Double meaning!

This was the first novel Marilynne Robinson wrote - it was in consideration for the Pulitzer prize - which she later won for Gilead.

It is a vague, meandering kind of story, but when it ends, all the loose ends seem to come together.  Some found it slow and tedious - at least people I know. According to what I have read, it was reacted to favorably by fans and critics alike when it was first published.

Loss and compensation are the themes - housekeeping in the physical and spiritual sense is the focus. It reminds me a lot of the writing by Louise Erdich - and she meanders a lot too.

It is a lovely read.

Saturday Night at the Movies

Finally saw this film - and recommend it highly!  I can see why Gary Oldman won the Oscar for Best Actor - he really absorbed the persona of Winston Churchill - and delivered.

I think that since we saw the film about Dunkirk, this film seemed even more relevant.

There are so many "war stories" to be told - and they usually deliver!

Hmm - guess I have been busy!

Love this photo of my Grandma Agnes Clayton, sitting on her porch, reading the newspaper.  I feel like I would have lots in common with her - always stopping to read!

Have been reading a lot lately - but haven't been posting about it on the old blog though!!

Saw Wonderstruck - the deaf girl in the film is the same deaf girl who starred in A Quiet Place.  A funky kind of film - but once I figured out what was going on, I liked it. Bought the book too - but haven't read it yet.

Also saw RBG - excellent!! Ruth is my new hero(ine!) What a woman - see the film - and I'm looking for a good bio of her too.

Read Accident of Birth for book group.  A good read - but it had some gaping flaws - I have pretty much very critical of "escape fiction" but this would be good for a flight read!

The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes - about the horrific treatment of the Chinese in America at the turn of the century - especially in the Northwest. It was a back and forth story - and I enjoyed the historical story better than the current one - kept skipping ahead. Sometimes the device of going back and forth between centuries can be tedious - why not just write the historical tale??

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate - another back and forth tale about the Tennessee Children's Home Society and Georgia Tann and her horrific reign there.  The fact that it's based on truth adds to the grimness. It was a good story, but once again I preferred the historical story.

Read the Gilead trilogy (Home and Lila) by Marilynne Robinson - Gilead won the Pulitzer - deservedly so! Beautiful prose - a thoughtful, provocative storyline too. 

How did I not hear about these books before??

Need to choose next month's book group choice - will keep you posted.