***All posts run the risk of containing information that may or may not spoil your reading of these works.***

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Shadow Tag

Okay.

Opinion:

This book came recommended to me. So I read it. It's a fairly quick read, only took me about a week.


Shadow Tag is definitely not one I'd suggest in my book group, more because of the sensitive personalities in the group than because of the quality of the book. But this work is food for thought.

I loved Louise Erdrich's ability to layer emotion, this gave her characters such human depth. The story itself is quite destructive--which left me with a rather bitter aftertaste--and overall, these pages contain a vulgar and violent depiction of a marriage falling to pieces. It's full of dirty, or rather, thick, rancid mud. But it's real. It's life.
Louise Erdrich

I'm still trying to formulate my opinion on authors who print their own names larger on the cover than the book title.


Recommend: Not personally, but others have. So, take that for what you will.
Read Again: No

* * *
Author: Louise Erdrich

Brief Summary:

Irene America discovers her husband is reading her red diary. With the status of their marriage being quite rocky, Irene is first hugely offended by this invasion of her privacy. However, before confronting her husband on the matter, she decides to use the situation to her advantage. She begins filling the diary with lies to manipulate her husband, all the while keeping an accurate account of her life and marriage in a blue notebook, carefully kept in her safe-deposit box at the bank.

The depth of their problems unfolds throughout the pages, depicting a relationship with deep foundational cracks--which Irene deems unfixable, while her husband, Gil, pleads love can heal.

Gil is an artist, made famous by his paintings of Irene. The images he creates range from soft, romantic scenes of his wife, to harsh, humiliating and blatantly pornographic depictions of her. He is angry, reactionary and abusive. But he feels he couldn't survive without his family.

Irene is an alcoholic, favors her children over her husband, and feels she no longer loves him. Her alcoholism is partially the reason she stays in the relationship. Firstly, because it helps her numb the pain, and secondly, because Gil used that against her, knowing it could keep her from gaining custody over their children if she left him.

They sacrifice for the life of the relationship by trying counseling at Irene's recommendation and gifts and surprises at Gil's.

Eventually, through the diary, Irene convinces Gil that she has been unfaithful, and their marriage comes to an end.

The last scene shows them together, demonstrating the ultimate sacrifice for one another.

In the end, everyone, especially the three kids, is incredibly messed up.

Pages: 255

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Very Sweet.

Opinion:

This is a darling little story about a pompous china rabbit coming to understand the true meaning of selfless love. The pages are full of wonderful descriptions and entertaining circumstances that  capture audiences both young and old.

Kate DiCamillo manages to infuse her work intended for children with such emotional depth, I felt my own understanding of love and giving grow as I shed a few tears for Edward Tulane. It's a very quick and easy read, but the affects are lasting and worth the time.

Recommend: Yes
Read Again: To my future children, absolutely

* * *

Author: Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline

Brief Summary (taken from the last page of the book):

Once, there was a china rabbit who was loved by a little girl. The rabbit went on an ocean journey and fell overboard and was rescued by a fisherman. He was buried under garbage and unburied by a dog. He traveled for a long time with the hoboes and worked for a short time as a scarecrow.

Once, there was a rabbit who loved a little girl and watched her die.

The rabbit danced on the streets of Memphis. His head was broken open in a diner and was put together again by a doll mender.

And the rabbit swore that he would not make the mistake of loving again.

Once there was a rabbit who danced in a garden in springtime with the daughter of the woman who had loved him at the beginning of his journey. The girl swung the rabbit as she danced in circles. Sometimes, they went so fast, the two of them, that it seemed as if they were flying. Sometimes, it seemed as if they both had wings.

Once, oh marvelous once, there was a rabbit who found his way home.

Pages: 200