I decided this morning that I wasn't going to do anything today except read.
And I did. I spent most of the day reading an amazing book. I just finished it. And it was so amazing that now I want to talk about it. Process it. Think about it more. Tell everyone I know to go read it.
Would others love it as I have loved it today?
Here's the basic plot: An old woman, Hagar, is at the end of her miserable life, living with the son and his wife she never much cared for. Her son and his wife want to put her in a home. Hagar goes in and out of the present and the past, remembering what has happened, thinking about what is to come. Hagar is quite unhappy and almost always has been so. Her mother died when she was born and her father was unbearably strict. She married a man more to spite her father than for any other reason. She loved only her youngest son and he was a bitter disappointment to her.
So, here she is, at the end of her life, unloved, mean-spirited, cruel.
An amazing portrait of a old woman, a not-very-nice woman, the truest portrait I can ever remember reading.
My online book group is reading this book together this month. I must zip over there now and see what others have to say about it.
Has anyone else read it? Heard of it? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Don't know this book at all but you can bet it now goes on my list...and I try to get on Amazon or get to B&N at least twice a month! (yeah, I know I should head to the library, but i just cannot get books back to them when they're due and end up owing them money.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this one!
This sounds really good! I'll have to see what BGL thinks - have been a member for years, but haven't been active the last year or two.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this, but it sounds like it's a pretty sad read :( I think I'll have to add it to my tbr!
ReplyDeleteI often say that I am going to spend the whole Sunday reading, but I find it difficult to break with my routine. I'm sure your day with your book was a joyful respite.
ReplyDeleteThis one is on my TBR list for the Canadian Book Challenge! Now I am really intrigued.
ReplyDeletewow, it sounds amazing!! :-) i'm glad you got to spend the day reading. i keep saying i want to do that and it never works out so it's encouraging to me! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. Your comment made me laugh, although maybe it wasn't meant to be funny..."I will be your friend." It just sounded to pitiful and funny :) Although, you're right, it wasn't very funny that I lost all my Followers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my friend. I'm your friend now (Follower) too. lol
I hadn't heard of this book, but it sounds really good!
I'm not familiar with this book, but I bet i would love reading it. Thanks for mentioning it!
ReplyDeleteSounds great! I love those books where you can't stop reading and you have to tell somebody how awesome you felt it was. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteRead it years ago, loved it. What lucky Canadians we are to have such a treasured author.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this book. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
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