After the Cannery Row, this seemed extremely unoriginal. It's best of all to read that one that this one too, the ending was somehow uplifting in thatAfter the Cannery Row, this seemed extremely unoriginal. It's best of all to read that one that this one too, the ending was somehow uplifting in that one, and this one's just depressing. The book was a lot more boring as well, but maybe just cause it seemed like a dumb copy of the other one....more
Casting off was one of the warmest books I read during these holidays. In a way, it felt like a really nice Christmas present too - it was just what ICasting off was one of the warmest books I read during these holidays. In a way, it felt like a really nice Christmas present too - it was just what I needed. I liked just about everything about it - except maybe for the dialogues, as they can be a little stiff and artificial - but I've noticed that this is a very common thing in American books, so perhaps it's understandable. Other than that, the book offered a safe-feeling atmosphere which I happened to be needing at the time I received it. I really liked the theme of letting go - because, incidentally, I was facing similar thoughts at the time. There were at least two instances when certain passages in the book seemed to refer to my situation and suggested commentary, which in turn made me think about certain things more deeply, of course. Another thing I really liked about the book is how knitting patterns were used in the beginning of every chapter. Although - I have to say - it is regrettable that they're only explained and not drawn or photographed. I caught myself googling the patterns numerous times, trying to imagine them better!
Now for the actual tale.. The book is layered very nicely - parts of the story happen in the current time, parts of it intertwine with memories of the past. You don't really find out what happened in the main character's past almost till the very end - although you do have your suspicions. Both the stories of the main character Rebecca and and the old man Sean are touching, yet sad. Although Rebecca has no way of facing her actual past, Sean's history is used in the book to act as the 'other side' of what happened - through the similarities of their lives - similar disaster, yet different side of the experience. Both these stories are nicely tied together by the innocent affection and understanding of a small child (Rebecca's daughter) - the unconditional understanding that most adults will have lost the capacity to give because of preconceptions and past experiences.
Generally, if you're looking for hope, warmth and reassurance - this book is the book for you. It's the kind of book you'll want to read curled up on the sofa by an (imaginary, perhaps) fireplace with some hot cocoa in your mug.. trying to delay the ending as long as you can.
EDIT: I wonder if I mentioned anywhere that I received this as a Firstreads giveaway. In case I haven't, I'm mentioning it now :)...more
I must've not been drunk enough to understand this. one of the most annoying reads this year. oh, and if you don't know any philosophy history (like mI must've not been drunk enough to understand this. one of the most annoying reads this year. oh, and if you don't know any philosophy history (like me), just don't read this - bad idea....more
I don't normally read books like this, but this time I was asked to read it and write a review. I thought this might adversely affect the review, and I don't normally read books like this, but this time I was asked to read it and write a review. I thought this might adversely affect the review, and I was right - as this isn't the typical book I read normally, it didn't appeal to me as much as it would have if I had chosen it myself. I have also just finished reading a really strong and heartbreaking book, and this will probably also affect my review.
this book didn't stand out to me as a very special one, but it was light, entertaining and enjoyable - an easy read. although it was also annoying at times.. for example, there are no explanations of a ton of terms that I don't know because I don't live in India and don't know the culture. also, there were some dialogues completely in some weird dialects which of course I could not read and understand.. and then two sentences to explain what was said in short. what the hell is that? that's called super annoying - this is a book, not a movie, for goodness sake.. the main character (teenage runaway) was also very flat and his sudden change at the end, let's face it - not natural at all. and the way he talks.. do people really talk like that? however, I did worry throughout the whole book about the guy with the little cute son who won the lottery but couldn't get the ticket.. there were some really nice and warm details for sure. and to tell you the truth, the ending saved the book. it was unexpected and warm.
long story short, if you're into light books and light movies, this book feels like those two combined, and you will probably like it. but if you're into some tougher reads like me - probably not your cup of tea....more
This is so far the best of Vonnegut's that I've read.
It's hard to sum up everything that is covered in the book. Especially since the text isn't so loThis is so far the best of Vonnegut's that I've read.
It's hard to sum up everything that is covered in the book. Especially since the text isn't so long. But you know the typical Vonnegut - writing like you're an accomplice of his, like you've been through most of that - so he doesn't have to overexplain. And the funny this is - he gets away with it. And if in most of his books it's a little loose that way, it's different in this one. And I'm surprised to know that this is one of his earlier books, as it feels like one of the later ones - the style's not lacking at all, it's sticking together like rubber-band ball, pretty much.
In this book we see the typical Vonnegutian storylines - the long lost and/or hopeless love even if it's mutual/sort of, the intrigues (let's call them that, although we do know better), the utter absurdity of most situations. The topics it covers I can't even begin to name.. The way we trick ourselves, the way we live out our lives schizophrenically on the pretense of normal, the way we find excuses to do horrid things, things we don't even know we believe in. The way the masses believe in the things that the people who make up those masses wouldn't even begin to believe. Vonnegut explores human guilt, and the lack of it - the death of it. He explores the pointlessness and yet the meaningfulness of friendship, love, loyalty. The crooked kinds of love and loyalty that are much more human than the exalted Disney kind of love and humanity. The one thing about Vonnegut that I have always loved the best is how he managed to intertwine hopelessness and yet hope and belief into the same things, and somehow make them one and the same. How he also manages to weave regret into the larger picture without it actually feeling regretful. (view spoiler)[And then there's the universal absurdity factor - it's Vonnegut at his best when he has a Nazi who hates Jews, blacks and Catholics, a "Black Fuehrer" who spied for the Japanese and a fascist Catholic priest get together in one room and explain to an army man how they don't hate each other and actually work for the same cause. (hide spoiler)]
Some say (in fact, most of them do) that Vonnegut at his best was the Slaughterhouse 5, and that that book is The Book (capitals indeed) about WWII. But I don't agree. THIS is The Book of WWII. And no other....more
Alright, so maybe cozy is not quite the word, but this is essentially a Junglebook retelling (shocking, I know! Don't laugh at me that I figured tAlright, so maybe cozy is not quite the word, but this is essentially a Junglebook retelling (shocking, I know! Don't laugh at me that I figured this only after someone told me flat out.) So this is basically a story of a boy growing up, told in that middle-grade kind of way that Neil Gaiman is so good at.Magic, mystery, danger and affection. And even though the characters faced a lot of peril, there was a certain warmth and coziness involved. You'll end up loving all the characters, I promise! This is the first book of Neil Gaiman's I've read, and I haven't been able to wean myself off of his stuff ever since.
Evelina | AvalinahsBooks
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