tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945409560028604120.post8529548577967148667..comments2024-03-25T18:28:11.545-07:00Comments on It's Either Sadness or Bookphoria...: Book Review: "Antonia Lively Breaks the Silence" by David Samuel LevinsonLarryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05498144703249090413noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945409560028604120.post-58215994882717597422013-07-07T23:04:35.032-07:002013-07-07T23:04:35.032-07:00The story is vapid, empty of meaning or redemption...The story is vapid, empty of meaning or redemption and with an incredibly poor cast of characters (who were not well developed). <br />I also found it irritating that none of the cast seem able to speak in more than one or two word sentences i.e. this "conversation" between Antonia and Ezra:<br /><br />"Where's Henry?"<br />"Am I my father's keeper?"<br />"That was a nasty thing you did. I have been nothing but kind to you."<br />He blinked at her, dumbfounded. "What ... I don't ... what are you talking about?"<br />"Don't play stupid with me," she said sharply.<br />"Where's my father?" he asked, rising.<br />"I just asked you that. Besides Henry has nothing to do with this."<br />Ezra was laughing, "He has everything to do with everything."<br /><br />Okay ... so seriously, that was taken from pg 141. <br />There is no development of character and no development of thought either ... well, except when the only way the "plot" is presented is through the "thoughts" and "thinking" of the players in the story. They think of their pasts, their regrets, their wishes, their loved ones (living & dead) and drop information that is supposed to lead us to the point of the story. <br />Then mysterious characters clumsily appear without introduction or meaning - from behind bushes or on darkened porches. What? Who are these people? Where do they belong? Well, to find out we must wait for a daughter, lover or widow to get alone so he/she can "think" this person in to the story by reminiscing in thought. <br />So ... do you get it? Me either. I didn't even finish the book ... I spent too much time calling my daughter to read out loud some of the insipid lines from almost every page. It was just taking too much time.<br /><br />... so from that you get the point. Or maybe you don't. I know I didn't.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02051426303239425594noreply@blogger.com