tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post4624786969353800465..comments2024-02-01T08:20:01.784-06:00Comments on Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic: The Fine Balance Between Hope and DespairStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05055676171075203563noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-68844798455708304022008-06-08T20:02:00.000-06:002008-06-08T20:02:00.000-06:00I just finished A Fine Balance, and am a bit mysti...I just finished A Fine Balance, and am a bit mystified about why Manek kills himself, leaving his mother and her "suicidal house" to fend on alone. He seemed rather giving and broad-minded with Dina and courageous with Dina's brother, so I was surprised by his sudden, self-serving departure. What do you all think?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-44299612816579400582008-03-28T13:54:00.000-06:002008-03-28T13:54:00.000-06:00I hadn't heard of this one, but I'm adding it to m...I hadn't heard of this one, but I'm adding it to my wishlist (just as you did, Ha!). It's funny that you should mention heartwarming stories that make you feel good--my officemate was asking for such a book the other day and I was drawing an absolute blank! <BR/><BR/>Another good one about India and it's history (some about this particular time period as well) is Rushdie's Midnight's Children.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-64232803398660749172008-03-27T20:35:00.000-06:002008-03-27T20:35:00.000-06:00I read this book several years ago and loved it. ...I read this book several years ago and loved it. Yes it's depressing, extremly so, but it has stuck with me all of these years. Every once in awhile something comes up that makes me think of it and I remember it like I read it today. The characters still haunt me.Teddy Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16145413222317511542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-10559329843024264662008-03-26T18:39:00.000-06:002008-03-26T18:39:00.000-06:00Great review Stephanie. I had such a hard time get...Great review Stephanie. I had such a hard time getting into another story after I read this one. There were just so many emotions to deal with after this. It also made me a bit angry because I kept thinking, isn't something good going to happen to these people? I guess just angry at so many injustices in life you know. I really must read his other book, Family Matters.Ilianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026669671843769219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-86157035911667326632008-03-26T16:04:00.000-06:002008-03-26T16:04:00.000-06:00Like Debi, I can't believe I hadn't heard of this ...Like Debi, I can't believe I hadn't heard of this before. I also can't believe that until I read Midnight's Children last week, I knew next to nothing about what had happened in India in the 70's. I want to read more on the subject now that I do know, and this sounds like the perfect book.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the fantastic review, Stephanie.Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-42102263653417494132008-03-26T12:29:00.000-06:002008-03-26T12:29:00.000-06:00I haven't read this one, but I've heard a great de...I haven't read this one, but I've heard a great deal about it just recently it seems. I tend to like depressing books. I'm not sure why. I know that makes me sound weird, but I'm really not. :) I think I like books that are realistic, and let's face it, bad things happen to good people all the time. I like to see how people handle bad situations and triumph over adversity, even if its only in a very small way.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00795619401977840939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-15670919390572437252008-03-26T08:22:00.000-06:002008-03-26T08:22:00.000-06:00I'm staring at it on my big TBR shelf, and it's la...I'm staring at it on my big TBR shelf, and it's laughing at me! OK, I'm moving it up near the top of the pile.Andihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05220718933942181809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-88367229309086487382008-03-25T21:00:00.000-06:002008-03-25T21:00:00.000-06:00That sounds like a great read! Thanks for sharing...That sounds like a great read! Thanks for sharing the review. I do find that Oprah tends to pick depressing books. I have to space those out, because sometimes I just want an effortless read.Kim Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15024112944002002232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-87452519366275864302008-03-25T19:37:00.000-06:002008-03-25T19:37:00.000-06:00Great review, Stephanie! This definitely sounds wo...Great review, Stephanie! This definitely sounds worth reading. I've to add this to my wish list. Thanks for the review.Melodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03967837585961009598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-78923441116177022872008-03-25T19:17:00.000-06:002008-03-25T19:17:00.000-06:00I read this book maybe a year ago or more and real...I read this book maybe a year ago or more and really liked it. Whenever I see it on my bookshelf, I look upon it with fondness. It's so sad though, I can't imagine sleeping on the streets and slums like they did. Does make you grateful for what you have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-18287687554690314972008-03-25T18:38:00.000-06:002008-03-25T18:38:00.000-06:00Debi - This book has been on my radar for years. ...Debi - This book has been on my radar for years. I used to read a lot of Oprah's picks. I'm surprised it took me so long to read it. It was a wonderful book, but just so sad. <BR/><BR/>RaiderGirl - I knew you said this was one of your favorite books. I can certainly see why. I think you put it better than I did. As depressed as it made me, it really sits with me. The characters had such a real feeling to them. And I hurt when they did. <BR/><BR/>I loved Ishvar and Om. I just wanted to see them have some sort of happiness in their lives. But they really did handle things in stride. Maneck...I just wanted to choke him by the end. <BR/><BR/>All in all, a great book. I guess I will have to read more Canadian Lit to weigh in on the depressing aspect of it!!Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055676171075203563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-82239206415836544062008-03-25T18:27:00.000-06:002008-03-25T18:27:00.000-06:00This is one of my favorite books for just the reas...This is one of my favorite books for just the reason you said: I kept thinking about it afterwards. As I read it, I felt like I was slogging through it, but I kept going back to it. <BR/>It just made me think about how your life is so much of how you perceive it. <BR/><BR/>Ishvar Darji, and his nephew Omprakash had no reason to care about life, to be optimistic, and yet they kept living, kept trying, right til the end, that was crazy. But the richer guy, who had so much going for him, the better caste, got depressed and wasn't happy in his life. I wanted to slap him at times.<BR/><BR/>great review. I don't know what John is talking about, is Canadian literature that depressing?raidergirl3https://www.blogger.com/profile/03629915042716259349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-41925996907484205272008-03-25T18:25:00.000-06:002008-03-25T18:25:00.000-06:00Wow, Stephanie...great review! I can't believe I'v...Wow, Stephanie...great review! I can't believe I've never even heard of this book before, but it definitely sounds worth the read. Thanks!Debihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15429881953804634592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-74202280324932867932008-03-25T18:16:00.000-06:002008-03-25T18:16:00.000-06:00Trish - It's well worth reading. It's an excellen...Trish - It's well worth reading. It's an excellent book. But it is so sad. <BR/><BR/>John - Too funny. So you Canadians are a depressing lot?? If you haven't read it, you should.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055676171075203563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-3005932323405081292008-03-25T18:14:00.000-06:002008-03-25T18:14:00.000-06:00If Oprah's known for picking depressing books, I'm...If Oprah's known for picking depressing books, I'm surprised she hasn't picked more Canadians than she has. I'm embarassed to say that I don't know if I've read this or not. I thought I had but your synopsis doesn't ring any bells.John Mutfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730205221787092204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-36939147465751509242008-03-25T18:08:00.000-06:002008-03-25T18:08:00.000-06:00I just mooched this book and received it in the ma...I just mooched this book and received it in the mail yesterday. I'll keep in mind it's on the depressing side, but hopefully I'll get to it this year. :-)trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10688001590373132381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-41383943854701926202008-03-25T18:03:00.000-06:002008-03-25T18:03:00.000-06:00It was a great book, but man. It was depressing....It was a great book, but man. It was depressing. The hair guy just kind of made me mad. I guess he really shows the injustice of the world. Bad guy ends up with all. Good people, not so much.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05055676171075203563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179077428618811016.post-28443209427022873072008-03-25T17:50:00.000-06:002008-03-25T17:50:00.000-06:00Wasn't that a great one, Stephanie? I read it qui...Wasn't that a great one, Stephanie? I read it quite a few months back and had the same reaction that you did more or less. I was oddly fascinated by the guy who stole women's braids to sell. Probably because I frequently wear my hair in one long braid. :Dkookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00994570192941993135noreply@blogger.com