All the Light We Cannot See

It has been awhile since a book caused me to experience a "book hangover."  Set during WWII in Germany and occupied France, this book was wonderful from beginning to end.  The story is riveting and Doerr's writing is simple and elegant. His use of language, especially metaphor, is breathtaking.  His characters are engaging -- very multi-dimensional and sympathetic.  On almost every page I found myself asking -- what would I do in this circumstance?

It is a story of loyalties, and moral dilemmas. But throughout the story, Doerr also establishes his stance on the importance of curiosity and education.  His characters are strong illustrations of how becoming educated about the world leads to developing compassion for others, as well as providing the tools for self-preservation.

This book was well worth taking time away from my TBR list!  

Light We Cannot See

     






It has been awhile since a book caused me to experience a "book hangover."  Set during WWII in Germany and occupied France, this book was wonderful from beginning to end.  The story is riveting and Doerr's writing is simple and elegant. His use of language, especially metaphor, is breathtaking.  His characters are engaging -- very multi-dimensional and sympathetic.  On almost every page I found myself asking -- what would I do in this circumstance?!  












Here's a sample from a 
conversation between the two teenage protagonists 
(Werner and Marie-Laure): 

"He says, 'You are very brave.'

She lowers the bucket. 'What is your name?'

He tells her.  She says, "When I lost my sight, Werner, people said I was brave.  When my father left, people said I was brave. But it is not bravery; I have no choice.  I wake up and live my life.  Don't you do the same?'  

He says, 'Not it years. But today.  Today maybe I did.'"

It is a story of loyalties, and moral dilemmas. But throughout the story, Doerr also establishes his stance on the importance of curiosity and education.  His characters are strong illustrations of how becoming educated about the world leads to developing compassion for others as well as providing the tools for self-preservation.

This book was well worth taking time away from my TBR list!  

I have a new list! Check it out on the right sidebar!

Thanks, Patty!  This is a powerful list of TBRs.  I had begun reading most of them, and put them on the shelf for a variety of reasons.  But they all are books I've been anxious to dive back into :-)  Hmmmm...which one to choose first!

WooHoo - finished my first five!!!

So this is a great feeling!  I have completed the first five books on my list!!!  (well -- I should say "whittled through" since I did abandon a couple of them - haha) It actually gives a nice sense of accomplishment -- along with the simple pleasure of having read some good books :-)

I am looking forward to seeing what my next five will be, Patty. 

So many books -- maybe THERE REALLY IS time!!!!!

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

From the New York Times:

"And so we finish this novel with an intimate understanding of who his characters are and how they’ve defined themselves over the years through the choices they have made between duty and freedom, familial responsibilities and independence, loyalty to home and exile abroad. All this, played out against the backdrop of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history — from the pre-Soviet era through the years of the mujahedeen’s fight against the Soviet Union, the rise of the Taliban and the American invasion after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11."

I couldn't have summarized any better.  

I enjoyed this novel more than Hosseini's previous one, 10,000 Splendid Suns.  Of course the setting is the same, and as with both his previous works, the challenges of life lived in Afghanistan since the 1950s is portrayed in heart-wrenching detail.  This book focuses on childhood relationships -- and there are multiple pairs of siblings and friends to keep track of throughout the story.  

In all three of his novels, Hosseini brings to light the plight of children living in that devastated country.  In this story, the relationships are tested by distance and jealousy.  But mostly, it is the story of how people grapple with survival amidst poverty, corruption, and physical hardships.  Hosseini's common theme is resilience.  Two specific examples of this in this current novel involve young girls with devastating facial injuries: one inflicted by her enraged step-father, the other by a step-father's favorite pet dog.  Of course, the implication here is the often cruel circumstance young girls and women find themselves enduring in this culture.  But Hosseini provides a counterpoint by portraying strong, dedicated and caring adults  who help these girls overcome their burdens to build successful lives. 

I feel like I've dived into the deep-end of Islamic culture with my reading of Radical, In the Light of What We Know, and now And the Mountains Echoed.  I'm glad I've read them as they have helped broaden my understanding of that complicated culture just a little! But I think I'm ready for something a bit more lighthearted! 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

I took time out from my TBR list to reread this classic novel in anticipation of the new movie that is soon to be released based on the story.  

I did not anticipate the connections I would make to the current events in our world today.  So I apologize ahead of time, Patty: this little review is not going to be light-hearted!

While reading, I was most poignantly mindful of the heartbreaking suicide of Robin Williams.  Of course, it has been almost impossible to avoid the various tributes and eulogies for his lost soul.  So I suppose it seems reasonable that I found a connection between the Giver and Robin Williams.  

In the novel, The Giver understands he cannot "release" himself from the painful and tragic memories he holds for The Community because doing so unleashes those memories to The Community and he believes that would be too painful for the citizens to bear.  However, as he ages, he becomes increasingly aware that the burden of these memories is too much for any one individual to bear.  His apprentice soon convinces him that sharing the memories would ultimately be of benefit to all.  

So how does this relate to Robin Williams? In reading all of the tributes and anecdotes about Robin's life, it is clear this man cared deeply about humanity and spent his life nurturing others.  He did his best to relieve others of their suffering by injecting comedy and kindness wherever he found the opportunity to do so.  But it's also true that he was deeply sensitive to the state of the world.  Could this sensitivity have been the result of his depressed state -- or was it the cause?  I suppose that question can't really be answered.  But it is clear, that much like The Giver, Robin believed it was time to "release" himself" from the burdens.  Sadly -- life is not a novel, and suicide is not a "release."  But pondering the issue of suicide while reading The Giver was a stark reminder of the value of sharing both joys and sorrows within a community -- and the importance of facing our realities together.  

Thinking further -- I was also struck by the concept of "sameness" that underscores the dystopian future Lowry portrays.  Are we driven by a desire toward "sameness" by creating a world where deep poverty, starvation, and cruelty are kept at a safe distance?  We see infrequent images and occasional news reports  on television.  But they do seem far removed from our own realities.  

The Giver is thought-provoking and timely...and I'm very, very glad that the upcoming movie will introduce this story to a new generation.

LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA

       Wow! It's a daunting task to comment on such an amazing piece of literature. Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel, Love in the Time of Cholera, can be described with just about every adjective you can imagine. It's profound, humorous, sad, filthy, despicable, frustrating, quirky, lovely, and lots more. This is definitely not an easy, quick read. You get lost in the vernacular and sentence construction, but it is absolute genius. Cudos also go to the translator, Edith Grossman, for keeping true to the author's form and substance. 
        The exotic setting of a coastal city in Colombia, in the late 19th & early 20th centuries, created a backdrop of fascinating proportions. Add to that the cholera epidemic, which was Marquez's metaphor for the "disease" of love in all its forms. The three main characters, engaged in a love triangle of 50+ years, are compelling and confounding at the same time. Some of the behaviors defy even the hardiest of sensibilities. But I kept recalling that Marquez's genre of "magical realism" was not unlike the fairy tales I grew up reading (Hans & Gretel, anyone?) 
         The suspense of the entangled webs of so many major and minor characters made the story so fascinating, that I could not help but wonder and look forward to the final chapter. I was not disappointed, for it was the best part of all. When the ship captain raised the cholera flag on the boat, I knew all would be well!