1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people & post a comment here once you post it to your blog, so I can come see.
“And He looks me right in the face, as though he wants me to know he knows it is a performance and he’s amused by it. I suppose an attempt is a performance, in some sense. But what else can I do?”
It’s from <i>Gilead</i>, which Rob checked out form the Library. I’ve had no intentions of reading it, but not that I’ve gotten these three sentences out of the way, why not continue?
If you read this, and you want to do it, you’re tagged. If you don’t have a blog and you want to do it, leave it in the comments.
My wife is currently reading Gilead and is quite enjoying it, though what she thinks of it in the end depends on where it ends up…
Warning: plot spoilers follow!
I’m John’s wife, and appear to have been delegated to play tag for him… I read Gilead on a friend’s recommendation and was glad to have done so. I found it well-written, with a lot left unsaid in the gaps between the words (which suits me fine!). I had a powerful sense of place and of the characters and of their relationships, especially between the two Jacks and Lila. The characters of those three were beautifully drawn, and the younger Jack a masterly study in qualities and shortcomings living side by side in one, constantly undercutting each other. It’s also rare to read such a positive, inspiring and authentic portrayal of a marriage and the changes it accomplishes in the spouses.
My gripe is that the tone was a bit too uniform, or slow, for me. I prefer a little more variety or zip. I don’t doubt that Robinson has done exactly what she meant to do – a ruminative account by an elderly man – but it’s not quite me. I’d be keen to read another by her because I think she is a very, very talented writer, but “Housekeeping” is the only other one I’ve heard of and it looked a bit bleak for me…
I agree that the pace was slow. The lack chapters was also not helpful for a mom who tries to read fiction in the bathroom while the kids take baths. I habitually don’t use bookmarks and I was often just finding my place when the girls were ready to wash hair. I sadly had to return it to the library before I finished, but I’ll likely check it out again soon.