#17 in my 2007 book challenge was Gilead , my second reading of Robinson’s luminous work. How can I possibly contain my admiration for this book in a brief review? I discussed it with two groups of people. Few liked it; many found it dull. Several wondered why it was good enough to win the Pulitzer. I admit that I admire it more than I enjoyed it. But the experience of it and the aftermath as I ruminate on it, are deeply pleasurable and satisfying.
It’s a letter by an elderly minister written to his young son, to be read long after his death. There is story, plot, mystery, and romance; all are part of the narrator’s ruminations on his life. This is not a fast-paced thriller. It is, though, a deep examination of human relationships, especially between parents and children. It is also a thoughtful theological examination of a microcosm of suffering and redemption, etched onto a small town.
On this reading, I found a parallel between the generations of the ...
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Project Runway Season 5 Episode 1From: girldetective.net
Post Date: 2008-07-17 10:25:07
The return of Project Runway, and was it me, or did Bravo run it an hour earlier (9pm Eastern, 8pm Central) to further confound fans?
A few observations. Suede has a silly name, freaked out at a challenge that had been done before, and refers to himself in the third person. Two contestants from my city of origin, Columbus, Ohio? Will someone tell Blayne that tanning is a bad idea that he’s going to regret in a very few years, and ask him if he has allergies or a coke habit. The ...
more Two Great Things that Go Great Together: Punch Pizza and Izzy’s Ice CreamFrom: girldetective.net
Post Date: 2008-07-18 14:24:43
Along with many NE Minneapolis residents, we are frequent flyers at Punch Pizza on Hennepin. During the summer especially, I long for an ice-cream finish to the Neapolitan-style pizza and salad. I was delighted to discover that Kramarczuk’s across the street carries a few flavors of Izzy’s ice cream. Izzy’s owners learned their trade in Italy, so their ice cream is very much in the tradition of gelato, and much better than the supposedly authentic but actually gummy and kind...
more Combing the Kids’ Shelves: Helen OxenburyFrom: girldetective.net
Post Date: 2008-07-18 13:34:09
I was aware of Helen Oxenbury’s work before I had children, because I oversaw the kids’ section at a large used-book store. But I didn’t own any of her books till after I had my own child. The first thing that raised my interest was an article I can no longer find*, I think from the Guardian or Times, about best books for children that included at least one of Oxenbury’s quartet, Say Goodnight , All Fall Down , Clap Hands and Tickle, Tickle . The second was a post b...
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