OK, I'll be first again.
I read this book before Karen selected it for the book club. I found the title intriguing Peace Like a River. In my experiences with rivers (kayaking, white-water rafting, etc.), I have not found rivers to be peaceful. They are in constant motion - one might say turmoil. This is how I found this book. The lives of the characters were in constant motion (and turmoil).
There was one time when the lives of the children were peaceful - with Roxanna (I really liked her). The writing style, especially with Roxanna, was peaceful even if the events being written about weren't (how's that for good sentence structure?)
In the description on the back of the book (my book at least) says this is a story "in which 'what could be unbelievable becomes extraordinary.'" Maybe it's my LDS beliefs, but I found nothing in the book to be unbelievable, although I can see how the world would see that. The miraculous healing of baby Reuben, Reuben and his father meeting in that brief after-death period, etc. All of that seemed like "yeah, of course that could happen." Miracles haven't ceased.
The way the tone of Swede's writing matched the events going on around them was beautiful. Swede, Reuben, dad, etc. could all be calm on the exterior, but we got a peak into how they were feeling (especially Swede) through the Sundown adventures.
Nice pick, Karen. Thanks!!
Friday, May 26
Wednesday, April 26
The Good Earth
Good evening, Ladies. I have read The Good Earth a couple of times, once in high school or college and once about ten years ago as part of the curriculum in my high school world studies class. I didn't re-read it this time, but I re-read my marginal notes, which were extensive. I have been particularly interested in the way literature changes with what we bring to it as individuals. My reactions ten years ago were vastly different from my reactions as a young reader and it was fun to re-read them today.
I have really enjoyed everyone's comments thus far. KT, I thought your comment on blaming the gods when things go badly but not praising them when things go well was right on. I also appreciated Laurenda's comment about O-lan leaving the fields to give birth by herself and Katrina's comment about Buck's challenges in getting the book published in the first place. I wasn't aware of this.
Having had the opportunity to teach the history of China, I find this book so true to the culture. The "Dynastic Cycle," or rise and fall of "houses" in China is very similar to the cycle of righteousness in The Book of Mormon. According to the wisdom of Confucious, a house rises to power when the gods are pleased with them. The people will know the gods are pleased when the lives of the people go well: rain in its season, plentiful crops, stable government, honorable rulers, etc. As the dynasty ages, corruption creeps in and the gods are displeased which is demonstrated by drought, instability and war. This results in the overthrow of the old dynasty and the beginning of a new one which lasts until they become corrupt and the cycle begins again. The House of Hwang and Wang Lung's family story fit the cycle well.
Wang Lung's attitude toward the land could also symbolize a person's attachment to his/her roots, values, heritage whether or not that is actual "land." It is important that we pass those values on to the next generation or they will abandon the things which should be of value in their lives, just as Wang Lung's sons did. The counsel to "remember" that is repeated again and again in the scriptures is to counter the human tendency to forget the things that made individuals, families and societies strong in the first place.
I have also been frustrated by the lack of value for women in turn-of-the century China. The destruction of the rigid social structure of Confucious was a goal of the communists. However, societal attitudes are hard to eliminate. I have still seen some "anti-girl" attitudes in my Asian students. I also have read that the one-child policy of China today has led to the modern-day infanticide of girl babies in the drive to have an male heir, especially in the smaller villages.
One other point, although the foot-binding of ancient China is hard to believe, the parents did it to ensure their daughters' future happiness. I am sure there are things we do as a society today that, while well-intentioned, are harmful to girls. "Take gymnastics and dance." "Do everything and do it well." Get "A's." "Thin is beautiful." "Beauty is valuable." "Perfect is expected." Society sends lots of messages and parents buy into them as well to help their daughters have a happy future. It can be crippling to girls and I see this in some of my students.
There is so much of value in The Good Earth. I am glad for the opportunity to discuss it. Thanks!
--Karen S.
I have really enjoyed everyone's comments thus far. KT, I thought your comment on blaming the gods when things go badly but not praising them when things go well was right on. I also appreciated Laurenda's comment about O-lan leaving the fields to give birth by herself and Katrina's comment about Buck's challenges in getting the book published in the first place. I wasn't aware of this.
Having had the opportunity to teach the history of China, I find this book so true to the culture. The "Dynastic Cycle," or rise and fall of "houses" in China is very similar to the cycle of righteousness in The Book of Mormon. According to the wisdom of Confucious, a house rises to power when the gods are pleased with them. The people will know the gods are pleased when the lives of the people go well: rain in its season, plentiful crops, stable government, honorable rulers, etc. As the dynasty ages, corruption creeps in and the gods are displeased which is demonstrated by drought, instability and war. This results in the overthrow of the old dynasty and the beginning of a new one which lasts until they become corrupt and the cycle begins again. The House of Hwang and Wang Lung's family story fit the cycle well.
Wang Lung's attitude toward the land could also symbolize a person's attachment to his/her roots, values, heritage whether or not that is actual "land." It is important that we pass those values on to the next generation or they will abandon the things which should be of value in their lives, just as Wang Lung's sons did. The counsel to "remember" that is repeated again and again in the scriptures is to counter the human tendency to forget the things that made individuals, families and societies strong in the first place.
I have also been frustrated by the lack of value for women in turn-of-the century China. The destruction of the rigid social structure of Confucious was a goal of the communists. However, societal attitudes are hard to eliminate. I have still seen some "anti-girl" attitudes in my Asian students. I also have read that the one-child policy of China today has led to the modern-day infanticide of girl babies in the drive to have an male heir, especially in the smaller villages.
One other point, although the foot-binding of ancient China is hard to believe, the parents did it to ensure their daughters' future happiness. I am sure there are things we do as a society today that, while well-intentioned, are harmful to girls. "Take gymnastics and dance." "Do everything and do it well." Get "A's." "Thin is beautiful." "Beauty is valuable." "Perfect is expected." Society sends lots of messages and parents buy into them as well to help their daughters have a happy future. It can be crippling to girls and I see this in some of my students.
There is so much of value in The Good Earth. I am glad for the opportunity to discuss it. Thanks!
--Karen S.
the Good Earth
I realize this is a last-minute post and I don't have time to do it justice, but wanted you to know I read and enjoyed the book. I guess I was being optimistic, though, in that I thought something dramatic would happen to change Wang so that he would show love to O-lan before she died. I had hoped that at least she would get the pearls back. That really bothered me. Over-all, a thought provoking book that made me extremely grateful to live now in this country( especially with my size 10 feet- ha, ha). Seriously, I can't imagine regarding a daughter as any less than a son. That's so sad. My brother-in-law lives in China( He's been there about two years and plans on about five more to go through medical school). I will have to ask him what it's like now. I know in some ways it has changed a lot, but I would guess that in other ways it is much the same. Anyway, this isn't much of a post, but thanks for the book selection. I can't wait to read the next one.
Sunday, April 23
The Good Earth
I should have done this the day I finished the book a couple of weeks ago because I've forgotten so much!!! Still!!!! Let me just say, I really enjoyed The Good Earth and thought it was a fascinating look at a culture as interpreted through Pearl Buck's eyes. I remember reading part of the bio of Pearl Buck and noting that it said that, for the era when she was writing, it was shocking that she had written it from a male's point of view. Isn't that fascinating??? Yet, I found her main character, Wang Lung, to be a very human protagonist--I appreciated him and yet sometimes I was angry with his choices. In that, I guess I was able to really relate to him! :)
I appreciated his love for his land, even if I questioned his motives for getting more and more and the ultimate price he paid for it. I loved that he cared for "his fool" and made sure that she was looked after her entire life (once again illustrating that you truly love those who you serve). My favoriate character was O-lan (though, pregnant with my 3rd baby, I can't see how on EARTH she delivered those kids quietly and without someone's help!!!!) and yet I yearned for her to find some happiness...I don't know that she ever did. Maybe contentment, but who knows if she was every happy or if she felt she deserved to be happy, having been brought up a slave and raised with that mentality. I thought it was so interesting that O-lan was considered "ugly" because of her "big feet," and that she made sure to bind the feet of her daughters so they wouldn't have to suffer the same fate. And I was so sad for O-lan, who felt so unloved because of her position and her "ugliness," even though her family would not have survived without her. I mean, had it not been for her cunning to grab the jewels, Wang Lung would never have been able to amass the fortune that he had gained after the drought. I must say that I feel that Wang Lung DID love O-lan, just not in the romantic way that perhaps was the "expectation" and he keenly felt that loss, because his life was just not the same after she passed. Also, he regretted taking away her earrings in order to please Lotus, whom he thought he desperately "loved" (ha! talk about a great example of infatuation) but who later became such a burden. I also thought it was fascinating to read about about the "Red Beard" mob who struck such horror in the farmlands in China, and to discover that the uncle belonged to this faction. It was interesting that one of the reasons Wang Lung was protected was because his uncle was in that mob, and yet how hard it was for Wang Lung to honor his uncle (and subsequently his family), even though he had to for traditions sake, and how interesting that opium turned out to be the way to "deal" with them.
I read some of the Oprah Book Club questions which I found at the back of my particular book edition, and found one especically fascinating. Basically, it was "Who did you feel most sorry for--O-lan or Lotus" because both had come from such horrid backgrounds. Obviously, since O-lan was my favorite character, I felt more for her (maybe I identified more with her because of my own self esteem issues I'm working on). But I couldn't be completely unempathetic to Lotus, though I found her character to be extremely spoiled and such a cause of contention. I think that through these two characters, I was reminded again of how difficult life was for woman in China. They had such few options: slave, prostitute, wife--if your family had dowry enough. How easy it was to dispose of women (I think back to that baby O-lan killed) and what a commodity they were!!!! Yes, you needed a woman to have a family, but how sad was it that when O-lan had children, we learned of the boys' names, but of the girls, we only heard that another "slave" had been born. It made Wang Lung's tenderness for his fool all the more important to me.
I thought the ending of the book was equally fascinating, as Wang Lung's educated sons (who had not worked the land, really) plotted to start selling it off. They, who had not had to experience true labor and had grown accustomed to an easy life, had no appreciation of the hard work that had gone on to create their lives. So telling for all of us!!! We hear it often today (even my generation and I'm 36) that so many of us take so many things for granted, which we do.
All in all, it was just a fascinating book--and one that was very easy to read. Very enjoyable. :) I look forward to reading everyone's review!!!!
:) Laurenda
I appreciated his love for his land, even if I questioned his motives for getting more and more and the ultimate price he paid for it. I loved that he cared for "his fool" and made sure that she was looked after her entire life (once again illustrating that you truly love those who you serve). My favoriate character was O-lan (though, pregnant with my 3rd baby, I can't see how on EARTH she delivered those kids quietly and without someone's help!!!!) and yet I yearned for her to find some happiness...I don't know that she ever did. Maybe contentment, but who knows if she was every happy or if she felt she deserved to be happy, having been brought up a slave and raised with that mentality. I thought it was so interesting that O-lan was considered "ugly" because of her "big feet," and that she made sure to bind the feet of her daughters so they wouldn't have to suffer the same fate. And I was so sad for O-lan, who felt so unloved because of her position and her "ugliness," even though her family would not have survived without her. I mean, had it not been for her cunning to grab the jewels, Wang Lung would never have been able to amass the fortune that he had gained after the drought. I must say that I feel that Wang Lung DID love O-lan, just not in the romantic way that perhaps was the "expectation" and he keenly felt that loss, because his life was just not the same after she passed. Also, he regretted taking away her earrings in order to please Lotus, whom he thought he desperately "loved" (ha! talk about a great example of infatuation) but who later became such a burden. I also thought it was fascinating to read about about the "Red Beard" mob who struck such horror in the farmlands in China, and to discover that the uncle belonged to this faction. It was interesting that one of the reasons Wang Lung was protected was because his uncle was in that mob, and yet how hard it was for Wang Lung to honor his uncle (and subsequently his family), even though he had to for traditions sake, and how interesting that opium turned out to be the way to "deal" with them.
I read some of the Oprah Book Club questions which I found at the back of my particular book edition, and found one especically fascinating. Basically, it was "Who did you feel most sorry for--O-lan or Lotus" because both had come from such horrid backgrounds. Obviously, since O-lan was my favorite character, I felt more for her (maybe I identified more with her because of my own self esteem issues I'm working on). But I couldn't be completely unempathetic to Lotus, though I found her character to be extremely spoiled and such a cause of contention. I think that through these two characters, I was reminded again of how difficult life was for woman in China. They had such few options: slave, prostitute, wife--if your family had dowry enough. How easy it was to dispose of women (I think back to that baby O-lan killed) and what a commodity they were!!!! Yes, you needed a woman to have a family, but how sad was it that when O-lan had children, we learned of the boys' names, but of the girls, we only heard that another "slave" had been born. It made Wang Lung's tenderness for his fool all the more important to me.
I thought the ending of the book was equally fascinating, as Wang Lung's educated sons (who had not worked the land, really) plotted to start selling it off. They, who had not had to experience true labor and had grown accustomed to an easy life, had no appreciation of the hard work that had gone on to create their lives. So telling for all of us!!! We hear it often today (even my generation and I'm 36) that so many of us take so many things for granted, which we do.
All in all, it was just a fascinating book--and one that was very easy to read. Very enjoyable. :) I look forward to reading everyone's review!!!!
:) Laurenda
Saturday, April 15
The Good Earth
I'm posting now because I'm leaving town for the next three weeks and want the book in front of me so I can check my notes.
First of all, I'm glad to have read The Good Earth. I always looked at it when in bookstores, but I never got around to buying it. However, I'm not sure I can say I liked the book. I found it fascinating, and probably an accurate description of turn-of-the-century China.
I did not like Wang Lung. I found him to be a very weak soul, always concerned about how important he appeared to others. There's a quote on my page 287, as Wang Lung's son is suggesting they buy the house of the Hwangs, "[Wang Lung] was moved by the words of his son when he said "the great house of the Hwangs." Wang (or is it Lung) is now ready for a new home based on how it will appear to others. Even his son knew that Wang Lung "cared mightily what people said of him." This weakness of character allows for a miserable life, I think. You're never happy with what you have or who you are because you're always trying to be who you want people to think you are.
I didn't like the worth (or lack there of) attributed to women in the book, although, it's an accurate depiction of the time and place. Another quote, "It is not meet for a man to love his wife with a foolish and overweening love, as though she were a harlot." OK, don't love your poor wife, but it's OK to love a harlot? And what was with the binding of the feet. What torture (it literally was torture). So, what, smaller feet were preferred by the men so parents would make their daughters' feet the object of desire? Yikes.
I did like the use of color, both in descriptions of the land and as symbols. Red, for luck (the red eggs, red sugar, jewels red as the inner flesh of watermelons); white, the color of mourning (interesting that in our culture, it's black). I found an interesting definition online of the Red Egg baby announcement: "One month after a child is born, hard-boiled eggs (symbolizing fertility) were dyed red (for good luck) and given to family, friends and relatives who had honored the child's birth. This was an invitation and announcement of the upcoming naming ceremony for the new addition to the family. During the party, the baby's name is given."
One last comment - there was a theme throughout the book that is SOOO true to human nature. The gods of the temple of the earth. When things were going poorly for Wang Lung, he wouldn't attend to these gods - no incense, no new clothing. He blamed his misfortune on them. Humans are just like that. I remember talking with people in France when I was on my mission, and we would ask them if they believed in God. Many times the answer was no, due to the fact that there was so much suffering in the world. Gods always gets the blame when lives are going poorly, and rarely get the credit when lives go well. When life is difficult is the most important time to remember and worship God.
This is a very "stream of conciouslness" review, so I hope it makes sense.
Thanks, Karen, for finally allowing me to read this book.
First of all, I'm glad to have read The Good Earth. I always looked at it when in bookstores, but I never got around to buying it. However, I'm not sure I can say I liked the book. I found it fascinating, and probably an accurate description of turn-of-the-century China.
I did not like Wang Lung. I found him to be a very weak soul, always concerned about how important he appeared to others. There's a quote on my page 287, as Wang Lung's son is suggesting they buy the house of the Hwangs, "[Wang Lung] was moved by the words of his son when he said "the great house of the Hwangs." Wang (or is it Lung) is now ready for a new home based on how it will appear to others. Even his son knew that Wang Lung "cared mightily what people said of him." This weakness of character allows for a miserable life, I think. You're never happy with what you have or who you are because you're always trying to be who you want people to think you are.
I didn't like the worth (or lack there of) attributed to women in the book, although, it's an accurate depiction of the time and place. Another quote, "It is not meet for a man to love his wife with a foolish and overweening love, as though she were a harlot." OK, don't love your poor wife, but it's OK to love a harlot? And what was with the binding of the feet. What torture (it literally was torture). So, what, smaller feet were preferred by the men so parents would make their daughters' feet the object of desire? Yikes.
I did like the use of color, both in descriptions of the land and as symbols. Red, for luck (the red eggs, red sugar, jewels red as the inner flesh of watermelons); white, the color of mourning (interesting that in our culture, it's black). I found an interesting definition online of the Red Egg baby announcement: "One month after a child is born, hard-boiled eggs (symbolizing fertility) were dyed red (for good luck) and given to family, friends and relatives who had honored the child's birth. This was an invitation and announcement of the upcoming naming ceremony for the new addition to the family. During the party, the baby's name is given."
One last comment - there was a theme throughout the book that is SOOO true to human nature. The gods of the temple of the earth. When things were going poorly for Wang Lung, he wouldn't attend to these gods - no incense, no new clothing. He blamed his misfortune on them. Humans are just like that. I remember talking with people in France when I was on my mission, and we would ask them if they believed in God. Many times the answer was no, due to the fact that there was so much suffering in the world. Gods always gets the blame when lives are going poorly, and rarely get the credit when lives go well. When life is difficult is the most important time to remember and worship God.
This is a very "stream of conciouslness" review, so I hope it makes sense.
Thanks, Karen, for finally allowing me to read this book.
Thursday, March 30
The Red Tent
Reading The Red Tent gave me a lot to think about and I am glad I had the opportunity. I gained a deeper understanding of the society of women during Old Testament times. I found the sisterhood powerful as Leah, Rachel, Zilpha and Bilhah and ultimately Dinah grew to appreciate each other and value their own uniqueness. I found the portrayal of the interaction of Jacob's wives interesting and plausible. I felt the universality of the issues women deal with: finding a sense of identity and value in the world, figuring out how to make meaningful contributions, the importance of relationships including the role of women in relationship to men, the role of "mothers" whether by birth or not, the process of birth, life and death all resonated with me. Once I started reading, I could hardly put it down. Anita Diamant has written a powerful novel that looks at significant issues.
I found myself re-reading the Bible account in Genesis 34. (Interesting timing since this was one of the recent Gospel Doctrine lessons.) I found it interesting that Dinah "went out to see the daughters of the land." In the Biblical sense, it sounds like she was associating with "worldly" people and the fact that this statement is included makes me think it was risky behavior, or at least, frowned upon. But it also says that Shechem's "soul clave unto Dinah," that he "spake kindly" to her, and that he "was more honourable than all the house of his father." In that sense, he appears to be a tragic figure rather than someone who raped Dinah. (The scripture says that he "took her, and lay with her, and defilied her.") It also appears from the footnotes regarding Simeon and Levi's actions that God was not pleased. (Genesis 49 has the blessings of Jacob to his sons and the footnotes on Simeon and Levi refer to Topical Guide on "cruelty, retribution, and anger." That doesn't seem to say that what they did was right in God's eyes.) But the limited information on the women in the Old Testament and the absence of any reaction of Dinah gave Diamant the license to "fill in the blanks."
However, I was frustrated that in her attempt to tell the story "from the women's point of view," she devalues all of the men involved, including the god, El. Instead of creating faithful women who sustained no-doubt-imperfect men in a patriarchal society, she creates idol-worshipping women and men/patriarchs who are "schmucks," with the exception of those out of the covenant: Dinah's husbands--Shechem and Benia. I found the portrayal of Joseph having sex with Potiphar as well as Potiphar's wife and then looking lustfully at his men servants a little hard to take. I also had a hard time with Isaac and Jacob being dottering fools. Laban's portrayal, while being more consistent with his character in the Old Testament was even a little extreme. I know Diamant is reacting to the tendency to make Biblical characters out to be "bigger than life" heroes, but I didn't think she needed to make them such a mess in order to make them "real."
As far as the idol worship that she attributes to Rachel and Leah and their handmaidens, I wondered. I know that throughout the Bible there is an ongoing effort to keep the covenant people away from idol worship. That means there was a lot of it around. It seems probable that the handmaidens had their own beliefs, but I thought that the reason that such great effort was made to choose wives for Isaac and Jacob was to make sure they were part of the covenant people. It's interesting that Diamant is Jewish because she certainly doesn't value their role as a people with a unique relationship to God.
One additional point, the ritual Dinah goes through as she becomes a woman sounds like female circumcision. While I haven't studied this thoroughly, what I have read is that it is very injurious to women and is still practiced today in some societies. I was surprised that Diamant made it look so wonderful and so much a part of becoming one with all womankind and with Mother Earth.
All in all, I thought The Red Tent was a thoughtful look at a story in the Old Testament that raises more questions than it answers. Thanks, Carolyn for choosing a book that gave us the opportunity to look at things from a different perspective!
--Karen
I found myself re-reading the Bible account in Genesis 34. (Interesting timing since this was one of the recent Gospel Doctrine lessons.) I found it interesting that Dinah "went out to see the daughters of the land." In the Biblical sense, it sounds like she was associating with "worldly" people and the fact that this statement is included makes me think it was risky behavior, or at least, frowned upon. But it also says that Shechem's "soul clave unto Dinah," that he "spake kindly" to her, and that he "was more honourable than all the house of his father." In that sense, he appears to be a tragic figure rather than someone who raped Dinah. (The scripture says that he "took her, and lay with her, and defilied her.") It also appears from the footnotes regarding Simeon and Levi's actions that God was not pleased. (Genesis 49 has the blessings of Jacob to his sons and the footnotes on Simeon and Levi refer to Topical Guide on "cruelty, retribution, and anger." That doesn't seem to say that what they did was right in God's eyes.) But the limited information on the women in the Old Testament and the absence of any reaction of Dinah gave Diamant the license to "fill in the blanks."
However, I was frustrated that in her attempt to tell the story "from the women's point of view," she devalues all of the men involved, including the god, El. Instead of creating faithful women who sustained no-doubt-imperfect men in a patriarchal society, she creates idol-worshipping women and men/patriarchs who are "schmucks," with the exception of those out of the covenant: Dinah's husbands--Shechem and Benia. I found the portrayal of Joseph having sex with Potiphar as well as Potiphar's wife and then looking lustfully at his men servants a little hard to take. I also had a hard time with Isaac and Jacob being dottering fools. Laban's portrayal, while being more consistent with his character in the Old Testament was even a little extreme. I know Diamant is reacting to the tendency to make Biblical characters out to be "bigger than life" heroes, but I didn't think she needed to make them such a mess in order to make them "real."
As far as the idol worship that she attributes to Rachel and Leah and their handmaidens, I wondered. I know that throughout the Bible there is an ongoing effort to keep the covenant people away from idol worship. That means there was a lot of it around. It seems probable that the handmaidens had their own beliefs, but I thought that the reason that such great effort was made to choose wives for Isaac and Jacob was to make sure they were part of the covenant people. It's interesting that Diamant is Jewish because she certainly doesn't value their role as a people with a unique relationship to God.
One additional point, the ritual Dinah goes through as she becomes a woman sounds like female circumcision. While I haven't studied this thoroughly, what I have read is that it is very injurious to women and is still practiced today in some societies. I was surprised that Diamant made it look so wonderful and so much a part of becoming one with all womankind and with Mother Earth.
All in all, I thought The Red Tent was a thoughtful look at a story in the Old Testament that raises more questions than it answers. Thanks, Carolyn for choosing a book that gave us the opportunity to look at things from a different perspective!
--Karen
Friday, March 10
The Red Tent
I had mixed emotions going into the book, and felt the same way at the conclusion. I belonged to another book club while we lived in Texas, and this was the book that was chosen shortly after I moved. I heard from a friend about the reaction of some of the ladies in the club. Some had stronger opinions (pornorgraphic, blasphemous) than others. I tend to be more open minded than some, but still, I was a little aprehensive about reading the book. Overall, I really enjoyed it, but I too had to go through the Old Testament version to seperate fact from fiction (speculation) in my mind.
I loved the idea of having the story written from a woman's point of view. Women truly do have a spiritual connection that eludes men. The whole idea of living in tents, in the middle of nowhere and sharing a husband makes me shudder. The women probably had to have a strong bond between them or else they would have torn each other to shreds. They seemed to have their own little intimate world that the men only played a small part in. I've always thought that it would be nice to have several women around to help take care of the kids, meals, housekeeping, etc., but I'm not woman enough to share a husband in the sexual sense.
Diamante has a great talent for painting such a complete picture without adding so many details that one loses interest. It was easy to visualize Dinah's surroundings, or to imagine what the other characters looked like.
I was somewhat offended by her portrayal of the male characters. I felt that she was a little too pro feminine. Diamante seems to have some serious issues with men, or at least with the biblical men. I'm sure that Laban wasn't perfect, but the author gave him almost every vice possible. Jacob had his faults too, but I don't believe that he changed his name to Israel out of shame. Joseph wasn't Potifers boy toy, nor was he sleeping with his mistress. I'm not sure that he was universally loved by everyone in Egypt, but I don't believe that he was mean and arogant either.
I really did like the book! The great thing about belonging to a book club is the opportunity to leave one's own literary beaten path, and try something new. Thanks for the selection!
I loved the idea of having the story written from a woman's point of view. Women truly do have a spiritual connection that eludes men. The whole idea of living in tents, in the middle of nowhere and sharing a husband makes me shudder. The women probably had to have a strong bond between them or else they would have torn each other to shreds. They seemed to have their own little intimate world that the men only played a small part in. I've always thought that it would be nice to have several women around to help take care of the kids, meals, housekeeping, etc., but I'm not woman enough to share a husband in the sexual sense.
Diamante has a great talent for painting such a complete picture without adding so many details that one loses interest. It was easy to visualize Dinah's surroundings, or to imagine what the other characters looked like.
I was somewhat offended by her portrayal of the male characters. I felt that she was a little too pro feminine. Diamante seems to have some serious issues with men, or at least with the biblical men. I'm sure that Laban wasn't perfect, but the author gave him almost every vice possible. Jacob had his faults too, but I don't believe that he changed his name to Israel out of shame. Joseph wasn't Potifers boy toy, nor was he sleeping with his mistress. I'm not sure that he was universally loved by everyone in Egypt, but I don't believe that he was mean and arogant either.
I really did like the book! The great thing about belonging to a book club is the opportunity to leave one's own literary beaten path, and try something new. Thanks for the selection!
Wednesday, March 8
The Red Tent
Hello ladies!!
I know, you have never heard from me, but I thought it would be time chime in and post my review on this most interesting book.
I have to say that I really liked this book. It was fascinating to here another idea of how times were back in the time of Jacob. Although there are many things that were probably put in there for shock factor. (Perhaps from her research regarding that time she felt the need to include some ideas of how she thought the common man behaved.) Knowing that most of these men were not common; Jacob, Joseph and some of the other brothers, I was able to overlook much of the minutiae and stuff that was written about these men that is generally contradicted by modern revelation, etc.
What I found most interesting was the interaction between the woman...albeit fiction. As I was reading and putting myself into the characters positions, I was wondering how I would feel to watch my sister marry a man that I was in love with, and then find myself in that ceremony; how would I feel to be married the same man as my sisters; what it would feel like to be ignored by my brothers or how I would react to my husband being killed by my own family members. I found the interaction between the woman fascinating and intriguing. I loved the idea of collecting and hanging out with the woman and learning from each other. Coming from a family of women, it was an interesting lesson on emotional interations.
When Dinah was a young woman she was shy, unsure of herself and lonely. The only friends she had were her mothers and then Joseph. Her experiences were horrific and tragic...and some that I would never like to have in my life. But, it was those experiences that molded her into a strong self-assured woman that she became. Dinah emerged triumphant. What a heroine, what a woman. As sad as her treatment was, I wanted to stand and cheer for her.
I loved the midwife story line. Midwives are so important in their lives. It seems as though it was all about having children. The midwives were busy. They were so knowledgeable and even to this day are sought after. The birthing techniques may be different on different continents but babies will always be born. Dinah offered a service and helped so many with here talents. She was fortunate to learn this from her "mothers" and it kept her busy her life. There was a time when she was relying on others for her keeping. It allowed her a way to give back, and be a value to others around her.
I am glad that I read this book. It was thought provoking and interesting. Thanks for the choice.
Michelle
I know, you have never heard from me, but I thought it would be time chime in and post my review on this most interesting book.
I have to say that I really liked this book. It was fascinating to here another idea of how times were back in the time of Jacob. Although there are many things that were probably put in there for shock factor. (Perhaps from her research regarding that time she felt the need to include some ideas of how she thought the common man behaved.) Knowing that most of these men were not common; Jacob, Joseph and some of the other brothers, I was able to overlook much of the minutiae and stuff that was written about these men that is generally contradicted by modern revelation, etc.
What I found most interesting was the interaction between the woman...albeit fiction. As I was reading and putting myself into the characters positions, I was wondering how I would feel to watch my sister marry a man that I was in love with, and then find myself in that ceremony; how would I feel to be married the same man as my sisters; what it would feel like to be ignored by my brothers or how I would react to my husband being killed by my own family members. I found the interaction between the woman fascinating and intriguing. I loved the idea of collecting and hanging out with the woman and learning from each other. Coming from a family of women, it was an interesting lesson on emotional interations.
When Dinah was a young woman she was shy, unsure of herself and lonely. The only friends she had were her mothers and then Joseph. Her experiences were horrific and tragic...and some that I would never like to have in my life. But, it was those experiences that molded her into a strong self-assured woman that she became. Dinah emerged triumphant. What a heroine, what a woman. As sad as her treatment was, I wanted to stand and cheer for her.
I loved the midwife story line. Midwives are so important in their lives. It seems as though it was all about having children. The midwives were busy. They were so knowledgeable and even to this day are sought after. The birthing techniques may be different on different continents but babies will always be born. Dinah offered a service and helped so many with here talents. She was fortunate to learn this from her "mothers" and it kept her busy her life. There was a time when she was relying on others for her keeping. It allowed her a way to give back, and be a value to others around her.
I am glad that I read this book. It was thought provoking and interesting. Thanks for the choice.
Michelle
Tuesday, March 7
It's just fiction
I had to keep reminding myself throughout the book that it was just fiction. Although I appreciate the "fleshing out" of the characters, like Laurenda and Amanda, I'm sure that the real characters aren't how they were portrayed in the book. Rebecca was not so indifferent to her family or to Isaac. Joseph did not sleep with Potipher's wife. And so on. I, too, went and read the appropriate chapters in Genesis just in case I was missing something. The one characterization that I preferred in the book to the Bible version is the relationship between Jacob and Leah. I liked the idea that he loved her (even though she wasn't Rachel) rather than the "she was hated" stuff in the Old Testament. However, we still have the problem that the Bible is true as far as it is translated correctly (if I can interject a bit of LDS culture here).
I can't think of the word that best describes what I want to say, but I loved the visual images painted by the author's words; words not describing imagery, but people. Rachel smelled like water and was as strong as the moon. How beautiful and unique is that? Strong as the moon... why not strong as a horse, for example. Beautiful.
The story was supposed to be about the bonds of sisterhood, or so I thought. However, Dinah lost all those with whom she shared such a sisterhood - her mothers, her Egyptian friend, etc. I soon felt that the point of the book was that she was all alone and had to gain the strength to continue on no matter what life gave her. Although, as a midwife, she had opportunities to form relationships with other women, she always seemed alone.
The Red Tent... a place where womanhood is celebrated, shared, and cherished. However, all I could keep thinking was how thankful I am that I don't have to spend a few days a month sitting on hay. Did all women really go to the Red Tent at the same time each month? I know, I'm weird.
I really enjoyed the book. It's just fiction - not a biblical account. Thanks, Carolyn!!
I can't think of the word that best describes what I want to say, but I loved the visual images painted by the author's words; words not describing imagery, but people. Rachel smelled like water and was as strong as the moon. How beautiful and unique is that? Strong as the moon... why not strong as a horse, for example. Beautiful.
The story was supposed to be about the bonds of sisterhood, or so I thought. However, Dinah lost all those with whom she shared such a sisterhood - her mothers, her Egyptian friend, etc. I soon felt that the point of the book was that she was all alone and had to gain the strength to continue on no matter what life gave her. Although, as a midwife, she had opportunities to form relationships with other women, she always seemed alone.
The Red Tent... a place where womanhood is celebrated, shared, and cherished. However, all I could keep thinking was how thankful I am that I don't have to spend a few days a month sitting on hay. Did all women really go to the Red Tent at the same time each month? I know, I'm weird.
I really enjoyed the book. It's just fiction - not a biblical account. Thanks, Carolyn!!
The Red Tent
One of my favorite novels from my childhood is Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Patterson. Its the story about 2 sisters, both vastly different from the other, and told from the perspective of the least liked child (at least in her mind), the Esau if you will. One of the reasons why I adore this book is because of the redemptive power found at the end of the story, the sister realizes she too was loved just as much if not more than the Jacob in the story and she had to go away from her family to find herself. This is true about Dinah, she had to suffer at the hands of those who should love her the most, leave them and find herself along the way. However, in The Red Tent, I was left feeling that Dinah didn't really get her due, her justice. I was left feeling she was robbed of her mothers because of her stupid brothers who took their misguided anger out on their only sister, whom they never treated like a sister up to that point. I am happy Dinah found another love, an easy love. I am happy she got to see Joseph again and get a bit of closure with her favorite brother. I am even happy that she got to return to her clan and meet so many of her nieces and nephews. But I was displeased with the way things were left with her son. I thought he was a total snot to her, I know this was common of the time period (but was it really??). I was constantly asking myself, Is this true? A lot of it I have to believe was pure fiction on the part of Diamante, and I have to congratulate her on her incredible, imaginative story. But as is true about The Da Vinci Code, this kind of writing can be considered dangerous. It can very easily put untrue beliefs into unknowing minds.
After reading the first chapter I had to go back to the Old Testament and re-read Genesis. The author obviously takes a lot of liberties with Dinah and the entire cast of characters. I can't believe that Rebecca was that uncaring about her family or that she was so strange in her worship. I can't believe that Jacob would be so uncaring about his supposedly beloved wife Rachel by allowing her to give birth on the side of the road and then callously burying her in a shallow unmarked grave. And, I can't believe that the woman worshipped so many other gods/goddesses and performed bizarre rituals. I thought that surely such righteous woman (as they are portrayed in the Bible) would worship one god, the god of their husband.
Another thing I was struck by was the overt sexuality in the book. The men/boys and their sheep. The implied thought that Joseph kept virile young men around him for more than bodyguards. Ewwww. The easy way Dinah gave her body to a man she had hardly met (talk about love at first sight!). I thought that the women would teach their daughter about chastity. Or maybe they did but Dinah's love was so strong and because she acted on this love she was punished. And that's another thing I found odd, the way Rebecca and Leah scorned the "new" idea of showing off the virginal blood to prove a woman's chastity. I don't like that idea either but I thought this is certainly a new way of looking at an ideal/belief that went far into the 19th century and for some parts of the world this is still an indicator of a woman's worth.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I found it an accessible book (unlike The Historian, which I will probably never finish and will never recommend). And even though I question the honesty of the book, I like the idea that an author can take such small information and turn it into an incredible imaginative tale. I am glad I read this book, and I look forward to the next.
After reading the first chapter I had to go back to the Old Testament and re-read Genesis. The author obviously takes a lot of liberties with Dinah and the entire cast of characters. I can't believe that Rebecca was that uncaring about her family or that she was so strange in her worship. I can't believe that Jacob would be so uncaring about his supposedly beloved wife Rachel by allowing her to give birth on the side of the road and then callously burying her in a shallow unmarked grave. And, I can't believe that the woman worshipped so many other gods/goddesses and performed bizarre rituals. I thought that surely such righteous woman (as they are portrayed in the Bible) would worship one god, the god of their husband.
Another thing I was struck by was the overt sexuality in the book. The men/boys and their sheep. The implied thought that Joseph kept virile young men around him for more than bodyguards. Ewwww. The easy way Dinah gave her body to a man she had hardly met (talk about love at first sight!). I thought that the women would teach their daughter about chastity. Or maybe they did but Dinah's love was so strong and because she acted on this love she was punished. And that's another thing I found odd, the way Rebecca and Leah scorned the "new" idea of showing off the virginal blood to prove a woman's chastity. I don't like that idea either but I thought this is certainly a new way of looking at an ideal/belief that went far into the 19th century and for some parts of the world this is still an indicator of a woman's worth.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I found it an accessible book (unlike The Historian, which I will probably never finish and will never recommend). And even though I question the honesty of the book, I like the idea that an author can take such small information and turn it into an incredible imaginative tale. I am glad I read this book, and I look forward to the next.
Monday, February 27
The Red Tent
I am typing with my oldest, Abigail--who is three, sitting and singing to me. She wanted to type something, so here is her offering: qadsrulkmnnbvcxzf. I asked her what she was writing and she told me, "I'm not writing anything, I'm spelling." :) I thought that was kinda appropo for this months selection.
ANYWAY!!! I just finished, The Red Tent, and have decidedly mixed feelings about it. Though the review is early, I wanted to write while it was still fresh on my mind.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. It was certainly an easy read, and I thought that from the very beginning. It consistantly had the feel of a gathering of women in the Red Tent, gossiping and telling stories. And I love books with that feminine conspiritorial tone--it reminds me of a book on communication by Deborah Tannen, where she said that women talk and share in a spirit to gain consensus and empathy, and I found this true throughout the book. I loved the detail of what life may have been like back in the day, and it's always fascinating to see interpretations of that life based on the author's own background.
But what a sad, angry little book! I guess by the end, I'm supposed to feel some sort of peace, too, because Dinah had made some form of peace in getting on with her life, but I didn't. Hmmmmmmm.
So, I wondered at Diamant's own upbringing--knowing that simply by her faith and biography, she is keenly aware of the Old Testament, traditions, and forefathers--and wondering at her associations with her religion as well as the men in her life. She...almost demonize some of the men of the Old Testament, if that makes sense, and I wondered how truly just that was. I also wonder if there was any resentment on her part from her own subconscious life that came out in her book, via her female protagonist, or if she was just trying to remind the readers that no one is perfect, regardless of how kind history (and scriptures) reflects them. Still, it seems that almost everyone in the book, besides Dinah and the midwives, had something very negative thing about them.
Here's where the decidedly mixed feelings come in...I felt I was reading (argh!!!! There is a word for it that is escpaing me at the moment) history being re-written, and I wanted to say, Cite your Source!!!! Of course, this is a work of fiction, but I'm sure there are people who are now colored by it. Sooooo, this is why I have the mixed feelings. Easy easy to read, but people will now believe that all the women of the past worshipped other gods, had other beliefs and rituals that they clung to even while pretending to honor their husband's god (not that some didn't, I'm just saying that surely...from what we know... there were female believers of El). I dunno...it was really an angry feminine perspective--which, Dinah had every reason to be, but I didn't like the characterizations of some of these historical figures (Rebecca "the Grandmother" springs to mind. I just kept thinking, Really now...) . Once again, I wanted there to be some sort of footnote proving that why "The Grandmother" was sooooooo...weird. I guess that is the beauty of fiction, though. You can paint people in different light and then just say, "Well, I made it up." I also didn't appreciate the fact that Jacob's men were punished simply because Dinah put a curse on them...oh, uh huh.
I do appreciate that Diamant wanted to show how hard life was back in the day, that there were soooooo many dieties to choose from. That there were class levels and cultural differences on so many levels (countrymen, different countries, men/women, children, even girls on the verge of womanhood) that we forget about, here in our comfortable lives. But I think that this book lacked...truth on some level. Maybe that's what it was. My faith and belief did color my perspective as I read this account.
Sooooo, overall: thought it was a great choice for the book club. Very easy to read, I got into it right away. Didn't care for some of the fictionalization of characters that I feel differently about, but did appreciate the overall message of surviving and of the bonds that women have simply because they are women.
:) Laurenda
ANYWAY!!! I just finished, The Red Tent, and have decidedly mixed feelings about it. Though the review is early, I wanted to write while it was still fresh on my mind.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. It was certainly an easy read, and I thought that from the very beginning. It consistantly had the feel of a gathering of women in the Red Tent, gossiping and telling stories. And I love books with that feminine conspiritorial tone--it reminds me of a book on communication by Deborah Tannen, where she said that women talk and share in a spirit to gain consensus and empathy, and I found this true throughout the book. I loved the detail of what life may have been like back in the day, and it's always fascinating to see interpretations of that life based on the author's own background.
But what a sad, angry little book! I guess by the end, I'm supposed to feel some sort of peace, too, because Dinah had made some form of peace in getting on with her life, but I didn't. Hmmmmmmm.
So, I wondered at Diamant's own upbringing--knowing that simply by her faith and biography, she is keenly aware of the Old Testament, traditions, and forefathers--and wondering at her associations with her religion as well as the men in her life. She...almost demonize some of the men of the Old Testament, if that makes sense, and I wondered how truly just that was. I also wonder if there was any resentment on her part from her own subconscious life that came out in her book, via her female protagonist, or if she was just trying to remind the readers that no one is perfect, regardless of how kind history (and scriptures) reflects them. Still, it seems that almost everyone in the book, besides Dinah and the midwives, had something very negative thing about them.
Here's where the decidedly mixed feelings come in...I felt I was reading (argh!!!! There is a word for it that is escpaing me at the moment) history being re-written, and I wanted to say, Cite your Source!!!! Of course, this is a work of fiction, but I'm sure there are people who are now colored by it. Sooooo, this is why I have the mixed feelings. Easy easy to read, but people will now believe that all the women of the past worshipped other gods, had other beliefs and rituals that they clung to even while pretending to honor their husband's god (not that some didn't, I'm just saying that surely...from what we know... there were female believers of El). I dunno...it was really an angry feminine perspective--which, Dinah had every reason to be, but I didn't like the characterizations of some of these historical figures (Rebecca "the Grandmother" springs to mind. I just kept thinking, Really now...) . Once again, I wanted there to be some sort of footnote proving that why "The Grandmother" was sooooooo...weird. I guess that is the beauty of fiction, though. You can paint people in different light and then just say, "Well, I made it up." I also didn't appreciate the fact that Jacob's men were punished simply because Dinah put a curse on them...oh, uh huh.
I do appreciate that Diamant wanted to show how hard life was back in the day, that there were soooooo many dieties to choose from. That there were class levels and cultural differences on so many levels (countrymen, different countries, men/women, children, even girls on the verge of womanhood) that we forget about, here in our comfortable lives. But I think that this book lacked...truth on some level. Maybe that's what it was. My faith and belief did color my perspective as I read this account.
Sooooo, overall: thought it was a great choice for the book club. Very easy to read, I got into it right away. Didn't care for some of the fictionalization of characters that I feel differently about, but did appreciate the overall message of surviving and of the bonds that women have simply because they are women.
:) Laurenda
Sunday, February 5
I FINISHED ON TIME!
Ladies,
I, like KT and Laurenda, had a hard time getting into this book. In fact, at about page 86 I wasn't sure I was going to make it. However, once I got into it, it was a great story. I really wanted to figure out what the Havenites were up to and what Honor was going to do about it. (I love the name . . . "Honor." So appropriate. It's also KT's and my great-great grandmother's name. She was a survivor, too. A single mom in England with three sons and a daughter to raise. The name added to my connection with the heroine.) I also enjoyed the political and historical allusions.
I, like Katrina, did some skimming over what my son, Jeff, calls "techno babel" such as "If they pop out of hyper right at the hyper limit on a reciprocal of Sirius's present course . . ." I kind of rolled my eyes, especially when it went on for pages. I just wanted to get on with the story.
I also thought Laurenda hit it right on with her comment about the language . . . why should our curse words have survived gazillions of years and a plague to show up in Honor's world? I thought the language was gratuitous.
But all-in-all it was an enjoyable read. Thanks, Katrina!
I, like KT and Laurenda, had a hard time getting into this book. In fact, at about page 86 I wasn't sure I was going to make it. However, once I got into it, it was a great story. I really wanted to figure out what the Havenites were up to and what Honor was going to do about it. (I love the name . . . "Honor." So appropriate. It's also KT's and my great-great grandmother's name. She was a survivor, too. A single mom in England with three sons and a daughter to raise. The name added to my connection with the heroine.) I also enjoyed the political and historical allusions.
I, like Katrina, did some skimming over what my son, Jeff, calls "techno babel" such as "If they pop out of hyper right at the hyper limit on a reciprocal of Sirius's present course . . ." I kind of rolled my eyes, especially when it went on for pages. I just wanted to get on with the story.
I also thought Laurenda hit it right on with her comment about the language . . . why should our curse words have survived gazillions of years and a plague to show up in Honor's world? I thought the language was gratuitous.
But all-in-all it was an enjoyable read. Thanks, Katrina!
Saturday, February 4
Girl Power
There's nothing that annoys me more than reading or watching helpless female characters. Women can do more than wait for the big, strong man to save her. So, I really appreciated Katrina's explanation about Honor's importance. Being a fan of strong female characters like Buffy, Sidney Bristow (Alias), Veronica Mars, etc., I was happy to see another strong female character.
Like Laurenda, however, I found it difficult to get started. Being a Star Wars fan, I was sure I would be OK with this book. However, I found the pages devoted to the evolution of the Warshawski drive, for example, tedious. At other times, there were terms and references that I would have appreciated knowing something about, so I was easily confused at the beginning of the book (maybe that just says something about me).
I liked Honor. I liked the way she handled her crew. She was tough, but she never berated them - which in the end earned their respect. I really liked how she overcame the disadvantages that people heaped upon her (Admiral Hemphill and Pavel Young come immediately to mind). I liked all the characterizations in the book. Although he sometimes frustrated me, I understood McKeon. I really like Dame Estelle. I appreciated that there were other women in leadership positions on Fearless (i.e. Dominica Santos), and that Honor wasn't the only strong female involved.
I'll just touch lightly on the language. I have a harder time reading foul language than hearing it. Is that weird? I will say that the language during the battle scenes was realistic, but I don't have to like it. ;-)
Here's my biggest question from the book. How can there be a Navy in space? Doesn't a Navy require water? How can spaceships have sails?
Thanks, Katrina, for suggesting a book that I wouldn't have purchased myself. That's what I love about this book club. I get to read books that take me out of my reading zone.
Like Laurenda, however, I found it difficult to get started. Being a Star Wars fan, I was sure I would be OK with this book. However, I found the pages devoted to the evolution of the Warshawski drive, for example, tedious. At other times, there were terms and references that I would have appreciated knowing something about, so I was easily confused at the beginning of the book (maybe that just says something about me).
I liked Honor. I liked the way she handled her crew. She was tough, but she never berated them - which in the end earned their respect. I really liked how she overcame the disadvantages that people heaped upon her (Admiral Hemphill and Pavel Young come immediately to mind). I liked all the characterizations in the book. Although he sometimes frustrated me, I understood McKeon. I really like Dame Estelle. I appreciated that there were other women in leadership positions on Fearless (i.e. Dominica Santos), and that Honor wasn't the only strong female involved.
I'll just touch lightly on the language. I have a harder time reading foul language than hearing it. Is that weird? I will say that the language during the battle scenes was realistic, but I don't have to like it. ;-)
Here's my biggest question from the book. How can there be a Navy in space? Doesn't a Navy require water? How can spaceships have sails?
Thanks, Katrina, for suggesting a book that I wouldn't have purchased myself. That's what I love about this book club. I get to read books that take me out of my reading zone.
Monday, January 30
Removing myself from the book club for a while
Dear Ladies:
I am sorry to say that I am removing myself from the Les Liseuses Book Club for about the next five months. I’m busy reading Harry Potter books and Eragon books right now. My children are reading them and I want to know if they are clean and appropriate. Take care.
Love, Celia
I am sorry to say that I am removing myself from the Les Liseuses Book Club for about the next five months. I’m busy reading Harry Potter books and Eragon books right now. My children are reading them and I want to know if they are clean and appropriate. Take care.
Love, Celia
Honor and Me
Hello from Kansas!
Well, I just have to say that overall, I did enjoy the story...though I must confess (sorry Katrina) that this probably wasn't my favorite book. After reading the background, however, I was much more impressed with our main character and her importance to the genre, so I really appreciate Katrina posting it. :)
Okay...first a note of explanation: Contrary to MY popular belief, I discovered I have a hard time getting into science fiction. I didn't think I had a problem with it, but I do. It took me forever to get past the first two chapters!!!! And seriously, it kinda reminded me--LOADS--of Tolkien's writing; not style-wise, but verbage verbage verbage everywhere, and so many characters names, so it was a tad confusing at first. I just wanted a good editor to step in somewhere and cut some stuff out and explain the rest--at least as I was beginning the book. I was complaining to my husband about it, and then he reminded me that it actually took me about 3 years to start reading the Harry Potter series (which I adore), and that was after I had actually already bought the first three books!!! Sooooo, most of my issues with the book are just that: mine.
Let me say what I did like about the book. In all honesty, the plot was quite simple. We meet Honor and we know, very early on, that she's going to have some sort of problem with her ship and its new weaponary because of ideological choices of "higher-ups" and the plotting of foreign politicians. After that, we just wait for that to come to fruition. I also liked the fact that she was a strong woman and was very capable, earning trust and respect.
I chuckled, though, when her voice was often described as a soprano, because it put me to mind of my 3 year old, who has a very high voice. (see? my own issues with SciFi).
Anyway! I was totally impressed with the imagery. It takes a good writer to move you to a new world (or off, in this case) and keep you there.
That being said, I was a bit disappointed in the language (I'm getting more prudish in my old age, I guess)--not necessarily because I thought the swearing was too gratuitous (it actually kind of helped to distinguish some of the characters, and though I am embarrased to admit it, who knows what would be coming out of my mouth in the heat of battle!), but because it took me out of the story. I mean, really now. Though I vaguely recall someone saying something about "Old Earth", it wasn't in the diagram of the different planets/systems ANYWHERE. So, how/why did all our tired and tacky vulgarities survive? AND, I don't remember much about Christianity/religion being talked about, so why were so many using the Lord's name in vain??? How would they know to use it? Why didn't they use something else? So, that was annoying to me.
Overall, though, I can see why Honor has such a huge following. Most readers enjoy finding an underdog hero who is strong and resourceful, and who you know is going to be able to over come (somehow!) any/all opposition that is thrown to him/her. So, while I don't see myself continuing the series, I can appreciate the fact that it is wildly popular.
I also apprecite the fact that this book pushed me back to a genre that I do like, but found to be harder to embrace than in my youth. You know, this is what I like best about this book club--the diversity of books we've enjoyed so far. And for that, I thank you, Katrina, for selecting this book! Now on to the Red Tent!!!
:) Laurenda
Well, I just have to say that overall, I did enjoy the story...though I must confess (sorry Katrina) that this probably wasn't my favorite book. After reading the background, however, I was much more impressed with our main character and her importance to the genre, so I really appreciate Katrina posting it. :)
Okay...first a note of explanation: Contrary to MY popular belief, I discovered I have a hard time getting into science fiction. I didn't think I had a problem with it, but I do. It took me forever to get past the first two chapters!!!! And seriously, it kinda reminded me--LOADS--of Tolkien's writing; not style-wise, but verbage verbage verbage everywhere, and so many characters names, so it was a tad confusing at first. I just wanted a good editor to step in somewhere and cut some stuff out and explain the rest--at least as I was beginning the book. I was complaining to my husband about it, and then he reminded me that it actually took me about 3 years to start reading the Harry Potter series (which I adore), and that was after I had actually already bought the first three books!!! Sooooo, most of my issues with the book are just that: mine.
Let me say what I did like about the book. In all honesty, the plot was quite simple. We meet Honor and we know, very early on, that she's going to have some sort of problem with her ship and its new weaponary because of ideological choices of "higher-ups" and the plotting of foreign politicians. After that, we just wait for that to come to fruition. I also liked the fact that she was a strong woman and was very capable, earning trust and respect.
I chuckled, though, when her voice was often described as a soprano, because it put me to mind of my 3 year old, who has a very high voice. (see? my own issues with SciFi).
Anyway! I was totally impressed with the imagery. It takes a good writer to move you to a new world (or off, in this case) and keep you there.
That being said, I was a bit disappointed in the language (I'm getting more prudish in my old age, I guess)--not necessarily because I thought the swearing was too gratuitous (it actually kind of helped to distinguish some of the characters, and though I am embarrased to admit it, who knows what would be coming out of my mouth in the heat of battle!), but because it took me out of the story. I mean, really now. Though I vaguely recall someone saying something about "Old Earth", it wasn't in the diagram of the different planets/systems ANYWHERE. So, how/why did all our tired and tacky vulgarities survive? AND, I don't remember much about Christianity/religion being talked about, so why were so many using the Lord's name in vain??? How would they know to use it? Why didn't they use something else? So, that was annoying to me.
Overall, though, I can see why Honor has such a huge following. Most readers enjoy finding an underdog hero who is strong and resourceful, and who you know is going to be able to over come (somehow!) any/all opposition that is thrown to him/her. So, while I don't see myself continuing the series, I can appreciate the fact that it is wildly popular.
I also apprecite the fact that this book pushed me back to a genre that I do like, but found to be harder to embrace than in my youth. You know, this is what I like best about this book club--the diversity of books we've enjoyed so far. And for that, I thank you, Katrina, for selecting this book! Now on to the Red Tent!!!
:) Laurenda
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