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Indlæser... The Burgess Boys: A Novel (udgave 2013)af Elizabeth Strout
Work InformationThe Burgess Boys af Elizabeth Strout
Indlæser...
Bliv medlem af LibraryThing for at finde ud af, om du vil kunne lide denne bog. Der er ingen diskussionstråde på Snak om denne bog. I haven't finished this book. I got to page 200, and decided that was quite enough. It had a lot going for it. Three siblings whose lives have panned out very differently and who don't like one another very much come together when divorced Susan's teenage son Zach perpetrates a shocking act - throwing a frozen pig's head through the door of the mosque frequented by the growing Somali population in town, and during Ramadan. This has the makings of an interesting drama, both as the legal case plays out, and as the ripples from this offence play out both in the longer established community, and in that of the more recently arrived Somalis to this small town in Maine. The legal backgrounds of the two brothers are called in to play, as is their uncomfortable relationship with their prickly sister. These family dynamics form much of the narrative. One of the Somali community pops in and out of the story in a sort of bit part to give context - perhaps - to that community's hopes and fears. The Burgess siblings, and Zach are unlikeable in different ways: the plot stumbles slowly and slightly incoherently along. Surely at the half way point in the book I should be itching to know what dramas unfold in the various elements of this story? No, nothing here to engage my attention. Addendum, December 2023: I should have updated this review. I changed my mind and DID finish it. And largely enjoyed it after all. It's all too long ago now though for thoughtful comment. ( ) Nothing fast-paced about this book, but a realistic look at a family -- three adult siblings, actually -- dealing with the nephew's senseless prank of throwing a pig's head into a mosque in a sleepy Maine town recently populated by Somali immigrants/refugees. None of the characters are particularly likable, per se, but they are all real people with real faults and struggles, so I still found myself cheering for them. They are round and dynamic and could be anyone of us. Even the minor characters have depth. The book examines family dynmaics, identity as shaped by early trauma, and life as a refugee (in a small way). A solid book. Das Buch schildert drei Geschwister, die neben ihrer gemeinsamen Kindheit durch ein gemeinsames tragisches Ereignis in ihrer Vergangenheit verbunden sind. Sie saßen in einem Auto, von dem ihr Vater tödlich überrollt wurde und es war wohl Bob, der den Gang gelöst hatte. Nun als Erwachsene, gehen die Geschwister nicht gerade zimperlich miteinander um, sie giften sich an und sie gehen einander auf die Nerven. Aber dann halten Sie doch wieder zusammen und lieben sich. Schonungslos zeigt die Autorin das Verhältnis von Geschwistern, das unbarmherzige und auch das liebevolle. Als Susans Sohn Zach in eine schwierige Situation gerät, helfen die Brüder der Schwester und dem Neffen. Die Geschichte ist durchaus spannend, auch wenn sie vielleicht etwas zu viel will. Zach hat einen Schweinskopf in eine Moschee geworfen. Es geht auch um das Thema Umgang mit Geflüchteten und mit unterschiedlichen Religionen. Was mir auch gut gefällt, ist, dass die Rolle der einzelnen innerhalb des Systems gut deutlich wird. Jim ist ja wirklich ein richtiger Unsympath, aber es wird auch klar, dass er nicht aus seiner Rolle kann und in dieser auch bedeutsam ist, als „Fixstern“ für seine Geschwister. Ähnlich ist es auch mit den anderen beiden. Was Strout wirklich kann, nämlich bis in die kleinste Nebenfigur glaubwürdige Charaktere zu schaffen, gelingt auch hier. Nur Zachs Läuterung läuft mir etwas zu glatt, immerhin war der Vater der Auslöser, dass er dann auch zur Lösung wird, finde ich nicht ganz glaubhaft. Der Schluss ist versöhnlich und insgesamt ist es ein schönes Buch. I enjoyed this book. I already know Bob Burgess from Lucy By The Sea, and as I read this book I knew some about where he would end up & so I didn't have to worry about that. Spoilers Abound. I'm not sure what I think about Jim's story. We don't get to see if Helen takes him back although this may be part of another book. (I don't think he is mentioned in Lucy by the Sea but maybe I forgot.) He seemed to have some self-knowledge, but he also seemed to be OK with acting badly. I am not sure if the positive end to the story of Susan & Zachary is realistic. I like how Susan was shown as a person who could see herself & change. Perhaps in contrast to Jim? And the relationship between Susan and Zachary was hopeful. ingen anmeldelser | tilføj en anmeldelse
Tilhører ForlagsserienMirmanda (113) HæderspriserDistinctionsNotable Lists
Catalyzed by a nephew's thoughtless prank, a pair of brothers confront painful psychological issues surrounding the freak accident that killed their father when they were boys, a loss linked to a heartbreaking deception that shaped their personal and professional lives. No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumElizabeth Strout's book The Burgess Boys was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsIngenPopulære omslag
Google Books — Indlæser... GenrerMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC-klassificeringVurderingGennemsnit:
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