Well, I've finally finished. I had a really hard time getting into this book. Some chapters I really enjoyed, while others seemed like a chore to read. The writing wasn't bad, the plot was interesting in most places, but I just couldn't get invested in any of the characters.
What I did like, was the portrayal of the interactions between the different groups: Scottish/Irish, Protestant/Catholic, wealthy/poor, drinkers/teetotalers. One of the most striking sections for me was when the Antonellis so suddenly stopped hanging around with Robie's family. As Italians, they were thought poorly of around town, yet apparently they thought themselves better than Robie's family because of their money? Though, it seems like it also had something to do with the monkey's illness. I couldn't figure out the connection there? Did I maybe miss something?
While the ending was sad (I was partial to Grandpa, for all he was a drunkard and liar), it did seem fitting to end it like that.
All in all, not a bad book, but not a particularly fascinating one either. :-)
I enjoyed this book very much. The author did a good job describing the feelings of the characters. I did not like the father because of his attitude toward money. The things he put his wife through over money were maddening to me. I cheered at the ending of the story when grandpa made sure none of his money could ever go to the father.
Chapter 14 gives the reason the Antonellis abruptly stopped hanging around with Robie's family. Angelo told Robie "We don't like you anymore. Mother says I mustn't play with you. She says your grandpa is a drunken person who sponges for wine, who has no money, not a lira, who lies about the grand houses he was never inside, who is, in fact, practically the biggest liar in the world. Thad found out everything. Your grandpa is a cheat, a pauper, a tramp. He is known all over Levenford. He chases ladies, at his age! And worst of all he puts his arm round our sweet Clara to annoy Thaddeus from bad and wicked motives." At the breakfast at the Antonelli's house after Robie and Angelo's first communion, grandpa had drunk 3 bottles of wine by himself, and had put an arm around Clara and kissed her when he and RobHie were leaving. Her boyfriend Thaddeus saw this and was very annoyed. Apparently it was grandpa's (mis)behavior that caused the break up between Robie and Angelo.
3 comments:
Well, I've finally finished. I had a really hard time getting into this book. Some chapters I really enjoyed, while others seemed like a chore to read. The writing wasn't bad, the plot was interesting in most places, but I just couldn't get invested in any of the characters.
What I did like, was the portrayal of the interactions between the different groups: Scottish/Irish, Protestant/Catholic, wealthy/poor, drinkers/teetotalers. One of the most striking sections for me was when the Antonellis so suddenly stopped hanging around with Robie's family. As Italians, they were thought poorly of around town, yet apparently they thought themselves better than Robie's family because of their money? Though, it seems like it also had something to do with the monkey's illness. I couldn't figure out the connection there? Did I maybe miss something?
While the ending was sad (I was partial to Grandpa, for all he was a drunkard and liar), it did seem fitting to end it like that.
All in all, not a bad book, but not a particularly fascinating one either. :-)
I enjoyed this book very much. The author did a good job describing the feelings of the characters. I did not like the father because of his attitude toward money. The things he put his wife through over money were maddening to me. I cheered at the ending of the story when grandpa made sure none of his money could ever go to the father.
Chapter 14 gives the reason the Antonellis abruptly stopped hanging around with Robie's family. Angelo told Robie "We don't like you anymore. Mother says I mustn't play with you. She says your grandpa is a drunken person who sponges for wine, who has no money, not a lira, who lies about the grand houses he was never inside, who is, in fact, practically the biggest liar in the world. Thad found out everything. Your grandpa is a cheat, a pauper, a tramp. He is known all over Levenford. He chases ladies, at his age! And worst of all he puts his arm round our sweet Clara to annoy Thaddeus from bad and wicked motives." At the breakfast at the Antonelli's house after Robie and Angelo's first communion, grandpa had drunk 3 bottles of wine by himself, and had put an arm around Clara and kissed her when he and RobHie were leaving. Her boyfriend Thaddeus saw this and was very annoyed. Apparently it was grandpa's (mis)behavior that caused the break up between Robie and Angelo.
Post a Comment