Christine
This is an impressive accomplishment. It is readable, accessible, touching, and informative. I enjoyed the travel log aspect, as well as the memoir about losing her parents. It is an unusual book, however, so I didn't finish it with a lot of material I could use easily for my classes. It's kind of a blend of history, a lot of detail, travel stories, and grief memoir. I ended up skimming a lot, because I knew I just couldn't retain the detail, but I enjoyed following her lines of inquiry, her sense of humor, and her candor.
This is one of my favorite books of the year. It's a cliché, but I really didn't want it to end. Speaking of the ending, I didn't love that, but it felt authentic. I appreciate the way she re-created the location. The storylines were fascinating and detailed — believable. I wasn't really sure that a PhD who teaches Toni Morrison and African-American studies would fall into the role that Shay does, but she definitely has to address that by the end. Fascinating read, And also an escape to the island.
Powerful and poignant. Difficult and important. A gift book from a dear friend who cares and thinks deeply.
This was my first Elly Griffiths, and I plan to read more. This reminded me of the Thursday Murder Club series with the mature and lovable characters. I do enjoy stories with cross-generational friendships. I appreciated the setting also.
I wanted to love this book. There's so much detail, and I like stories of important intellectuals and how they knew each other. However, this felt wandering without a clear thesis. I wanted to use it for class, but it is too detailed for my students, and without a strong argument, it becomes less useful. I recommend for anyone who wants to take a deep dive into the important thinkers of the decade. You will find his research rewarding and fascinating.
I'm giving this 5 stars because it is lovely, quiet, thoughtful and thought-provoking, and tender. It isn't trying to be something else, so it seems unfair to give it less because I'm comparing it to books with more action or cleverness. It transported me to a new world of canals and locks and narrowboats, along with endearing characters and pleasant scenery. I appreciated the women at mid-life, reassessing their choices, and the subculture community on the canals. Readers have to suspend disbelief at the premise bringing these characters together, but if you do, it's a cozy trip, which is just what I needed.
Ugh. I loved this book, but by the time I got 2/3 of the way through, I couldn't stand the thought of an unhappy ending, so I started looking up spoilers. Alas, that was a good choice because otherwise I would have been kind of devastated. So, I really wish that the author had ended the story around Chapter 48 and allowed the two women and baby to escape to another island. WHY NOT? Otherwise, I enjoyed the characters and the twisty plot, the adventures in the rain forest, the quirky people along the way. (I did not really get the POW guy story line, as other reviewers have noted. If he had been offered some redemption by the end, sure ...., but that was not to be. See again last two chapters.)
I started. Wanted to love. Couldn't get past the grammar mistakes. She uses “and I” when it should be “and me.” Where was her editor? Also a bit slow to start. She is funny, though.
I enjoyed this book. SMK is consistent, and you can see how much research she put into it. The strong women characters were wonderful, and I like the human side of Jesus. I did find it a sad read; it was hard to be a woman in biblical times, and it was very hard to be Jesus. She makes those hardships real. I recommend this for Christian friends and for those who are interested in the feminine divine and historical fiction.
This was a very satisfying listen. I agree that it was quite slow, especially for the first half, but the descriptions and character development were compelling. I will be thinking about some of the characters in the months ahead. I wish that there had been more justice, but perhaps it was more realistic (?) this way.
This was an interesting listen. It wasn't what I expected, really, based on the reviews here, but I think that to say more would have spoiled the twists and turns. I appreciated the opportunity to read something by a French author, and I could see the French countryside and personalities. I did love the main character, and I was wanting her to have happiness and love. I would recommend this, but be prepared for a slow evolution.
This is a pleasant story that might distract you from the unpleasantness all around us these days. If you like time travel story lines, and a reminder about how tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start, this might be a good book for you. I heard the audible version and appreciated the narrator also. Her British accent added to my escape.
I was surprised by all the negative comments on Goodreads. I guess I am the target audience that many people refer to. I liked the stories, and I appreciated that she was not trying to make herself small and modest anymore. She had good advice for me!
Definitely a nice break from the really serious and depressing great literature I've been reading lately. It was a bit contrived, but that made it easier for me to detach emotionally. By the end, though, I was hooked. I stayed up late to get to the ending, which was mostly satisfying and a bit surprising. I enjoyed the description of the island. I would read her again.
I listed to this one, and enjoyed the plot-heavy narrative. An English teacher friend complained about the book's conceit, and I have to agree. The messages were a bit heavy handed. But the characters stay with me. And Bennett is on to something about our true selves and our ability (or inability?) to be someone else. I enjoyed the book a lot.
Edna O'Brien is so gifted, and I admired how she could conjure place & time so beautifully. The story is pretty sad overall, but that is her point about women in mid- to late- century Ireland. The patriarchy was (is?) powerful and relentless. I read this for my book club, and I am grateful to have read another women-author classic. It did take some effort to read. I think I liked her “Red Chairs” book a bit better.
I wanted to like this because it is very important to my son, but I am taking a break from the audible version. I think that reading over the print will be better. I will come back to this later when my daughter is reading it for school.
There are some quite passionate reviews here. Although I understand the criticisms, for what it is, I found this book to be reassuring and interesting. I think she does highlight some really important historical, economic, educational, and cultural trends that have affected this generation of women. Yes, she does seem to be focusing on middle class or upper middle class, maybe white, women, but still, many of her observations were accurate and helpful to see all together. I'm glad I read/skimmed it.
Amazing. Detailed. Beautiful. So sad. Funny. Real. It's all the things. Listening to it is definitely a good way to go. That was outstanding, too. However, I did have to make myself keep reading at many points. After the third or fourth sexual assault scene, I dropped the Audible and went to the book version so that I could have more control and skim through that. The length of this epic is also a bit overwhelming.
I must admit I started skimming about 1/3rd of the way in. I was impressed but discouraged by Ivy. I feel as though I got to know this character well, and Yang's writing feels honest and piercing.
Okay. I decided to go back to reading it, based on seeing an interview with Susie Yang. She's compelling.
So honest, fascinating, and ultimately helpful to many others. A lot has to do with sex - fyi
Funny and clever. Reminds me of Hoot, which I read with my kids. If you've read his other books, one can't expect that he would like T**. I appreciate that he didn't hold back.