SLP
Two stories - one Civil War era, the other modern. Some mysteries are solved in the course of the book, and it is not a typical romance, I am happy to say.
Believe it or not, I had never read a Stephen King book when I read this one. It's a very thoughtful book about writing, as well as an interesting memoir.
A distressing story about a pair of twins separated at birth, but a story that is really about the decisions that people make, and how they impact others in the end. Beautifully written.
The author says “I did not have a year in Provence or a villa under the Tuscan sun. I did not have a farm in Africa. It turned out that my life was not someone else's book.” This was a delightful little book, only 178 pages, and a paperback-sized hardback. She tells about her life throughout about 2 years, as she recovers from a divorce, is forced to sell her home, lives with a 13-year-old and renovates a ramshackle cottage. She promised her daughter chickens, and they are the theme throughout the book. How are the chickens doing? how are the humans doing?
A very enjoyable read, especially if you have ever had or wanted to have chickens.
Note that this review is from a science fiction fan, but I am a discerning science fiction fan. I believe that most of the best science fiction is in short story format. With that disclaimer in mind, let me say that the 2009 Nebula Awards Showcase is an amazing collection of stories. I was so impressed, I actually bought the book. (Those who know me well, know that I use the library heavily.) Every story in this collection is unusual and interesting. Definitely five stars.
I read this book in high school, and again as an adult. It provides a window into a former way of life. I was influenced by Mama as a mother myself.
This was a book group read. I am curious to see if it had any interest for younger women, as it is about older women. A woman dies of cancer, and two of her friends are called to her attorney's office. They are given the key to a safe deposit box and instructions that they are to open it together. And what is inside? The contents of the safe deposit box drive much of the rest of the story. This is about lifelong Manhattan women.
This is a great book to learn applique from. Techniques are practiced on a heart shape, which is the perfect shape to practice applique - it has straight sides, curved areas, inside points and outside points. A group of us practiced our techniques with book at the rate of a technique a week, or one heart a week.
This is the long version of Applique 12 Easy Ways. It presents many applique techniques, with fabulous projects to practice with.
Anne Tyler specializes in female characters who don't have much control over their lives. The protagonist in Ladder of Years leaves her family - just wanders down the beach - on day, sure that they won't care, and that they probably won't notice for days.
The characters are well-developed over time, and described in an amusing tone of voice. “Her hair curled at the bottom like the S-hole in a violin” (paraphrase) comes to mind first.
I particularly appreciated how the protagonist comes to terms with herself as a person, after many years of seeing herself as an extension of others: her father's receptionist, her husband's wife, the mother of three. She learned to be comfortable by herself and with herself, which helped her be better in her roles as parent, wife & employee.
This was my second reading of this book, and this time, I upgraded from 4 stars to 5 stars.
After a humourous first chapter, my interest waned as the protagonist began to appear more like a whiner than a hero.
This is a book about books and people who read them. A bookstore, a writer, a researcher, several libraries. As the researcher interviews the author prior to writing her biography, the mystery of the author's life is investigated and solved.
A story about India for two geneartions, as one woman investigates the life of her aunt, who was never spoken of in the family. Lots of heat and dust in this book. Not too long, and surprisingly terse, for a Booker Prize winner.
I read this book as a young person, closer to the time that it was published, and I really liked it. It was a coherent piece of science fiction. Re-reading it 40 years later, I find that the plot is predictable and the writing commonplace, to my dismay. I fear that this book is not surviving the test of time.
An interesting story line - a woman takes her fiance's daughter to Ocean Beach, and while taking photos on the beach, the child disappears. How she agonizes over what happened, how the relationship with her fiance changes after this event, the months and months and months of looking, losing hope, is the core of the book.
I thought it was well-written, well-constructed and true to life, which is what we are looking for in a book, right?
I suspect I will be reading this book for a very long time. It is a long book, but filled with tidbits to think about.
Philbrick writes great history. I was so impressed by this book, I picked up Moby Dick.
This is winning science fiction in my opinion. I can't write about it without giving away the whole story. Just read it.
This was required reading in a writing class at the local community college. I thought it was a great selection of stories.