This is by far the most painful book I have ever read. As a fan of Father Greeley's previuosly published works I am astounded this book was even allowed to go to press. Father Greeley forewarns the reader that his political views might cause controversy. I appreciated the warning. However, even though Greeley and I are on different ends of the political spectrum his views were the least annoying thing about this book. Nothing in this book seemed remotely plausable to actually occuring. It frightens me to think that this kind of thinking occurs in the United States. The idea of a liberal Democrat U.S. Senator and his relationship with his ultra conservative priest brother is a brilliant plot. Unfortuntately, Father Greeley never allows the plot to materialize. I found it sad that a man of the cloth would paint such a bleak portrait of a priest. The book revolves around politics. American politics, family politics and church politics all take a role in the novel. The family politics between the Senator Tommy Moran and his brother Father Moran might be realistic but seemed contrived do to the one dimensional fashion of their interaction. The church political storylines take a backseat but were the only believable aspect of the entire book. Now onto the American politics portion of the story. The hero, Tommy Moran is perfect. His family is perfect. During the senatorial campaign Greeley ups the ante on every page. First, the family station wagon is blown up in front of the house, then an assasination attempt and finally someone throws human waste onto the eldest child. The family takes this in stride and does not let anything deter them. As admirable as it is the scenarios presented are just too much. All of the girls are called Mary something. Every Republican is a lazy millionaire. The only people who have any redeeming value to humanity are named Moran and registered Democrats. Those two little tidbits got old very quick. Nothing in this book could be deemed realistic. Senator Moran has to repel the advances of an attractive staffer. That was believable. However, the way she went on trying to seduce him was laughable. The thing that truly bothered me was that a one term senator would move so quickly up the leadership ladder. Greeley has produced some wonderful works. My favorite being White Smoke. This time Greeley falls short of what is expected of him.
Jodi Picoult
Contemporary Fiction
In an effort to save one of its own a Rhode Island family has lost its identity and way. The story revolves around Kate who has rare form of cancer and the effort to keep her alive by her family. However, the care and medical attention needed depends on the youngest child in the family, Anna. Her birth gave new life to her sick sister. Anna is a perfect genetic match to Kate. Anna has given everything to Kate from blood to bone marrow. Anna is told that she will give her kidney to her sister. However, Anna does not want to continue to be a guinea pig any longer. She decides that her parents have to look out for all their children not just Kate. Anna will take them to court if she must. This sets the stage for "My Sister's Keeper".
Jodi Picoult is a unique writer. Each chapter is from a different character's perspective making the story anything but onesided. Picoult reminds me of Alice McDermott.
Reading the book feels like sitting at a dining room table at a dinner party. Each guest taking a turn to tell you their side of the story.
The book as a whole works quite well. By changing the perspective every chapter the reader is allowed a full profile of the entire story. By employing this device Picoult allows you as the reader to be completely entrenched in the plotline.
All of the characters are believable but Sara who is the mother never is able to connect with me. I don't know if that was by design but it was disappointing that such a pivotal character never had an impact on me as the reader.
Picoult is the standard bearer for contemporary fiction today. She is the author of this generation.
Many consider "My Sister's Keeper" as the definitive Picoult novel. I disagree. This book is a wonderful read and I highly reccomend it. However, I think Picoult's "Nineteen Minutes" is her best work.
As I mentioned earlier Alice McDermott and her novels have some similarities to Piccoult's work. Tom Perrotta and Alice Sebold are two contemporaries of Picoult that have the ability to make their characters part of your life.
If you like this book, you will probably like....
"The Appeal" by John Grisham or "The Abstinence Teacher" by Tom Perrotta or "That Night" by Alice McDermott
If you hate this book, you will probably like....
"Coma" by Robin Cook and "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
The wonderful tale of a boy and his bear is getting revisited. This time by author David Bendictus. Sometimes I wonder if the sequel is really worth it. The idea of replacing author's like Mario Puzo, Jane Austen and now A.A. Milne is a little over the top. NPR gives great coverage to this story.
Driving around yesterday while doing my errands I came upon a great interview with author Nick Hornby. I highly reccommend giving it a listen. Hornby is one of my favorite authors. His most popular book High Fidelity was made into a movie with John Cusack.
Currently, I am reading Dan Brown's Lost Symbol. Slowly but surely I am plodding my way through it. So far it has not grabbed me like Angels and Demons or the DaVinci Code. However, I did find a great post about the book.
The Search for God and Guinness
A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World
By Stephen Mansfield
Book Description
The history of Guinness, one of the world’s most famous brands, reveals the noble heights and crushing descents of a great family and an innovative business.
It began in Ireland in the late 1700’s. The water in Ireland, indeed throughout Europe, was famously undrinkable, and the gin and whiskey that took its place was devastating civil society. It was a disease ridden, starvation plagued, alcoholic age, and Christians like Arthur Guinness—as well as monks and even evangelical churches—brewed beer to offer a healthier alternative to the poisonous waters and liquors of the times. This is where the Guinness tale began. Now, 246 years and 150 countries later, Guinness is a global brand, one of the most consumed beverages in the world. The tale that unfolds during those two and a half centuries has power to thrill audiences today: the generational drama, business adventure, industrial and social reforms, deep-felt faith, and the beer itself.
Dan Brown is one of my favorite authors. The man has his literary shortcomings. His work is the same formula every time. Each book though from Deception Point to the DaVinci Code have been quite entertaining. However, my hope is that his latest work The Lost Symbol will turn a new corner for our hero Robert Langdon. My wish is to see Langdon become a more engaging hero. Even though I have yet to finish the book I have read some interesting articles on how his latest novel is going to compare to the rest. The release of this novel reminds me of when J.K. Rowling finished the 7th Harry Potter book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. People seem to be excited about the book. Not as much as they were for Rowling but still enthused. My cousin and I talked about Brown's work and just how much of a fun read he is. Sometimes I think we forget how important it is to be able to just have that fun read. Sometimes its on the beach or in bed but every once in awhile we need that reason to stay up till the wee small hours just so we know what happens.
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