I don't even remember where it was that I found a recommendation for this book. It intrigued me, so I requested it from the library. When it came in so quickly, I decided to bump it ahead of the other so-many-books-on-my-nightstand-that-they-look-like-a-replica-of-the-leaning-tower-of-piza. I was excited to get started. The little caption on the front of the book reads
"Astonishing, complex, beautifully written, and brilliant." A credit to Sara Guren, author of Water for Elephants
(which I also have not read).
Here's the thing, though. I'm putting it down, and have decided not to finish it. I was intrigued by the
Here's the thing, though. I'm putting it down, and have decided not to finish it. I was intrigued by the WISCONSIN. FALL. 1907.
setting.
I also loved the personal advertisement in the newspaper:
COUNTRY BUSINESSMAN SEEKS
RELIABLE WIFE.
COMPELLED BY PRACTICAL,
NOT ROMANTIC REASONS.
REPLY BY LETTER.
RALPH TRUITT, TRUITT WISCONSIN.
DISCREET.
But after reading almost half of the story, I have yet to find any content that is endearing or even pleasant to me. The deeper into the story I read, I felt like I was wading deeper into something dark and sinister; not at all what I expected. I can't recommend it. I actually agree with Sara Gruen for the most part. It is rather astonishing, but not in a good way. It's definitely complex [I found it a tad depressing] and the writing is beautiful; just that the content is not. As for the brilliant part? I guess I'll never know. But I WILL recommend a book that I enjoyed much more than this one: The Magic of Ordinary Days, by Ann Howard Creel. This is a far more satisfying tale of an arranged marriage. If you've read the other and have something good to say about it, do tell.
4 comments:
sorry! :( you seemed SO excited the other night. i'm feeling this way about the hiding place though, any thoughts to help me finish? if not...it's going back to where it came from...
Good to know!
I just finished Peace Like a River -- and loved it!
Jenny,
This is a sad indication of just how contrary your younger brother is--but the fact that you put it down makes me want to pick it up and finish. Now I'm intrigued!
Kudos to you. I have the hardest time putting down a book that I've started regardless of how bad it is. There are only 2 books that I've managed to put down and they still haunt me. I'm trying to be better though because life is short and there are so many truly fabulous books out there.
Post a Comment