December Views - 5

A Widow for One Year
A Widow for One Year
Once again, bedtime rolled around before I realized I hadn't taken any photos for the day.  Gah.  So I snapped this when I climbed into bed to read.  BUT, I did get a jump this morning on photos for the 6th.  Two things are at play:  1) I'm horribly rusty since I let my photography habit slide this year, and 2) I miss having a small camera I can easily tuck into a pocket or purse.  I'm very grateful to my brother's family for gifting me with a camera early this year on my birthday, but it's not one I can easily carry around.  I become much more of a shutterbug when I have a smaller camera.  And I think I just might treat myself to one.  I spend so little on myself.  I rarely buy clothes or jewelry.  Only seldom buy anything for the house.  I get my hair done maybe 3 times a year and don't frequent spas.  All I want in life is good coffee, the occasional book (I buy most of mine--like the one above--at the thrift store for less than a dollar and turn around and donate them back to the store by the bagful) and a camera to easily document my life.  Well, okay, and internet service and blogging platforms and a Flickr pro account.  But, truly, that's not too much to ask for, right?  ;)

I read every night before falling asleep.  I cherish my reading time.  If I read at no other time throughout the day, I at least read at bedtime.  And it doesn't matter if it's a couple of paragraphs or 20 pages, I love the ritual of those moments of escape before heading off to dreamland.  I've been nibbling away at this book the past couple of months.  Like probably most of you, I have lots of books on my bedside table and what I pick up to read depends on my mood.  So it can sometimes take me months to finish a book.

One of the things I missed about posting here at Vox was that it's an easy way to catalog the books I've read and films I've seen/watched.  Might start posting to my library here again.
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msnadresleri
I have read almost all of John Irving's novels and have been thoroughly entertained by all of them. This novel is no exception. It was over 500 pages long yet I was able to read it very quickly. Unlike some other readers, it kept my attention to the end. I agree with others, though, that it is no Owen Meany or Ciderhouse Rules. I thought Marion, Ted, and Eddie were wonderfully wrought, believeable, and interesting characters. However, I found the protagonist, Ruth, to be pretty superficial. The only understanding I had of her character was that she had wonderful, large breasts. (I may have liked the book even better if her breasts were not mentioned so frequently.) I thought her character was the most interesting at age four. Futhermore, I found it difficult to see what the point was to this novel. What kind of social commentary is he making? Big breasted women are superior? Tragedies really screw up families? Ruth's gradual understanding of her mother's reasons for leaving her seems obvious and forced. Although I have these criticisms, I do give the novel four stars for its entertainment value. The story line was creative and the foreshadowing actually helped me stay interested. It was a good read, although I would not consider it a great literary achievement.

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