Harry and Michel really killed their third guard. Harry was murdered by Michel but how? When? I'm inclined to think nothing happened in the city. The manure scent I took to be real and there was no sign of disarray from the upper floors.
Michels commitment to the Organization was total and terrifying.
This book was kinda labyrinthic in a story and plot sense but I enjoyed the characters.
Like many other reviewers, I'm not sure what happened. Was Harry never there? Was he there and met his demise? Was there truly one resident left in the building? What the heck happened with Claudia and Michel and Mr Otokos suit after the bath? So many questions.
Six resupplies and they never checked out the lobby kitchen for food or towels? Furthermore, never looked out a window from above to survey damage?
But I truly loved the short dialogues between Harry and Michel. I clearly saw Christoph Waltz as Harry, complete with walnut aroma. I cowered with The Guard over those gruesome and graphic chapters. What do we make of his porcelain cats indeed? Perhaps a statement about susceptibility and suggestion in small groups and maintaining individual thoughts in the face of catastrophe. Dark, but I wouldn't say darkly funny. Just dark.
My final plot synopsis--spoiler alert--
Harry and Michel really killed their third guard. Harry was murdered by Michel but how? When? I'm inclined to think nothing happened in the city. The manure scent I took to be real and there was no sign of disarray from the upper floors.
Michels commitment to the Organization was total and terrifying.
This book was kinda labyrinthic in a story and plot sense but I enjoyed the characters.