Glorie: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: No story in Glorie
Review: First, I have enjoyed Caryn James' work in the New York Times for years, her byline stops me like an old oak tree stops a drunk driver. I find her heartfelt insight simply joyous to read. Glorie is not her best. Perhaps it is difficult for a feature print journalist to make the transition to longer work. There are numerous moments, but it is difficult to care for the main character as she wonders through the fog of her later life. The fact that the author uses direct quotes from Glorie's dead husband is disturbing. One would think he was gone, or available all the time, but he comes and goes. I picture Glorie as that grannytype who owns Tweetybird from the cartoon show, only with a little more expanded dialogue. Okay, a lot more. What bothered me most was; When will the story begin? And is something coming that will slap me in the face or at least be new and interesting. It never happened. I thought of "The Last Temptation of Christ" and how the first half o! f the film is just a biblical story---and then the angel visits the cross. I wanted a major wow. Even a little wow. I think she was done a disservice by Vincent Canby who she mentions in her forward. He had to see all of this when he took a look at it for her and, I think, was unwilling to be as critical of a friend as he should have been. Caryn has all the pieces, she just has to arrange them differently and I look forward to her next effort.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful portrait of a real woman
Review: I couldn't disagree more with the person who found "no story" here. There were so many stories in this book - a love story, a story of family/in-law dynamics, a story about mother/daughter and the tangled, twisted love and obligations that relationship entails. I found the character of Glorie to be a very real, recognizable individual who is struggling to maintain everything that has been important to her throughout her life. An added bonus for me was seeing a character from the Azores (my own heritage) in a novel. I felt that I knew this woman. A wonderful piece of writing!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful portrait of a real woman
Review: I couldn't disagree more with the person who found "no story" here. There were so many stories in this book - a love story, a story of family/in-law dynamics, a story about mother/daughter and the tangled, twisted love and obligations that relationship entails. I found the character of Glorie to be a very real, recognizable individual who is struggling to maintain everything that has been important to her throughout her life. An added bonus for me was seeing a character from the Azores (my own heritage) in a novel. I felt that I knew this woman. A wonderful piece of writing!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful portrait of a real woman
Review: I disagree with the reader who insists there is no story in this novel. There is more than one type of story possible for a novel, and this one's strong story is interior. It is an exquisite rendering of the inner-outer life split of an old woman attached in memory to her husband, and attached by the strings of family to her relatives, who threaten her life desires. This book is not for the reader who wants lot of exterior action narrative; it is for one who values the laying open of character and inner self.

Rating:
Summary: Superb study of interior life
Review: I disagree with the reader who insists there is no story in this novel. There is more than one type of story possible for a novel, and this one's strong story is interior. It is an exquisite rendering of the inner-outer life split of an old woman attached in memory to her husband, and attached by the strings of family to her relatives, who threaten her life desires. This book is not for the reader who wants lot of exterior action narrative; it is for one who values the laying open of character and inner self.

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly delightful book
Review: I have to disagree with Alan Foster's comments about "Glorie". I felt that it was enchanting, and if not a laugh a page, at least a smile. So many insights into the thinking of an older person. Glorie reminds me of Sophia on "Golden Girls", only with a lighter touch. As for Jack speaking directly to her, I believe it's a given that it is done just in Glorie's thoughts, and he didn't show up on command. I had wondered how it would all end, and I think it did in the only way that would have been plausible. I highly recommend this book to one and all.

Rating:
Summary: Balm for the soul of the "sandwich generation"
Review: I laughed. I cried. I wish all the elderly could be blessed with Glorie's sense of humor and grit. I loved this love story! How could such a young author have such compassionate insights? Wise beyond her years and funny beyond the norm. Wonderful!