Here's a funny story. A book-loving friend sent me a few book recommendations and included a note saying Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. I wrote her back and said that life is too short to read books that are just "fine" so I'll pass on that one. Ha! Good thing she responded and corrected me because Eleanor Oliphant is a whole lot more than just fine!
As we meet Eleanor in the book, we see a judgmental, socially awkward, and just plain weird woman in her late 20's living in Glasgow. There are times in the book where she will make you laugh, but when you begin to learn more about her life, your heart will break for her. It's a story about the power of friendship and impact that friends can have in changing your life. And how a person who is raised in a dysfunctional environment can overcome the trauma. Definitely read this one. -June
Saturday, October 20, 2018
The Power by Naomi Alderman
I've said it before and I'll say it again and again.... I just love it when an author comes up with a unique idea... be it quirky or crazy.... and then pulls it off in a novel. Of course, one of my favorites in this department will always be Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. But I was prepared to dislike The Power. My Mother-Daughter book club selected this one, and it was one of the young Millennials who chose it. As she described it to the group, the Boomers were eye-rolling and trying to keep a neutral face. A few weeks later, one of my friends declared it to be "unreadable" and forced herself to finish it just so she could discuss her hatred for the book at our meeting.
Needless to say, my attitude was not positive as I opened it up. But I was pulled in... slowly at first, and then full on. I thought the obvious parallels the author drew between men having power over women and what might happen if this were reversed were brilliant. She described how men feared women and were afraid to walk the streets alone at night... something all of us know well. In this time of Me Too, this book was a perfect read and ideal for discussion. And it's one I never would have picked up on my own without someone pointing it out. The goal of our book group is to share ideas across generations. Check that box for this book. - June
Needless to say, my attitude was not positive as I opened it up. But I was pulled in... slowly at first, and then full on. I thought the obvious parallels the author drew between men having power over women and what might happen if this were reversed were brilliant. She described how men feared women and were afraid to walk the streets alone at night... something all of us know well. In this time of Me Too, this book was a perfect read and ideal for discussion. And it's one I never would have picked up on my own without someone pointing it out. The goal of our book group is to share ideas across generations. Check that box for this book. - June
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