Andrew
Could we, could I, have done otherwise? Could I have lived differently? Fruitless interrogation. Of course I could, but I did not, and therein lies the absurdity of even asking.
A beautifully written examination of loss, grief, and memory. The plot is thin (a sad man looks back on his life) but the prose is lyrical and evocative. The whole thing has the impression of being one long run-on sentence, although it is not...a conversation with his wife in hospice seamlessly blends into a memory of holding hands with his first girlfriend at the age of 11 which is interrupted by someone asking if he would like a refill and him realizing that he's sitting in a cafe and 6 weeks have passed since that conversation with his wife and he doesn't know how he got there. It's like following the train of thought of someone trying very hard not to think about anything in particular.
It's a short but impactful story with a few particularly poignant passages that will resonate with anyone who has suffered love and loss before.
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My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Could we, could I, have done otherwise? Could I have lived differently? Fruitless interrogation. Of course I could, but I did not, and therein lies the absurdity of even asking.
A beautifully written examination of loss, grief, and memory. The plot is thin (a sad man looks back on his life) but the prose is lyrical and evocative. The whole thing has the impression of being one long run-on sentence, although it is not...a conversation with his wife in hospice seamlessly blends into a memory of holding hands with his first girlfriend at the age of 11 which is interrupted by someone asking if he would like a refill and him realizing that he's sitting in a cafe and 6 weeks have passed since that conversation with his wife and he doesn't know how he got there. It's like following the train of thought of someone trying very hard not to think about anything in particular.
It's a short but impactful story with a few particularly poignant passages that will resonate with anyone who has suffered love and loss before.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.