This book is hard. He is a brilliant writer but the subject matter is awful and I found it a long time to be in that uncomfortable and sad story. So I don't know if I recommend it. He has some really beautiful lines in it. While it is long, I got though it very quickly so I guess that's a sign that I liked it even if I didn't "like' it. I guess I enjoyed the writing and his skill, and was engaged in the story even if I found it sad and hard to shake off the bad emotions. This was chosen for bookclub so I can't wait for the chat on that. There's a lot of meat on the bones to digest....EDIT Two days later, I think I did like this book. It was just hard going in the first half. I think he tackles human complexity in a serious way, and I think maybe that's a little confronting for me.
Last night I went to see the magnificent storyteller talk - they performed 5 or 6 stories from a show they put together that will be turned into a book. It was wonderful. They looked at the stories that certain songs were enmeshed into their memories. It was really funny, sad, heartwarming and you couldn't help think about your own playlist of memories. So when it publishes, look for Ivan Coyote: Playlist (unless the title changes)
Thanks for sharing your thoughtful remarks on both books.
ReplyDeleteInteresting books! Come see my week here. Happy reading !
ReplyDeleteInteresting titles. It's very true that music and memories are very intertwined. That's powerful. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia, you always get out and about and go to interesting things - like the storyteller talk in this post and how you manage to read the books you do amazes me! Sounds like the second book was a bit of a downer. I kind of think life is hard enough without reading books that get me down. I suppose it depends on the subject matter and the manner in which it is written. Thanks for sharing with us again this week at #WWWhimsy ! xo
ReplyDeleteHi Lydia. I haven't read any of these books, but I'm keen to read the Miles Franklin Award winner. I usually stay away from books that win that award as I've never enjoyed them. However this book sounds like one that I'd enjoy
ReplyDeleteI am of a somewhat fragile disposition and right now it's hard to get into anything that is 'hard' as a story. I have begun Trent's latest and because "it's him" I continue my loyalty! Denyse
ReplyDeleteI sometimes have a hard time recommending or saying I enjoyed a difficult book that dealt with heavy subject matter too; I'm sort of at a point right now where I just can't deal with anything too heavy in my reading.
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