Christine
I had a sort of love-hate relationship with this book as I read it/listened to it. There were times when I was frustrated with the pace, the cynicism, the snark, and the unlikely plot turns. I was able to get a hardcopy from the library so that I could skim through some of the backstory sections. It was quite long.
However, I do have to say that there were also moments of brilliance, insight, and laugh out loud stories. His assessment and integration of so many modern issues, including academia (and the corporate take over), millennial angst, child rearing philosophies today, Facebook, and of course, modern marriage, were apt and often darkly funny. A couple of chapters in particular really stand out, and maybe could stand alone if I wanted to share with a friend. I'm thinking of the club scene and the time when Elizabeth takes Toby to the grocery store. I understand why this book has received so much positive attention, but I found myself wondering if it was targeted toward a slightly younger demographic — maybe those in their late 30s and 40s could more easily relate to the characters and their angst.
DNF. I'm sure it's me, and not the book, but I just wasn't up for the sadness and stress. I kept anticipating the bad things that were going to happen. Another reviewer described this as a cry book, and I'm not up for that right now.
I assumed that I already knew what was in this book, but I was wrong. The author went beyond my (low) expectation that she would say that our fast-paced achievement-oriented culture is bad for our kids. Instead, she offered:
lots of compelling stories;
a reminder that the high school treadmill continues into college (from grade pressures to internship pressures);
compassion for parents (especially mothers who often carry the responsibility to help our kids stand out among their peers);
an accessible – if brief –explanation of how parent anxiety is understandable given how society has changed and economic mobility increasingly precarious for the middle class; and
practical suggestions for making ourselves and our kids healthier and happier.
One of her themes is that we need to feel that we matter, and that focus drives the second half of the book. I do think all of this is easier said than done, and she admits she comes from the Ivy League background that she's now challenging somewhat, but I felt understood and encouraged – both as a parent and an educator – in the middle of the culture she critiques.
Another touching and insightful Ann Patchett book! I love the way that she captures real lives, dialog, interpersonal dynamics, choices women make, family roles.... and more. I appreciated the slow and easy story telling, the way I can picture the cherry farm in Michigan and watch the mother-daughters relationships. This is a book that I'm eager to discuss with others, as I am not sure what to make of the heartthrob movie star character. I'm also curious about Patchett's decision to include the last episode between him and our narrator, Lara. Listening to Meryl Streep read this might have been the best things about this already lovely novel. It reminds me of Tom Hanks reading Dutch House. In both cases, I didn't want to stop having them in my ears.
Skimmed library copy teaching. Some of this could be useful. May return to this again. Much review for me. But a great resource for all. Easy to read.
I had heard the author discuss this book on NPR, and was drawn to his personal experience and his intellectual analysis. This book blends together the stories of four individuals along with the history of the epidemic. His conclusions are damning and well-supported. I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in modern American history, race & policing, and public policy. I appreciate the way that he demonstrates the impact of policy and politics on regular people.
An amazing epic! I highly recommend listening to this. It served us over several road trips. I think that reading could be overwhelming to keep track of all the story lines. The breadth — from medicine, surgery, politics, history, Christianity, love stories — is breathtaking. Listen to the Acknowledgments, too.
A nice escape to a remote Central American village, next to an imposing volcano, gorgeous gardens, and a deep lake. The story was sad at the outset, and eventually became happy – but it took a while. The stories of the various guests were interesting. I did see the twist coming from the introduction of that character, and the end (as another review said) was too neatly tied up. But it was a pleasant read, and I cared about the characters. I'm curious about other Joyce Maynard books; have I not read her before?
I read this book in a night – skimming here and there, but getting the narrative and his voice. I found his story fascinating, and a bit heartbreaking. It may sound silly, but what he describes tracks well with much of the vibe one gets from watching “The Crown.” The royal family has agency over their own lives, and so many more opportunities that most of the world, but I also see the significant restraints. I especially appreciated the stories of his boyhood and then the play-by-play of his courtship with, and early marriage with, M.M. (The racism in the press that she endured is well detailed and documented here for anyone who thinks that the couple exaggerated that.) I suppose that reading this is a bit voyeuristic – or maybe a lot, actually – but it was an easy & enjoyable read, and informative too. I'd recommend for a light, easy, fun-but-sometimes sad read.
This was outstanding, and it's clear to me why it has been so acclaimed. The details and story telling make it a page-turner, and I learned a great deal more about King because of the depth and breadth of this biography. As a writer and historian myself, I'm so impressed with Eig's ability to recreate day by day minutia, as well as dialog, to create a rich and full picture of King's life as well as his family members' and friends' too.
This was an excellent listen, by the way. The narrator has King's cadence down.
Finally, in the final section of Q & A, Eig talks about the way that we have “hollowed” King and how we must see him as a real man. I have long felt this also, and this book helps us see King's complexity, his rage, and his sadness toward the end of his life. I have told my students that we have sort of made King into a “teddy bear” of sorts, and the reality of his depression, his sense that he might be killed, and his frustration with the movement actually make his greatness greater. There is also comfort here in our own often-depressing and scary time.
I recommend this book to anyone who needs a little palate cleanser after a heavy or serious book. This is a sweet story of an older gentleman and a little girl, and the ways that books and friends help them navigate life's difficulties. There's lots of humor and a satisfying ending, as you would expect, The dark section did have me a little distressed, but I was propelled to see the resolution. Also, it was fun to read a book that was originally published in German, and clearly takes place in Europe today. This a nice summer read or break from more difficult novels.
I listened to most of this, and the narrator was excellent.
This book was a triumph and it should be perfect for book club. I have to admit that I had to make myself slog through the first two characters' sections because it was just so sad and a bit slow, but then it picked up a lot as it moved to the adults. The ending was ... wow! I don't know if I can wholeheartedly recommend this book because of all the heavy themes – climate, generational trauma, domestic abuse, economic decline, and gun violence – but if you can make it through that, the book does reward you with much food for thought and a new and profound compassion.
As an admirer of Drew Faust and her work, I was eager to jump into this memoir, which is getting lots of good press. I learned much about her background, and I'm even more impressed with her. I was disappointed that it ended with the 1960s, as I would have been especially interested to read about her life and work in academia. Maybe there will be another volume. I appreciated the way that she turns an historian's eye on her own story, and I was inspired by her use of her old family letters. As I process my own, I would be interested in her approach.
I was attracted to the premise of this book, and pleased to read something by a fellow Wellesley alum. The three children characters and the Hawaiian setting make this a fun and mentally picturesque escape. Lindsey's relationships with the men of her life feel a bit undeveloped, but I enjoyed what was there. I would recommend this to anyone — especially moms — looking for a read that is not too heavy,, but engaging and beachy. The last third of the book picks up steam, and I stayed up past my bedtime to see how it was all going to work out.
PS. I am amending this review the next morning to say that I'm still thinking about this book and wondering if she could right a sequel. I would read it!
What an amazing achievement! I’m stunned by the way Chin is able to tell her family stories in a way that reads like a page turning novel, spans over 100 years, and incorporates so much detailed and solid history. I wish that I could create something like this with my family history and documents, and I know how difficult a task this would be.
This book is also so important for understanding American history better. Chin brings to life the determination, patience, love, and humanity of people who so often are forgotten in the telling of American history. And the immigrant story could not be more relevant today. Highly recommend. I wonder who else I might encourage to read this.
A long and detailed narrative of a friendship and complicated moment in our understanding of mental illness. So much rings true. A terribly sad story overall, but read with such compassion, it leaves room for discussion. Good for my upcoming book club. (I listened; didn't want to stop.).
This is a fun, easy read, but not for me right now. I wanted to gobble it up and enjoy, but the premise was too light for me at the moment. Maybe this would be a good one to return to this summer or another time when I just want book candy. DNF
My hubby & I listened to this over several long car trips, and it is a good one for that – much detail, draw dropping twists & turns, and good history. It is exhaustive, though. I say “though” because it felt like too much by the end. I was eager to complete it not because I was still enjoying it, but because I am a completist. I recommend it to others nonetheless.
Another positive, enjoyable, and practical book from Gretchen Rubin, one of my self-development favorites. I skimmed this pretty quickly, but got the gist – and some fun ideas to explore my senses creatively to add more fun, whimsy, and depth to my life and relationships.
I LOVED her first book – filled with her life history and American history too. And listening to it was special. This book is a bit slower, and maybe especially ideal for younger readers who are learning how to do life. Not young myself, I appreciated the reminders sprinkled throughout – to value my friendships, let my children take risks, and be kind to myself every day. It wasn't as dense or efficient as a regular “self-help” or “self-development” book, but she slowly doled out healthy tips and interesting stories from her own life. This would be an especially nice book for a high school or college graduate.
This was a lovely novel that felt mostly like a series of sequential short stories, maybe because each chapter was short and ended with a little punch. I loved the women of this book – their strength and sense of humor, their vulnerability and resourcefulness, and their abiding love for one another. I listened mostly (delightful brogue), but read the last 30 pages because I was eager to see how it would end. Not too sad, not too twisty, but simple storytelling in an Irish town and family.