Well, I don't hate it, but neither do I love it. For all the critical acclaim for The Emperor's Children, it is becoming tiresome as I try to keep reading through the second half. Claire Messud has captured a certain segment of older-young-adults living in New York city, but as with Sex and the City on television, I view these characters with a fervent wish that they would broaden their horizons! Perhaps the catastrophic event (9/11) in the final pages will affect the characters in ways that raise them in my esteem.
I am also reading Francine Prose's Reading Like a Writer, in which she recommends "close reading" and re-reading. Children read closely; as adults we skim and read for meaning, thus missing the subtleties the author intended. One book I will be re-reading is Jamesland by Michelle Huneven. For the last week or so, I have been whining to my coworkers, because, I could not remember the title or author of this multi-layered novel about "How do people live in this world?" This one looks at religion, romance, friendship, dreams and family traditions. It has a touch of mysticism, too.
Comments (3)
I love the meticulous, quiet style of Claire Messud and I think she brings deep insight into her characters; I just wish she would choose worthier ones! I mean, really, who cares about any of them in this book, though they are very recognizable types? This is a telling book of modern manners and morals but will people be reading this 75 years from now as we still read Henry James and Edith Wharton? I doubt it. Still, I am glad I read it, even though I found it quite depressing, particularly the way in which the characters are so breezily hurtful to each other, even while invoking friendship, if not love. There appeared to be little hope for any of them.
Posted by Maggie | January 4, 2007 10:19 AM
Posted on January 4, 2007 10:19
I found the book an "okay" read, but certainly not worthy of the rave reviews it received.
Posted by NormT | December 31, 2006 8:50 AM
Posted on December 31, 2006 08:50
I agree with Marta. For all the rave reviews I find the book to be
disappointing.
Hedi
Posted by Hedi | December 29, 2006 11:19 AM
Posted on December 29, 2006 11:19