lupe
08-08-2009, 01:05 PM
I started the book, determined to ignore the obvious delusional aspect of it and concentrate on the quality of the writing, as well as the way the fiction evolves. There is indeed a very interesting part related to the historical period – from the post-civil war era until the middle of the 20th century – in the particular region – Midwest US. Moreover, the story definitely gives the occasion of some serious thinking on several issues on the social and personal levels.
However, after the first 60-70 pages, I found this to be a very difficult enterprise. Not only I failed to see any wisdom in it, but John Ames's insistence to see divine intervention in every little thing that occurred to his and the other people's lives made the novel preposterous and - ultimately – boring. Behind the superficial humbleness, I saw pretentiousness; instead of measure and tenderness, I saw spiritual emptiness. At the end, I ended up feeling for John Ames what I wanted to avoid at any cost in the beginning: pity.
However, after the first 60-70 pages, I found this to be a very difficult enterprise. Not only I failed to see any wisdom in it, but John Ames's insistence to see divine intervention in every little thing that occurred to his and the other people's lives made the novel preposterous and - ultimately – boring. Behind the superficial humbleness, I saw pretentiousness; instead of measure and tenderness, I saw spiritual emptiness. At the end, I ended up feeling for John Ames what I wanted to avoid at any cost in the beginning: pity.