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What Members Thought
Any book that can get me interested in eels deserves 5 stars.
This has one of the most incredible senses of place of any book I have ever read. I loved the mix of time periods, the mediations on what history is and the place landscape (and water) has within it and the elements of a detective novel as we put together the fragmented narrative that we are getting from Tom Crick, our narrator.
This has one of the most incredible senses of place of any book I have ever read. I loved the mix of time periods, the mediations on what history is and the place landscape (and water) has within it and the elements of a detective novel as we put together the fragmented narrative that we are getting from Tom Crick, our narrator.
Jan 17, 2016
Beverly
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
1001-bymrbyd,
page-turners
I read this book for my Page Turners book discussion group. It is on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list and this is one that I was glad to read. The setting is in Great Britain and Northern Ireland and tells the history of the family that has overseen the waterways there for some 200 or so years. A history teacher who is on the verge of losing his position, Tom Crick, is the narrator. His students are wondering why they have to learn about history and so Mr. Crick begins reciting h
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REVIEW
I started this book expecting I might dislike it. I did dislike the topic of incest but was key to the story which is really a detective story and so much more. A fictional autobiography being told by Tom Crick as he teaches his students about why history. It is meditative; exploring fate, responsibility and history. Tom tells the story of his family’s roots and the Fen area of East Anglia. It also is a story of storytelling.
OPENING LINE:
Epigram: Historia, -ae, f. 1. inquiry, investigatio ...more
I started this book expecting I might dislike it. I did dislike the topic of incest but was key to the story which is really a detective story and so much more. A fictional autobiography being told by Tom Crick as he teaches his students about why history. It is meditative; exploring fate, responsibility and history. Tom tells the story of his family’s roots and the Fen area of East Anglia. It also is a story of storytelling.
OPENING LINE:
Epigram: Historia, -ae, f. 1. inquiry, investigatio ...more
I have previously enjoyed Last Orders about four old men burying a friend and had thoroughly enjoyed it. I knew that this had been made into a movie, too, with Jeremy Irons as Tom Crick and Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ethan Hawke, two of my favourites. So I began with the expectation that it would be an enjoyable read and I was not disappointed. I did not find the sexual exploration scenes so disgusting as others have, although I did marvel at Mary's curiosity being stronger than her modesty! The meta
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Nov 26, 2016
Diane
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
20th-century,
1001-done,
1001,
booker-nom,
historical-fiction,
guardian-award,
2016-reads,
guardian-1000
Nov 11, 2012
Andre Mitchell
marked it as to-read
*
Jul 20, 2015
Nanosynergy
marked it as to-read
May 29, 2017
themis
marked it as to-read-before-you-die
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1001-to-read-before-you-die
Jun 17, 2017
Yvonne
marked it as to-read
Aug 16, 2017
Diane
marked it as to-read
Jan 13, 2018
Sorobai
marked it as to-read
Jul 17, 2018
Carol
marked it as to-read
