I finshed reading the book last week. It took me some time, and to be quite frank with you the book got rather boring for me. She was very deep (philosophical, and all) throughout the remaining chapters, but it started to feel like she was just stuck complaining.
Starting with the pros; She's deep, I really enjoyed how creative her writing was and how she linked it with bits and pieces of other literature. I liked the her own little piece she wrote of her. I remember marking it but can't seem to find what page it was on.
Cons It honestly gets annoying. I can see she was trying write about her journey through this unbearably difficult time, and its hard to accept someone to show progress as the death of your child approaches; but seriously, I felt it was just dragging on.
Would I recommend this book: No. Even if they are a parent in a similar situation. I would want them to read a book that will help them get through this, and no feel so much hnger and pain through as they obviously do. I would them to have ways to express or channel that anger differently. Perhaps, this was Emily's best way to channel her emotions out, since she's a writer. But for me personaly, I would want something more positive.
Sorry all, for getting caught up with work, life, holidays, trips, and the sort and neglecting the readings and posting.
Thanks for posting Sana. You're so reliable! I did manage to finally finish the book yesterday. The funny part is that my book was overdue by a day (how that got passed me is still a mystery). I had Asad accompany me to the library after getting a new battery for the car, and had him sit next to me for ten minutes as I finished reading the last few pages. Poor guy.
I agree with Sana one hundred percent about losing steam as I read the book. I lost interest, and that's partly the reason why it took me so long to finish. I feel guilty saying that I didn't particularly enjoy the book, since it was circled around the story of a terminally ill infant.
The reason it lost it's luster was because it was chapters of confusion, hurt, and anger. In the end, I don't even think she described his actually passing (unless I missed that part while reading in the car).
I won't downplay her writing skills, and her literary knowledge. I especially liked some of her literary references. For example, in Chapter 9, "He woke in the dark of the woods in the leaves shivering violently. He sat up and felt about for the boy. He held his hand to his thin ribs. Warmth and movement. Heartbeat." (page ? my finger is covering it in the photo I took before returning to the library). The quote is from The Road by Cormac McCarthy, one of the books on our upcoming reading list. I think that's a great segway into the next book... What do you guys think?
All in all, I'm glad to have returned the book. I also would not recommend it. I think it serves it's purpose to help the author through her journey, but from an outsider's perspective, I don't feel it would add value to the experience of another individual.
I rated the book on Goodreads as a 3, but I think it really should have been a 2. The extra point was out of guilt.
Are we going to have a group video chat to discuss the book, or do we all want to move on and leave it as a distant memory?
What's on the roster next ladies? The Road? I started reading Bridget Jones's Diary. I wanted to read something on the other side of the spectrum. Something silly.
I dont think we need a group video. In all honesty, I'm glad to be done and over with the book and don't really have much more to say other than what I have commented. Except that, I confess that I skipped several paged even chapters to finish this book. It was just too miserable.
So it appears we've all pushed back from posting.
ReplyDeleteI finshed reading the book last week. It took me some time, and to be quite frank with you the book got rather boring for me. She was very deep (philosophical, and all) throughout the remaining chapters, but it started to feel like she was just stuck complaining.
Starting with the pros;
She's deep, I really enjoyed how creative her writing was and how she linked it with bits and pieces of other literature.
I liked the her own little piece she wrote of her. I remember marking it but can't seem to find what page it was on.
Cons
It honestly gets annoying. I can see she was trying write about her journey through this unbearably difficult time, and its hard to accept someone to show progress as the death of your child approaches; but seriously, I felt it was just dragging on.
Would I recommend this book:
No. Even if they are a parent in a similar situation. I would want them to read a book that will help them get through this, and no feel so much hnger and pain through as they obviously do. I would them to have ways to express or channel that anger differently. Perhaps, this was Emily's best way to channel her emotions out, since she's a writer. But for me personaly, I would want something more positive.
Sorry all, for getting caught up with work, life, holidays, trips, and the sort and neglecting the readings and posting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting Sana. You're so reliable!
I did manage to finally finish the book yesterday. The funny part is that my book was overdue by a day (how that got passed me is still a mystery). I had Asad accompany me to the library after getting a new battery for the car, and had him sit next to me for ten minutes as I finished reading the last few pages. Poor guy.
I agree with Sana one hundred percent about losing steam as I read the book. I lost interest, and that's partly the reason why it took me so long to finish. I feel guilty saying that I didn't particularly enjoy the book, since it was circled around the story of a terminally ill infant.
The reason it lost it's luster was because it was chapters of confusion, hurt, and anger. In the end, I don't even think she described his actually passing (unless I missed that part while reading in the car).
I won't downplay her writing skills, and her literary knowledge. I especially liked some of her literary references. For example, in Chapter 9, "He woke in the dark of the woods in the leaves shivering violently. He sat up and felt about for the boy. He held his hand to his thin ribs. Warmth and movement. Heartbeat." (page ? my finger is covering it in the photo I took before returning to the library). The quote is from The Road by Cormac McCarthy, one of the books on our upcoming reading list. I think that's a great segway into the next book... What do you guys think?
All in all, I'm glad to have returned the book. I also would not recommend it. I think it serves it's purpose to help the author through her journey, but from an outsider's perspective, I don't feel it would add value to the experience of another individual.
I rated the book on Goodreads as a 3, but I think it really should have been a 2. The extra point was out of guilt.
Are we going to have a group video chat to discuss the book, or do we all want to move on and leave it as a distant memory?
What's on the roster next ladies? The Road? I started reading Bridget Jones's Diary. I wanted to read something on the other side of the spectrum. Something silly.
I dont think we need a group video. In all honesty, I'm glad to be done and over with the book and don't really have much more to say other than what I have commented. Except that, I confess that I skipped several paged even chapters to finish this book. It was just too miserable.
ReplyDelete