Giving Oscar Wao a Second Chance

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is another book I've owned for about two years and haven't been able to get through. But unlike The Lovely Bones, I gave this one a try before and hit a wall 30 pages in. As interesting as it was to read a novel based on my culture (about a Dominican ghetto-nerd severely unlucky at love and life), I just couldn't handle all those damn footnotes!

And yet everyone who's read the book loved it. LOVED it! Coworkers included. I even went to a reading last year and found it pretty entertaining, but apparently not enough to push through my current spot and finish.

So I'm thinking of giving Junot Díaz's masterpiece another go. Maybe this time I'll get through it. Of course, you guys are more than welcome to join in.

poll by twiigs.com

Image: bookcoverarchive.com

The Guernsey Literary: Final Thoughts

For starters, I definitely enjoyed the second part much more than the first after the plot started thickening and I couldn't wait to read what would happen next. You know how sometimes you get so into a story, you start skimming and skipping ahead, scanning the page for what's in store for the characters only to then force yourself back to the beginning of the page? I had the bad habit of doing that here - especially if there were any font changes on the page.

Which leads me to ask: how do you suppose they italicized by hand??

- How sad and courageous was Elizabeth's story? I said I wanted to "meet" her and in a way we did in the same way Juliet did - through the stories of the people she touched. She stood up for what she believed was right through to the end and even though she paid dearly for it, her acts continued to ripple on long after she was gone.

"Remy watched the sea breathe in and out. Then she said, 'It would have been better for her not to have such a heart.'

Yes, but worse for the rest of us."

- Oh, the whole episode with Isola, the Oscar Wilde letters and Billee Bee was great! Isola and her crazy antics definitely kept me entertained. If Sidney weren't "a homosexual," I would've wanted those two to hook up. Actually, I think I still do.

- My favorite moment in the whole book made my eyes tear up. It was when Kit woke Juliet up to finally show her the treasures she carried in her little box. How Juliet carefully took out the contents underneath the tissue paper - a baby pillow, a picture of her mother Elizabeth, a handkerchief, the poetry book her father gave her mom, her grandfather's "magical" WWI medal and a sweet note left behind by a loving mother.

"She was showing me her treasures, Sophie - her eyes did not leave my face once. We were both so solemn, and I, for once, didn't start crying; I just held out my arms. She climbed right into them, and under the covers with me - and went sound asleep. Not me! I couldn't. I was too happy planning the rest of our lives."

And how happy I was when she was able to adopt this little girl - and then marry Dawsey, the stranger who had serendipitously found her book and led her to where she was meant to be.

I thought The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was such a sweet and touching story. I only hope you felt the same - but if you didn't that's ok, too!



Image: blueislands.com

The Guernsey Literary: Through Page 102

So how are you guys liking the book so far? Although it took me a bit to really get into it/ established with the characters/scene, I like how it's slowly developing. It's all unfolding through these characters' letters so I'm not exactly being gripped and shocked and thrown for loops here. To me, the story feels more like it's on a slow simmer - for now anyway - and I'm patiently waiting for it to come to a boil.

Here are some of my thoughts on the first third of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society:

- I love the language used in these letters. It's pure poetry! Imagine receiving one in the mail? Makes me wish we still took that much care in the words we chose. Mayhaps I shall commence writing as such to my dear pen pal? I think she'd love it so!

- I wonder how fast these letters got to their destination. I know it's a work of fiction, but it perplexes me when I see several letters sent back and forth within the same day! I set the scene so far back I imagined horses being involved (or perhaps carrier pigeons?), but the real question is why is the USPS so stinking slow? Also, I like how they have no qualms about sending off letters with just one word. (God forbid I receive a one-word text.) It's like old-school instant messenger...minus the instant.

- Speaking of the back and forth, even though the language is a bit more "proper" than the butchered Americanism of today, they're so witty. What makes it even better (for me) is the unexpected humor I stumble upon in these letters.

- The overall theme here: books, the love we have for them and their power to comfort. The opening quote still remains in my head: I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.

How many times haven't I started a book only to realize once I'm knee-deep in it, that I'm reading exactly what I need to read at that moment in my life, stumbling into answers I never thought to find then and there? And if not answers, then just soothing words that make me feel less alone in my troubles.

Growing up, I always kept a book underneath my pillow. I'd read myself to sleep in the dark, using the hallway light to make out the words. And if I had no books within reach, I'd read the backs of my mom's hairspray bottles on the dresser by my bed. I really just wanted to devour every sentence there was.

(P.S. I loved Juliet's reason for breaking off her engagement with her fiancé, by the way. That, I thought, was the best insight to her character.)

- Another quote that stuck out: When my son, Ian, died at El Alamein - side by side with Eli's father, John - visitors offering their condolences, thinking to comfort me, said "Life goes on." What nonsense, I thought, of course it doesn't. It's death that goes on; Ian is dead now and will be dead tomorrow and next year and forever. There's no end to that. But perhaps there will be an end to the sorrow of it.

- So far my favorite character is Juliet herself and though I've yet to meet her, I've taken quite a liking to Elizabeth. I hope she's found soon so that I may read her letters too.

Feel free to comment on the beginning portion of the book or add your link if you've written a post about it (as long as there are no spoilers)!



Image: kairoshsp.com

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Looks like The Book Club is on! I know at least one of you already finished the book while I've yet to even start, but I will tomorrow- pinky promise!

Since it seems like such a good/quick read, I guess we can cyber-discuss the first third on Sunday Monday night (til page 102 or so). I'll write mine and the rest can either comment on here or write your own posts whenever you'd like. I can provide a link list on the post so other readers can visit those posts and add our two cents to what you had to say. Deal?

Image: search.barnesandnoble.com

Book Club Anyone?

I'm currently reading a graphic novel to review on here, but after I'm done with that (within the next few days) I've got another one waiting: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The New York Times bestseller (for over seven months!) has been gathering praise since its release last year. The novel is set in London and on the British island of Guernsey during World War II and beyond.

Now before your eyes glass over know that it's also about a journalist who, in looking for her next book subject, starts corresponding with the residents of this island which was occupied by Nazis during the war. She takes a keen interest in the members of the book's namesake - a book club created to protect its members from arrest by the Germans.

Told through a series of letters, this book caught my eye because 1) I'm a female journalist, 2) I like letters, 3) there's much damn buzz about it, 4) it's now on paperback so it's cheaper/lighter and 5) umm, a book club for a book about a book club? Love it! Mr. First also recommended it to me late last year and I pretty much dismissed it myself - 'til now.

Now I just wanted to take a quick poll to see if anybody else would be interested in reading it as a Book Club. Otherwise, I'll go right ahead and just review it once I'm done. Poll ends on Sunday and The Book Club would commence about a week later.

poll by twiigs.com

Image: search.barnesandnoble.com