What are you reading?

I was loving Cloud Atlas, but now that I'm up to the "Shoosha's Crossin'" chapter I just can't handle all the weird dialect! Who are these people? Why do they talk like that?? Will it all make sense in the end? Please, I'm begging someone who read the book to give me a reason to keep plugging away.

Keep with it, belindaloo! The book, as I'm sure you've noticed, is about continuity and how we're all tied together. The future and the past are intrinsically bound to each other through these separate people living in very different times and cultures. You may have noticed the progression of the stories and how time is going on. The "Shoosha's Crossin" chapter is after "An Orison of Sonmi", which is a very grim future, indeed. The people in "Shoosha's Crossin" are descendants of the people from Sonmi's time - so, obviously, something quite drastic happened.

The book certainly isn't your normal lead-up, climax and cool down of most novels. The beauty, for me, was in how Mitchell was able to tell five (?) different stories, from different times and different genres and blend them all together. I can't promise you'll like the book anymore than you do now and right about where you are now I started wondering what this was all about but try to persevere.   There is something quite beautiful about this book, and I can't completely put my finger on it - I just know the feeling of the book left me very thoughtful and touched.

There is something quite beautiful about this book, and I can't completely put my finger on it - I just know the feeling of the book left me very thoughtful and touched.

I was totally feeling that through the first few chapters. I love the continuity and how it's the written word that somehow ties these disparate people/stories together. I think it's just the dialect in this chapter that I'm having trouble with.    But I'll keep going! Thanks for the encouragement!

No problem! I know what you mean about the language the people are speaking in "Shoosha's Crossin". They're survivors of some kind of world meltdown, aren't they? When I was reading it I felt that they have had to cobble language together again and have done it by picking up bits and pieces from the survivors. There's all kinds of languages and dialects thrown in. I couldn't even quite figure out where they  were - even now! Hawaii? Australia? Dunno. If you figure it out lemme know, would you?

No problem! I know what you mean about the language the people are speaking in "Shoosha's Crossin". They're survivors of some kind of world meltdown, aren't they? When I was reading it I felt that they have had to cobble language together again and have done it by picking up bits and pieces from the survivors. There's all kinds of languages and dialects thrown in. I couldn't even quite figure out where they  were - even now! Hawaii? Australia? Dunno. If you figure it out lemme know, would you?

I get the feeling it's Hawaii. South Pacific somewhere, anyway, which ties in with the first chapter.

Oh, right! Mad comprehension skillz, belindaloo! That takes place around Australia/New Zealand, doesn't it? Thanks for that!

Oh, right! Mad comprehension skillz, belindaloo!

LMAO!

I just finished We Need to Talk About Kevin and . . . . wow. A coworker of mine lent it to me because she thought it was pretentious and too wordy. It certainly is on the wordy side, but I quite liked that. I have to admit, though, towards the end - about 50 pages to go, maybe? - I started skipping odd passages here and there.

The ending was heart-wrenching. I was sort of ready for it but not quite.

Beleagured writing in some spots, but the insight into the mother-child relationship was extremely well researched and thought out. The universal question of "nature or nuture" is, of course, never solved and, in the end, doesn't even really seem to matter. What is done is done.

I don't know if I'd actually recommend this book, but it really made an impression on me - I curled up and cried for about five minutes after the last page.

Keep with it, belindaloo!

Just wanted to let you know that I have kept plugging away with Cloud Atlas, and I'm loving it! Even the Sloosha's Crossing chapter! In fact, the dialect isn't even noticeable to me anymore! I think I'm going to start speaking like the characters before too long!

Just started the b*tch Goddesses Notebook. (I think it's the b*tch Posses Notebook in the US)

I just finished reading "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd....am now getting ready to start "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.

I just finished reading "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd....am now getting ready to start "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.

Both great books!  Secret Life of Bees is in my top 5!!!!

I have the time traveller wife's........i tried to get into it but couldn't may have to give it another try.......

I have the time traveller wife's........i tried to get into it but couldn't may have to give it another try.......

It took me a little while to get into it.  It gets better.

I just finished reading "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd....am now getting ready to start "The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.

I really loved The Secret Life of Bees, but thought The Time Traveler's Wife was a lazy-write and grossly overrated. Looking forward to hearing your take on it, wvgirl!

I loved "The Secret Life of Bees" as well...definitely ranks among one of my favorites...Belindaloo, I will definitely let you know what I think of "The Time Traveler's Wife" after I finish.