I am wondering if these characters help us to reexamine C.S. Lewis's Four Loves in their perversions. No time for me to elaborate at the moment, but I thought I would put that out there.
I felt the saddest loss so far is Pepita. She had zero control over any part of her existence. She had no choice but to work for Dona Maria and no choice but to cross that bridge. I found myself hoping that she had stayed for some reason on the other side and only Dona Maria had gone across the bridge - no dice.
The other thing that has me thinking quite a bit is the appearance of Camila Perichole, the actress/singer, in each of the vignettes. I wonder if the overarching story will ultimately be about her. Is there any redemption arc for her?
I am with Sean that this book reminds me so much of Marquez. I read a One Hundred Years of Solitude a few years ago and this feels just like it, but with a twist. Each character who fell to his or her death so far seems to have made a decision or turn in life before their sudden death. In each case so far, that decision has been a positive spiritual turn. I look forward to finishing the novel so I can see it as a whole.
The story of Manuel and Esteban was a hard read for me. I have identical twin boys who are fortunately not orphans and have additional siblings so their cases are obviously very different, but Wilder captured a relationship very like theirs. They briefly had their own language (an incomplete toddler one), one does most of the decision making, and emotional disagreements between them are more heightened because of their closeness. They are 11 now and have plans to live together forever. I am hoping their future wives will be in agreement. Several years ago one of them was very ill for a period and had to have a couple surgeries. It was hard on all of us, but his twin brother was very distressed. Esteban’s despair at having to live without his twin was intense. I hold out hope that he did not commit suicide and yet the accident provided the death that he sought. There is a lot to think about in that.
I haven’t read this one before, so I was trying to find some background information before I got too far into it, and I found someone who was convinced that this is a satire. I haven’t read to the end yet, but based on the first three parts, I don’t know what to do with that. I can see how you might read part 1 as satirical but I don’t know how to take parts 2 and 3. I’m sure this is a better musing for the end of the book, but this question of whether or not this is a satire has been rolling in my mind as I’ve been reading it, and I thought I’d see if anyone here has thoughts about it.
I haven't heard of this book or author before. I'm about half way through and I see it as a very sarcastic book so far. I don't know if sarcasm is the same thing what you call satire, but that's how I would call it.
Will we be getting more detailed reading schedules for the upcoming books? I wasn't sure how far I should read in order to be current with today's episode.
I am wondering if these characters help us to reexamine C.S. Lewis's Four Loves in their perversions. No time for me to elaborate at the moment, but I thought I would put that out there.
I felt the saddest loss so far is Pepita. She had zero control over any part of her existence. She had no choice but to work for Dona Maria and no choice but to cross that bridge. I found myself hoping that she had stayed for some reason on the other side and only Dona Maria had gone across the bridge - no dice.
The other thing that has me thinking quite a bit is the appearance of Camila Perichole, the actress/singer, in each of the vignettes. I wonder if the overarching story will ultimately be about her. Is there any redemption arc for her?
I am with Sean that this book reminds me so much of Marquez. I read a One Hundred Years of Solitude a few years ago and this feels just like it, but with a twist. Each character who fell to his or her death so far seems to have made a decision or turn in life before their sudden death. In each case so far, that decision has been a positive spiritual turn. I look forward to finishing the novel so I can see it as a whole.
The story of Manuel and Esteban was a hard read for me. I have identical twin boys who are fortunately not orphans and have additional siblings so their cases are obviously very different, but Wilder captured a relationship very like theirs. They briefly had their own language (an incomplete toddler one), one does most of the decision making, and emotional disagreements between them are more heightened because of their closeness. They are 11 now and have plans to live together forever. I am hoping their future wives will be in agreement. Several years ago one of them was very ill for a period and had to have a couple surgeries. It was hard on all of us, but his twin brother was very distressed. Esteban’s despair at having to live without his twin was intense. I hold out hope that he did not commit suicide and yet the accident provided the death that he sought. There is a lot to think about in that.
I haven’t read this one before, so I was trying to find some background information before I got too far into it, and I found someone who was convinced that this is a satire. I haven’t read to the end yet, but based on the first three parts, I don’t know what to do with that. I can see how you might read part 1 as satirical but I don’t know how to take parts 2 and 3. I’m sure this is a better musing for the end of the book, but this question of whether or not this is a satire has been rolling in my mind as I’ve been reading it, and I thought I’d see if anyone here has thoughts about it.
I haven't heard of this book or author before. I'm about half way through and I see it as a very sarcastic book so far. I don't know if sarcasm is the same thing what you call satire, but that's how I would call it.
Will we be getting more detailed reading schedules for the upcoming books? I wasn't sure how far I should read in order to be current with today's episode.