Masterpiece
Excellent
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Thursday, May 15th, 2008Review: The Gathering
The Gathering by Anne Enright won the Booker Prize in 2007. The novel is about family relationships, grief, and memory. Veronica comes from a large family of 12 siblings (plus several stillbirths). Her closest brother Liam has just committed suicide, and as she deals with her grief about losing her brother, the event dredges up some fairly shocking childhood memories. Soon she doesn’t know how she feels about either of her families — either her childhood family or even her husband and children.
The language and scenes are shocking and graphic. The subject matter is dark and depressing. Normally, I would have predicted that I would have hated this book, and I can see why many don’t like it. But, Enright’s writing drew me in. Veronica’s voice is so brutally honest it cut through me. Definitely not for everyone, but it’s a book you think about long after you’ve finished it, and in my mind, that’s the mark of a good one.
2007, 261 pp.
Rating: 4/5
2007 Booker Prize winner
Popularity: 65% [?]
Saturday, February 16th, 2008Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
The 2008 Newbery award winner, Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!, is by Laura Amy Schlitz. The book is subtitled Voices from a Medieval Village, and contains points of view from the blacksmith’s daughter, the tanner’s son, the falconer’s son, the glassblower’s daughters, among many others. I didn’t like it at all at first, but by the time I got to the story about a shepherdess singing to a grieving ewe, I was enjoying it. The illustrations by Robert Byrd were excellent.
2007, 81 pp.
Rating: 
Popularity: 28% [?]
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007Gossamer
I read this during the read-a-thon in the late night hours, and it was a perfect fit. I love Lois Lowry. I haven’t found a book yet by her that I didn’t like, and she is the author I’ve read the most of this year.
This is a tale about dream-givers, nightmare-givers, a little boy, his mother, a puppy, and an older female caretaker. It’s difficult to say more without spoilers so I’ll leave it at that. It was a wonderful book.
2006, 140 pp.
Rating: 4.5
Popularity: 12% [?]
Monday, July 30th, 2007The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The God of Small Things
by Arundhati Roy
1997, 321 pp.
Booker Prize
Rating: 3.5
I finished this book two days ago, and I still don’t know how I feel about it. Loved some of it, hated some of it, and was confused by the ending (particularly the second to last chapter; did they ?). I am reading this with my Book Awards group in September, and I have many things I’d like to talk about and discuss with them first before I write any kind of formal review.
I guess I will write one later. Lay Ter. (If you’ve read this book, you know what this means!)
Popularity: 20% [?]
Wednesday, July 11th, 2007Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
Gathering Blue
by Lois Lowry
2000, 215 pp.
Rating: 4.5
This book is the second in the trilogy which also includes The Giver and Messenger. I read The Giver, a Newbery book, earlier this year and absolutely loved it. This book doesn’t really continue where The Giver left off, but Messenger takes place after both stories and with characters from each.
Kira is a girl who has just lost her mother to sickness. She is very distraught as it has been her mother who has protected her from the community. Kira has a bad leg, and everyone in the village with any kind of defect or deformity must leave the protected area and contend with “the beasts” outside of it.
As she goes back to her small house, the women around her make it known that they want her property as a place for their own children and animals. A legal proceeding takes place which decides the matter. Will she have to leave the community and contend with “the beasts”, or will an exception be made?
Recommended highly, but make sure you read The Giver before you read Messenger.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Friday, April 13th, 2007Grendel by John Gardner
Grendel
by John Gardner
1971
174 pp.
Rating: 2
I didn’t like this book. AT ALL. I absolutely love Beowulf, and I highly recommend reading or listening to Seamus Heaney’s version. Whereas Beowulf could almost be considered a Christian work, Grendel is nihilistic. Enough said.
- booklogged - April 13, 2007
- Thanks for the warning, 3M. Every once in awhile it’s refreshing to come across a review that doesn’t compel me to add the book to my list. Just sorry you had to waste your time reading it.
- Carl V. - April 13, 2007
- So….you didn’t like it then?
I like the cover, at least. - Daphne - April 14, 2007
- What is that on the cover??
- Quixotic - April 18, 2007
- I have this on my list of things to read. I too love Beowulf, and Seamus Heaney’s version is excellent. I guess I’ll have to see what I make of Grendel!
Popularity: 15% [?]
Saturday, March 31st, 2007The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Giver
by
Lois Lowry
1993
179pp
Newbery Medal
Rating: 4.5
I really, really liked this book. It is another “Big Brother” story similar to Fahrenheit 451 or 1984. Scary, scary.
Jonas is eleven years old. When he is twelve, he will receive his “assignment” or job from the Elders of his community. Everything is decided by the Elders. Who marries whom. Which occupation you will have. Which children you will raise. And even who has to be “released” from the community. When Jonas is selected for a special position that only one other person in the community has, it is considered a very high honor. What Jonas discovers about this “honor” changes his life completely.
I read this for the Banned Book Challenge. I’m not sure why it would be contested. Perhaps because there is some talk about the “stirrings” of beginning s* x u ality in Jonas. I didn’t have a problem with this, but I’m really glad I read it before I gave it to my 13 and 12 year old sons to read. This book will make for a great discussion.
Also reviewed by
- Lisa - March 31, 2007
- I’ve never read this either but have always been interested. I just finished Fahrenheit 451 last night, and wow.
- Amanda - March 31, 2007
- I love this book! It is a fantastic read and people always have different ideas of what actually happened at the end.
- booklogged - March 31, 2007
- This is one of my favorite books. Like you I wondered why it had been banned. I found the following site that lists some reasons:
http://www.northern.edu/hastingw/Giver.htmlLowry didn’t write a sequel, but she did write 2 companion novels: Gathering Blue and Messenger. Of these, Messenger is the best, but I think you need to read all 3 for full appreciation. - Les - April 3, 2007
- I read this 5 or 6 years ago and absolutely loved it. Gave it a perfect 10, as I recall. Definitely time for a re-read!
Popularity: 18% [?]
Friday, January 5th, 2007Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Read in October 2006
2004, 247 pp.
Pulitzer Prize - 2005
Rating: 5
Popularity: 11% [?]