Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliantly written book about a pathetic, easily manipulated, naive yet honorable man whose admirable moral courage leads him to make consistently poor choices in ever increasing bleak circumstances. This is a titanic novel, full of allusion and metaphor, rife with biblical references, and nods to Hardy's literary ancestors, Milton, Wordsworth, and Shelley. To quote goodreads reviewer christopher-h, "Modernization has come and displaced the old world romanticism of Jude Fawley and Thomas Hardy. Jude-the-Dreamer and Jude-the-Idealist have no place in this new order, because to transcend to his ideals means that he must die as Keats and Shelley so eloquently discovered." Modernization, indeed! This novel of Hardy's was banned from libraries and schools for years….best banned book ever. It could be a disappointing, depressing read for many; one reviewer said, "read this if you're looking for the final push toward suicide." Yet the dilemma is eternal, and the writing is superb! I am and always will be a Thomas Hardy fan. Jude's story has become, in a very real sense Hardy's modern retelling of the Book of Job. [Note the word play too -- the "J" from 'Jude' and the "Ob" from 'Obscure':] .

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This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very funny book with memorable crazy but believable down-to-earth characters. Excellent writing..if you can ignore the bad language and almost complete lack of respect for traditional values and uplifting moral standards, which cost 2 stars on my rating.


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The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not her best book. It is an uncomplicated, "sweet" but unlikely story with unlikely characters and unlikely resolutions. It is a message of hope, but it drags a little. I like Irene Hunt's books but this one disappointed.

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A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beautiful prose. Interesting story with a somewhat sad yet acceptable conclusion, believable characters, some excellent humor. I was continually reminded of Mary Doria Russell's A Thread of Grace, likely because the setting for both novels is a long journey, about same time period, and both beautifully written. Too dang long…Audio version (24 discs…31 hours) is well done, however I would *not* have read all 860 ponderous pages….too many books, too little time. This is 2nd book I have read by Mark Helprin both of which would benefit from serious editing for length. I would like to see a screenplay written and produced for this.

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Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

768 pages of creativity run amok. Part 1 is lovely. Most of Part 2 could be sacked with little being lost. I like the politics, the explanation of justice, the imagery, but the story keeps getting sidetracked with additional characters, endless detail and descriptions, and words, words, words. This is a romance lost in in a jungle of words.

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Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2 stars? 4 stars? I didn't really like this, but the author gets high marks for a compelling read which I couldn't put down and at the same time wished would end. There is drama, but it is not entertaining, not instructive or cautionary (no lesson to be learned), not uplifting or inspiring, has no humor, it doesn't even offer an escape. Crude sophomoric language & descriptions. Still… it had me hooked in a voyeuristic way from the beginning. This is a portrait of a sociopath and the dissolution of a marriage. I have known both. I was disappointed with the lack lustre yet realistic ending in which the antagonist wins. It left me feeling yuk. yuck. & was responsible for a bad night of restless sleep.
I listened to the audio version which is superbly done.
a few favorite quotes:
“There's a difference between really loving someone and loving the idea of her.” - true
“Friends see most of each other’s flaws. Spouses see every awful last bit.” - truer still
“My mother had always told her kids: if you're about to do something, and you want to know if it's a bad idea, imagine seeing it printed in the paper for all the world to see.” -I'm going to tell my seminary students that one.

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