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Jul. 1st, 2016
Sarah's June Books
Jul. 1st, 2016 10:26 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
sk8eeyore.livejournal.comTwo books this month.
A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin
Considering the main character's tendency to be a...the best I can say is "pompous jerk," it's a bit remarkable how much I enjoyed this novel. The story revolves around an old Italian man's reminiscences on his years as a WWI soldier. I haven't read fiction on the First World War before, and though there was some fairly graphic violence in this, it turns out that I kind of enjoy wartime fiction. Helprin is a beautiful writer, and I hardly noticed that this book ran over 800 pages! One thing I didn't like was the romantic subplot; by the time Alessandro falls in love with his future wife, he'd had multiple passionate affairs (which it feels like we're supposed to take in stride because he's a young, passionate Italian man), so I didn't entirely buy into his singular, "she's-the-one" adoration of his wife.
Elizabeth and her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim
I think I've seen this book mentioned in this community more than once, by whom I don't recall -- but whoever it was, thank you! Otherwise, I might never have discovered it. I loved it so much! It's just such a charming, cozy, witty read, and I laughed out loud a number of times. I love books with clever, introverted female protagonists, especially older books. :)
Adding to the overall charm was the beautiful early edition my library had:
I'm hoping to track down more Elizabeth von Arnim books; it's been surprisingly challenging, especially when some of the copies in my library system are apparently too fragile to circulate.
A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin
Considering the main character's tendency to be a...the best I can say is "pompous jerk," it's a bit remarkable how much I enjoyed this novel. The story revolves around an old Italian man's reminiscences on his years as a WWI soldier. I haven't read fiction on the First World War before, and though there was some fairly graphic violence in this, it turns out that I kind of enjoy wartime fiction. Helprin is a beautiful writer, and I hardly noticed that this book ran over 800 pages! One thing I didn't like was the romantic subplot; by the time Alessandro falls in love with his future wife, he'd had multiple passionate affairs (which it feels like we're supposed to take in stride because he's a young, passionate Italian man), so I didn't entirely buy into his singular, "she's-the-one" adoration of his wife.
Elizabeth and her German Garden by Elizabeth von Arnim
I think I've seen this book mentioned in this community more than once, by whom I don't recall -- but whoever it was, thank you! Otherwise, I might never have discovered it. I loved it so much! It's just such a charming, cozy, witty read, and I laughed out loud a number of times. I love books with clever, introverted female protagonists, especially older books. :)
Adding to the overall charm was the beautiful early edition my library had:
I'm hoping to track down more Elizabeth von Arnim books; it's been surprisingly challenging, especially when some of the copies in my library system are apparently too fragile to circulate.
2016 Quarter 2 Books
Jul. 1st, 2016 11:28 pmhestergray.livejournal.comMe Before You by Jojo Moyes 5/5
Oh, what a book. I loved it. It's about 26-year-old Louisa, who finds herself suddenly out of a job. She finds a new job as a caretaker for Will, a 30-something man who was in an accident and is now a quadriplegic. He is depressed about his life, but she takes him on adventures, and it's a beautiful story.
( Read more... )
Oh, what a book. I loved it. It's about 26-year-old Louisa, who finds herself suddenly out of a job. She finds a new job as a caretaker for Will, a 30-something man who was in an accident and is now a quadriplegic. He is depressed about his life, but she takes him on adventures, and it's a beautiful story.
( Read more... )
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