Greenlanders, Greeks, southern belles, and Danes
The Greenlanders -- Jane Smiley
genre: historical novel
The story of a medieval Norse settlement in Greenland, told through the prism of one family's experience in a marginally larger community, is interesting, but the formalized construction of the book -- a faux historical text, with repetitive emphasis on folkways, foodstuffs, environmental hardship, and limited subsistence economy -- makes it less so. It is not alien beliefs and customs, or or a way of life far removed from the 21st century, that creates distance between the reader and characters who face timeless, universal dilemmas, but a narrative language that is unduly heavy on description while light on both action and internal or external dialog.
rating: &&1/2
The Mask of Apollo -- Mary Renault
genre: historical novel
other works read by author: The Persian Boy, The Bull from the Sea
This story of Plato's Academy and the rise and fall of Dion of Syracuse is oddly told from the perspective of an Athenian travelling actor. The sort of diplomatic immunity and freedom of movement conveyed by his craft, and the societal recognition his prize-winning status brings, put the actor Nikeratos in a unique position to observe the sociopolitical and intellectual climate fomented by Plato and his students in Athens and beyond. The weakness here is that Nikeratos often seems out of place among both politicians and philosophers. Renault ascribes an organic interpretation to the democratic process and its spectacular failure in Syracuse -- essentially, a tyranny-accustomed populace simply isn't prepared to develop into a self-governing political structure. The book started slow -- I nearly gave up on it -- but it piqued my interest a few chapters in, and then maintained a level of intrigue that had much more to do with discussions of philosophy and state than of theatrical devices, masks, and contests.
rating: &&1/2
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood -- Rebecca Wells
genre: contemporary fiction
The story of a woman's search for peace with her mother and herself, this book is composed of snapshots from the lives of the protagonist, Siddalee, and her mother, Vivi, spanning 60 years and dozens of significant moments, both joyous and heart-wrenching. Its strongest moments are in portraying the lifelong friendship among 4 women, including the vulnerable, love-hungry, but autocratic Vivi, that survives and strengthens them through every imaginable life passage. Its weakness is that the characters, including Sidda, are more attractive and sympathetic in those snapshots from the past than in the present.
Through the first quarter of the book I liked no one; through the middle half I liked everyone; and then, in the final chapters, all the characters become one-dimensional cardboard characters as the plot drives doggedly into a rather generic and feel-good tying-up of threads.
rating: &&
Hamlet -- William Shakespeare
genre: tragic play
other works read by author: um. lots and lots.
I don't really have to critique Hamlet for anyone, do I? And giving it a rating would seem wildly presumptuous.
I haven't read any Shakespeare in at least 15 years, and have decided that was a mistake I need to correct. I see why we didn't read Hamlet way back in the dark ages when I was in high school -- I mean liek omigosh there's tonnes of sexual innuendo! -- but I'm really glad it's being read more widely now, including by my own tenth-grader. Definitely one of Will's best efforts.
book total 2004: 59
genre: historical novel
The story of a medieval Norse settlement in Greenland, told through the prism of one family's experience in a marginally larger community, is interesting, but the formalized construction of the book -- a faux historical text, with repetitive emphasis on folkways, foodstuffs, environmental hardship, and limited subsistence economy -- makes it less so. It is not alien beliefs and customs, or or a way of life far removed from the 21st century, that creates distance between the reader and characters who face timeless, universal dilemmas, but a narrative language that is unduly heavy on description while light on both action and internal or external dialog.
rating: &&1/2
The Mask of Apollo -- Mary Renault
genre: historical novel
other works read by author: The Persian Boy, The Bull from the Sea
This story of Plato's Academy and the rise and fall of Dion of Syracuse is oddly told from the perspective of an Athenian travelling actor. The sort of diplomatic immunity and freedom of movement conveyed by his craft, and the societal recognition his prize-winning status brings, put the actor Nikeratos in a unique position to observe the sociopolitical and intellectual climate fomented by Plato and his students in Athens and beyond. The weakness here is that Nikeratos often seems out of place among both politicians and philosophers. Renault ascribes an organic interpretation to the democratic process and its spectacular failure in Syracuse -- essentially, a tyranny-accustomed populace simply isn't prepared to develop into a self-governing political structure. The book started slow -- I nearly gave up on it -- but it piqued my interest a few chapters in, and then maintained a level of intrigue that had much more to do with discussions of philosophy and state than of theatrical devices, masks, and contests.
rating: &&1/2
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood -- Rebecca Wells
genre: contemporary fiction
The story of a woman's search for peace with her mother and herself, this book is composed of snapshots from the lives of the protagonist, Siddalee, and her mother, Vivi, spanning 60 years and dozens of significant moments, both joyous and heart-wrenching. Its strongest moments are in portraying the lifelong friendship among 4 women, including the vulnerable, love-hungry, but autocratic Vivi, that survives and strengthens them through every imaginable life passage. Its weakness is that the characters, including Sidda, are more attractive and sympathetic in those snapshots from the past than in the present.
Through the first quarter of the book I liked no one; through the middle half I liked everyone; and then, in the final chapters, all the characters become one-dimensional cardboard characters as the plot drives doggedly into a rather generic and feel-good tying-up of threads.
rating: &&
Hamlet -- William Shakespeare
genre: tragic play
other works read by author: um. lots and lots.
I don't really have to critique Hamlet for anyone, do I? And giving it a rating would seem wildly presumptuous.
I haven't read any Shakespeare in at least 15 years, and have decided that was a mistake I need to correct. I see why we didn't read Hamlet way back in the dark ages when I was in high school -- I mean liek omigosh there's tonnes of sexual innuendo! -- but I'm really glad it's being read more widely now, including by my own tenth-grader. Definitely one of Will's best efforts.
book total 2004: 59