library binding, 216 pages
English language
Published Dec. 4, 2002 by Chelsea House Publishers.
I started to read this months ago but the writing style and the stern narration of the audiobook I listened to didn't engross me. I started over recently and eventually grew accustomed to the narration style (of both the author and the narrator). I found it a worthwhile read. I found the flawed characters' realistic.
The reaction to this one was skewed in both directions. Jill had to read it three times in college, each for a different class, and hated it each time. And wondered why each course couldn't have chosen a different author, or even a different book by the same author. Some loved the richness of the metaphors that filled the narrative. But the characters were, almost literally, one-dimensional - set in their ways early in life and rigid and unchanging thereafter. Some scenes were livid and arresting, while others plodded. Several people felt an echo from The Good Earth, only set in Africa instead of China.
Not going to pretend I have something more to add about this than has already been said. Glad to have finally read it. Enjoyed it and was moved by it.
I think this is one of those books that people have to read in high school. It's interesting. I worry sometimes that books like this (short, easily taught, relatively well written, suitable for speculation about the author's "real" intent) are asked to support too much (e.g. lord of the flies, the great gatsby, the stranger, etc.). If the included notes are correct, and I am to suppose that a character in the story is a symbolic representation of Jesus, then I think I have misunderstood the Jesus story all these years.
Yams
