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This is my favorite Margaret Atwood novel so far - the characters are all so well developed. I love how she exposes the insecurities of very different women, and in doing so takes them beyond the cardboard cutouts that "strong women" characters in other feminist literature can so often be. These women are tough, smart, and interesting - and flawed, especially in their relationships. It is also an interesting study in how the scars of WWII were carried forward in the children of those adults who were damaged by the war.
I didn't expect a book with such a bleak premise and setting to be so uplifting. Somehow I managed to read the whole book in one day, even while visiting with family and caring for my preschooler. The book raises many interesting questions - if I were ever to teach an ethics class, it would be tempting to make this one of the required books. It even inspired me to start a book club, because I was sorry not to have a group of friends to discuss the book with when I was done reading it.
After having read all of the Wallander novels, I came to this collection of short stories. They are revealing as to Wallander's character development, and every bit as good as Mankell's many novels (which was a pleasant surprise - it is not always the case that good novelists make good short story writers.) While Stieg Larsson got a lot of attention in 2010, and was often compared to Mankell (only because they share genre and nationality), Larsson had nothing on Mankell. Henning Mankell writes also writes about sensational subject matter - but without being sensational. His characters are world weary and his work is thought provoking.
Funny and intelligent without being snarky, humane without being sentimental... not to mention an especially therapeutic book for adult children of retired parents returning "home" for the holidays! The characters all continue to live in my mind as living breathing people - and it has been a couple of years since I last read it.
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Sarah McGiverin has commented on (4) products.
The robber bride by Margaret Atwood
Sarah McGiverin, January 8, 2012
This is my favorite Margaret Atwood novel so far - the characters are all so well developed. I love how she exposes the insecurities of very different women, and in doing so takes them beyond the cardboard cutouts that "strong women" characters in other feminist literature can so often be. These women are tough, smart, and interesting - and flawed, especially in their relationships. It is also an interesting study in how the scars of WWII were carried forward in the children of those adults who were damaged by the war.The Road (Vintage International) by Cormac Mccarthy
Sarah McGiverin, September 1, 2011
I didn't expect a book with such a bleak premise and setting to be so uplifting. Somehow I managed to read the whole book in one day, even while visiting with family and caring for my preschooler. The book raises many interesting questions - if I were ever to teach an ethics class, it would be tempting to make this one of the required books. It even inspired me to start a book club, because I was sorry not to have a group of friends to discuss the book with when I was done reading it.The Pyramid (The First Wallander Cases - Kurt Wallander Mysteries # 9) by Henning Mankell
Sarah McGiverin, January 1, 2011
After having read all of the Wallander novels, I came to this collection of short stories. They are revealing as to Wallander's character development, and every bit as good as Mankell's many novels (which was a pleasant surprise - it is not always the case that good novelists make good short story writers.) While Stieg Larsson got a lot of attention in 2010, and was often compared to Mankell (only because they share genre and nationality), Larsson had nothing on Mankell. Henning Mankell writes also writes about sensational subject matter - but without being sensational. His characters are world weary and his work is thought provoking.The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Sarah McGiverin, January 1, 2010
Funny and intelligent without being snarky, humane without being sentimental... not to mention an especially therapeutic book for adult children of retired parents returning "home" for the holidays! The characters all continue to live in my mind as living breathing people - and it has been a couple of years since I last read it.