We had a good meeting, geez, when was it? back on Nov. 18th. I'd say it was about 50/50 on Sacred Hearts. I liked it more than I thought I would, though I think others may have been disappointed. The plot seemed to touch on so many of the nuns' lives but never fully delved into any one. Zuana's struggle with her faith and her hidden interests in apothecary (and Serafina's love life) could have been the crux of a great novel. Instead, she kind of just ambled along and never came to the glorious epiphany I think some of us were hoping for.
However, if you told me I'd be up late at night riveted by a bunch of nuns in an Italian Renaissance convent, I would have thought you were nuts. And yet, there I was. I loved the details of the convent life. Zuana's herb garden, that crazy old nun who never ate, the young nuns and the lengths they went to keep them sheltered from normal life (the walls when the carpenters were there!), the marzipan sweets and that special red dye, and the politics that ruled even behind abbey walls. Fascinating stuff. Even though everyone was there to pray and praise God they all had such varying ideas of what pious behavior and proper worship were.
I do own Dunant's other book, The Birth of Venus, and have every intention of reading it but... well, I've asked for a few books this Christmas, I now work surrounded (literally) by books, and we do have Michelle Hoover's book to read. Sigh. So maybe next summer.
As a final note, I did find the time to read The Shadow of the Wind which I put on the Recommended Reading list. Loved it. A mysterious adventure and love story, with corrupt police, wars, unrequited love, taboo, and a Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Absolutely will be reading more by Carlos Ruiz Zafon!
Happy Reading!
4 comments:
Wow, jazzy new look to the blog! And excellent summary of "Sacred Hearts." I just finished "Little Bee" and really loved it. It was at BJs for less than $10 (great stocking stuffer for an adult). Happy Holidays!
I've heard great things about Little Bee as well. On my to-be-read list for sure!
I read 'Little Bee' as well - good read, but not warm and fuzzy. It's one of those books that people 'should' read as it touches on some pretty gritty topics, but I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to take it on (ie ready for an emotional barrage). I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it. Anyone have any historical fiction recommendations? I seem to be addicted to that genre!
I am reading Cleopatra; A Life right now if you're up for a biography. I think Kate Morton's latest book, The Distant Hours, is out too. I liked Forgotten Garden enough to check it out. And why not try Follet's Fall of Giants. That's a hot ticket at the library!
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