Molly-o

Sometimes I feel like my life interrupts my book reading. This was such a time. This book completely swept me up - I love spending time in the outdoors, especially in the mountains and I live in the Northwest, but I think you could live in India and enjoy this book. You get to know Cheryl Strayed inside and out -- she is honest and genuine and on a quest which changes as she walks on the PCT. Cheryl is reflective and insightful - notice how I call her Cheryl? Her opening up to the reader is woven in and out of a modern adventure story but one which is plausible in our time. I am thankful that, once again, I was sad for this book to end - as a matter of fact, I listened to the last two chapters twice just to say good bye.

This is a lovely book - one to savor and enjoy. Some might respond to its the slow way the story is revealed but I loved it and fell in love with the main character. The story is excellent and unusual, the setting very accessible and the characters are well drawn and exceptional. There are some places where you can tell this is a first novel, but those places are not in the least way distracting - more charming. This is an author to watch.

I had to stop listening to this book. The more I listened, the more I got saddened and depressed. I was hit over the head over and over how oppressed the main character (and all of his friends and family) were. I like to understand different cultures but I couldn't continue and enjoy the spring weather in Seattle. The story became ponderous and weighed down with the dark nature of its content.

I suppose for some, these kind of edgy stories might be commonplace, but, honestly, I have never read anything like this book. I am used to going from point A to point B with all of the numerous offshoots that an author can muster but I just had to hold on with this journey. The stories are complex, strange and wonderfully buoyant. They are beautifully written so I never let go of where Saunders chose to take me - I loved this read. One needs to be pushed off one's assumptions every once in a while.

I am not sure why I downloaded this as I wasn't expecting to like it -- which isn't like me. Nonetheless, I started and I found it very illuminating. The authors spend a tad too much time with the lack of evidence in the sexual abuse scandals in the last 10 years, but I forgive them. They point up a tendency that is like finding a new lens through which to see life and how we all conduct ourselves. I have found myself just saying that I made a mistake rather than always couching it in a context - that's a change! So, it's not long, it's insightful and well read. That's a good read, isn't it?

I don't know how I am going to go on to my next book. Andrew Solomon's voice, physically and emotionally, has found its way into my soul. If you are reading this review, you know what this book is about (is it dry, you ask?), you know it is very, very long and that some people have said that his narration is flawed.

The book has more than research; it weaves research with case studies that makes the research live and breathe and stay with you far longer than you can imagine (I usually read fiction!). It is very, very long, but I slowed the listening of it down at the very end because I couldn't bear not to be listening to these stories of profound courage. I relished its length.

And Andrew's voice (I am calling him Andrew because he shared his story with me) brings you carefully and warmly into these people's lives while delineating his comprehensive but not boring research. He doesn't compare to Colin Firth but who's comparing? It doesn't matter because once you get the cadence down, he is telling you a startling story and he will capture you. AND he is a beautiful writer.

I am grateful to have been able to listen to this book.

Wonderful characters, compelling story line and exquisite prose - it really doesn't get much better than this. It kept surprising me - the levels of complexities just grew and grew without creating confusion. It is beautifully written and the story is so well crafted that once again, I kept exercising even though I was technically done. This is a story of love and caring that will stay with me for a long time.

Maybe it's because I needed to just fall into a book that the premise of this book appealed to me. And fall into it I did. It is magical, well-written and lyrical. I am not one to give a plot summary - if you choose this, you will find out soon enough. But I will tell you that you probably won't enjoy this book if you can't let yourself be taken away by some elements of fairy tale. The plot is not completely improbable, it just stretches you to let go of the realism of your own life and step into another place and not judge how you got there. A truly wonderful winter read.

This book came at exactly the right time in my life - I needed a lift and it gave it to me. First, it's a great story and you just love Harold from the get go. Secondly, it's a real picture of a relationship that needs some serious help and thirdly, it's about walking which I do regularly. Harold embraces walking slowly and we end up walking with him as he begins to engage with life again through his journey. If you want a respite from the much of the world around us, go with Harold - you won't be disappointed.

My review is mixed because this story is hokey - there is no way around it. BUT, I had an imaginary friend when I grew up and I honestly forgave all the hokey qualities because I was both reliving when I had my friend and charmed by the sweet observations of this young, passionate friend. I would guess that if you never had an imaginary friend, never had a friend who had one and/or made fun of those who did, that this book would not be your cup of tea.

I want to mention also that the book is well written - there are some wonderful insights into the grown up world (much like in Room) and some turning of phrases that made me forgive myself for looking forward to reading such a precious story. The narration was great.

My full review of this series is embedded in The Providence Rider, but this is the beginning book and it is a good stand alone novel - unless you get completely sucked in as I did with all four books. Wonderful, riveting story!