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thebacklistborrower's Reviews (570)
I loved loved loved this book. Its a beautiful look at the social and cultural complexities of Vietnam both before the Vietnam war and in modern times.
While I enjoyed the political and social intrigue in this book, I was extremely disappointed in O.S. Card for the character arc of Petra Arkanian. One of the only women we know in Ender's Game and the first two books of the Shadow series, she is a strong, kick-ass character who all of a sudden in this book spends chapters trying to get pregnant by Bean, which is totally at odds with the rest of her character, unless she has some form of Stockholm Syndrome where she becomes infatuated with her rescuer, or did face a serious break of spirit during the events of Shadow of the Hegemon. Virlomi is a good substitute for a woman who does what needs to get done, but I miss the old Petra.
Very interesting look at women and sex in the bible, with the author attempting to gather the multiple translations, scholars, and his own interpretation to the questions of prostitution and the role of women in biblical stories.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
2022 UPDATE: Universally misunderstood, Bear is a second wave feminist fable that is worthy of a deep, thoughtful read. My first review literally said “I think I’ll need to read this again to really get it” and since then, I feel like I could write a book on it, but this space will have to do (for now).
Bear is the story of Lou, a bibliographer in Toronto, who is sent to a Northern Ontario property bequeathed to “the Institute” for whom she works. There, completely alone, she catalogs the contents of the house, and develops a relationship with the previous owner’s pet bear. Initially innocent, the relationship develops into a sexual one before the end of summer.
This is why the book is usually stripped down to “a WOMAN has SEX with a BEAR!”. But context is important: even in Toronto, Lou is lonely, feeling very unwanted by men. Her only intimate contact is an unsatisfying routine with the Director of the Institute. And, without giving too much away, she experiences both pleasure and frustration with bear. But the crux of the story is away from human society Lou feels welcome to explore her sexuality and identity. Bear can’t judge if she asks for what she wants, even if she doesn’t get it. The walls can’t talk about what she gets up to. The only guilt she feels is from the blame and shame she applies to herself, and for once, she has the space and freedom to explore and deconstruct that guilt. Through the summer, she plays, lounges, reads, relaxes, explores, and literally identifies herself in a more and more positive light as time goes on -- physically, mentally, and sexually.
Bear is a fable: a book meant to reveal a journey and a lesson and not necessarily be taken literally. After finishing Bear, I read a part of The Heroine with 1001 Faces that talks about interactions between beasts and women in fairy tales (beauty and the beast, anyone?) -- it isn’t new. Just the context, and explicitness was, in 1976. Everybody should read this book for a beautiful story of self-exploration and self-love.
****************
2016: I needed to read the Afterword to really get this novel and its literary significance, but even without I enjoyed the novel. A bit bizarre, but there was a peaceful pace to the lead character's self-exploration, offset by her experiences with Bear. I probably need to read this novel again to really get it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny, Abortion