Oh Em Gee

I haven't gotten to read the last couple of days because of life. We tried to switch our phone carriers and the sales person told us something completely different than we were told the first time we went in. The switch went from $100 to $500, so we said fuck that and left. Bought a bunch of stuff for the house, like clear containers for the fridge and a cube shelf for my son's room. I volunteered to help out my son's taekwondo master since she was health problems and a lot to deal with, and I spent Friday afternoon and Saturday sewing hems into shin and arm guards. Some with my machine, some by hand. Went to Hot Topic and spent my Hot Cash. Tried to start crocheting a blanket but hating the results and undoing it twice. Set up a new terrarium for Lakshmi Love. Got a recipe journal and transferred all my index cards onto pages for easier access. Got a pain injection in my SI joints. Cleaned the house and played with Danny Bird. Dealt with my son's growing attitude and feeling of independence. 

 

It's been a busy week. Here's a happy Lakshmi. 

 

 

He is very pleased with his new home, which is almost twice the size of his old one. He loves to bury himself.

A lovely and intriguing coming-of-age story from the perspective of a Russian Jew, The Boston Girl is refreshing.

What I liked: Diamant described 20th century New York beautifully. I enjoyed reading about the wonderful relationships formed between Addie and her friends and how they developed into strong, unconventional women. I also love how this story is told in an oral history format. A grandmother telling her story to her granddaughter? How much better can it get? I love the solidarity between different nations and generations of women.

What would have improved the story for me: The end was abrupt. So much of the book was dedicated to Addie’s youth and so little was said about her middle and old age. I would like to have learned more about her later years, and the woman she became. For a feminist book (and it tried to be), it seemed that Addie's story stopped when she married and had children. I would like to have seen how Addie defied the normal conventions of her time. And I would like to have seen Addie interact more with the issues of child labor laws and lynching; for me, a more vigorous interaction would have made the story more interesting. That being written, I also understand the limitations of the time, particularly in the context of the traditional life she pursued.

Recommended.

 

I'm not very familiar with the original Bible stories that The Red Tent is based on. After reading a few other reviews, it seems many who are familiar feel this was a big departure from the 'true' stories. I didn't read this for an accurate retelling of a Bible story, so I have no opinion on the accuracy.

 

Overall I enjoyed The Red Tent. While I understand this is one person's creative view on how life was for women back then, I think the picture she painted could have been very accurate. There were only a few parts that I felt dragged on longer than necessary. I'm looking forward to watching the mini-series now.