I have remembered and forgotten this blog at least three times in the last forty-five minutes. I'm just a bit easily sidetracked this evening.
I finished reading "The Hour I First Believed" this afternoon. I really enjoyed the novel. I've really enjoyed all of Wally Lambs novels. Each of them serves as an in depth character study. I found this novel nearly as compelling as the others, but "This Much I Know To Be True" remains my favorite.
I've determined today that it is completely bizarre to be unemployed. I mean technically I'm not unemployed, since I've got a job at school already that I'll be starting in about a week and a half, and then of course I didn't really quite the job I had so much as down-grade to seasonal on leave...
But for all intensive purposes I am unemployed. There is no job that I have to schedule around, or plan to travel to and that will be true for a week yet. It's freedom, but I'm not certain that it is an entirely welcome freedom. I mean for two years I've basically worked. It was what I did with my time.
Showing posts with label Wally Lamb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wally Lamb. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Caelum Quirk
The bulk of my day has been spent reading "The Hour I First Believed" by Wally Lamb. I've been reading this book for several weeks, but in my defense I've read it while reading a couple other books at the same time. Generally what I've done is taken Wally's book to work with me, and then had another book to read here at home. I am now down to just reading "The Hour I First Believed", and am about one hundred pages away from finishing it.
I think it's a little simplistic to say that it is about a school shooting, because while that certainly is a facet of the book it is not it's sole plot line. In truth the focal point of the book is the main character, Caelum Quirk. He narrates the bulk of the novel, describing his life in terms of before the shootings and after the shootings.
In the novel he struggles with... life. He recounts the struggles of his childhood, and later adolescence, and then further into his adulthood. We watch as relationships crumble, and ones are established, and later as he comes to realize that some things, particularly people, should not be taken for granted.
"The Hour I First Believed" is an exploration into the inner workings of the human condition. It is a glimpse into the life of an average Joe just trying to get by and keep his head about the tide that seeks to pull him under. At any rate it's been a really exquisite read so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it concludes.
I think it's a little simplistic to say that it is about a school shooting, because while that certainly is a facet of the book it is not it's sole plot line. In truth the focal point of the book is the main character, Caelum Quirk. He narrates the bulk of the novel, describing his life in terms of before the shootings and after the shootings.
In the novel he struggles with... life. He recounts the struggles of his childhood, and later adolescence, and then further into his adulthood. We watch as relationships crumble, and ones are established, and later as he comes to realize that some things, particularly people, should not be taken for granted.
"The Hour I First Believed" is an exploration into the inner workings of the human condition. It is a glimpse into the life of an average Joe just trying to get by and keep his head about the tide that seeks to pull him under. At any rate it's been a really exquisite read so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it concludes.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Treasure Troves
Used bookstores are treasure troves. Bookstores in general are amazing, but there is just something spectacular about used bookstores. They afford the perfect opportunity to stumble across new authors because you never know what you may find. The way that they shelve books often means that titles that wouldn’t usually be shelved together are.
If it weren’t for a used bookstore, I may never have come across Wally Lamb’s “I Know This Much To Be True”. I read it at least a year ago and yet the story still resonates and remains clear in my mind.
I really love this local used bookstore known as The Book Abbey. The shelves there are literally bursting with books. They’ve got this awesome credit program, and they have a punch card system set up so that once you fill the card you get three free books.
So recently I earned three free books and I got two of them today. They both sound really good, though I doubt I’ll get the chance to read them right away. My ‘to read’ pile is seriously huge. I can’t wait for spring break next week, I have some serious reading to do.
If it weren’t for a used bookstore, I may never have come across Wally Lamb’s “I Know This Much To Be True”. I read it at least a year ago and yet the story still resonates and remains clear in my mind.
I really love this local used bookstore known as The Book Abbey. The shelves there are literally bursting with books. They’ve got this awesome credit program, and they have a punch card system set up so that once you fill the card you get three free books.
So recently I earned three free books and I got two of them today. They both sound really good, though I doubt I’ll get the chance to read them right away. My ‘to read’ pile is seriously huge. I can’t wait for spring break next week, I have some serious reading to do.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Books That Resonate
Months ago now, I read I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb. It’s one of those novels that sticks with you long after the last sentence is read. It’s one of the most honestly written ‘adult’ novels that I’ve read in a while.
The main character isn’t particularly likeable, and yet he’s not unlikable either. He’s human, and fallible and prone to making mistakes that we all swear we ourselves would never make, but secretly know we are capable of making.
His twin brother has schizophrenia, and this scares him. More aptly it terrifies him, because he is constantly confronted by this man who is physically his mirror image and yet distinctly different. They are two sides of a single coin that see the world from seemingly different perspectives. He takes role of being his brother’s caretaker, and in this role is guilt, and resentment, fear, and worry.
He loves his brother and yet to love someone you don’t always have to like them. He struggles with this concept continually through the novel. And yet… there is hope at the end of that proverbial tunnel. Where darkness seemingly prevails, light may break through.
I Know This Much Is True is a novel about what it truly means to love. It depicts the sacrifice and pain involved in watching those dearest to you suffer, but also the anger and fear that this sacrifice may fuel. Further, it’s a novel about redemption and finding out that sometimes you had what you craved all along, it was right in front of you and you just never opened your eyes to see it.
The main character isn’t particularly likeable, and yet he’s not unlikable either. He’s human, and fallible and prone to making mistakes that we all swear we ourselves would never make, but secretly know we are capable of making.
His twin brother has schizophrenia, and this scares him. More aptly it terrifies him, because he is constantly confronted by this man who is physically his mirror image and yet distinctly different. They are two sides of a single coin that see the world from seemingly different perspectives. He takes role of being his brother’s caretaker, and in this role is guilt, and resentment, fear, and worry.
He loves his brother and yet to love someone you don’t always have to like them. He struggles with this concept continually through the novel. And yet… there is hope at the end of that proverbial tunnel. Where darkness seemingly prevails, light may break through.
I Know This Much Is True is a novel about what it truly means to love. It depicts the sacrifice and pain involved in watching those dearest to you suffer, but also the anger and fear that this sacrifice may fuel. Further, it’s a novel about redemption and finding out that sometimes you had what you craved all along, it was right in front of you and you just never opened your eyes to see it.
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