Nine-year-old Ronan O’Mara was the hero of this story for me. Witnessing his youthful delight in an old storyteller and then developing his own passion to learn the lore and history of his homeland was endearing. Set in the 1950s, itinerant storytellers who once were somewhat commonplace and who combed the country were now becoming a remnant of the past. As custom has it, the old man moves on much to Ronan’s dismay. He spends his years into early adulthood searching for the man and as he does, Ronan becomes quite the storyteller himself.
Rich in both history and that of fables, I learned about the Emerald Isle in a way that no history book could, and it was through both the eyes of old and wise and that of the young and eager. It was winsome, engaging and heartfelt and shows the power of a story.
One evening in 1951, an itinerant storyteller arrives unannounced and mysterious at a house in the Irish countryside. By the November fireside he begins to tell the story of this extraordinary land. One of his listeners, a nine-year-old boy, grows so entranced by the storytelling that, when the old man leaves, he devotes his life to finding him again. It is a search that uncovers both passions and mysteries, in his own life as well as the old man's, and their solving becomes the thrilling climax to this tale. But the life of this boy is more than just his…
I was overwhelmed by how James Baldwin portrayed his characters with such feeling, beauty and compassion. This is a deeply human story that is relatable, troubling, yet edifying. You can feel both the pain and the joy in the reflective manner in which David, the narrator, shares the story. It made me feel as if I was sitting in the back of a restaurant in Paris in the 1950s and taking in all who walked through the door. Although David struggles with his love of another man, societal pressures turn him inside out. It may have been controversial at the time, but this is now a classic as it reminds us that the human story is multidimensional and I, for one, find this portrayal very uplifting. One line that stood out to me was: “People who believe that they are strong-willed and the masters of their destiny can only continue to believe this by becoming specialists in self-deception”.
When David meets the sensual Giovanni in a bohemian bar, he is swept into a passionate love affair. But his girlfriend's return to Paris destroys everything. Unable to admit to the truth, David pretends the liaison never happened - while Giovanni's life descends into tragedy.
United by the theme of love, the writings in the Great Loves series span over two thousand years and vastly different worlds. Readers will be introduced to love's endlessly fascinating possibilities and extremities: romantic love, platonic love, erotic love, gay love, virginal love, adulterous love, parental love, filial love, nostalgic love, unrequited love, illicit love,…
Frank Conroy’s memoir is truly a masterpiece of a young boy’s journey to manhood. I loved learning what went on in his head during his young life of upheaval, self-discovery and personal resilience. Written in 1967 about his life in the 1940s and early 1050s, this could have been about any boy growing up in the last seventy years in America minus cell phones and the like. By that, I mean it is about what we think, how we react and how we feel. A gift from my son, I can see how Frank’s story captivated him as the language is real and it flows. Since it is a memoir, the story is written by a man about a time in his life that impacted him the most, so Conroy does not attempt to write as if he is a teenager or young adult, but his mastery of words, thoughts and ideas transport you into the body and soul of young Frank. My mind ricocheted with a variety of thoughts and would have really liked to have known him, but I grew up 25 years later. Saying that, I was happy to have gotten to know him in this book as I was transported back in time. I recommend others do the same.
First published in 1967, this is an autobiography that is a memoir of boyhood and adolescence. Beginning with a lesson in brutality at a progressive boarding school, the book moves to a self-help settlement in Florida, a Connecticut mental hospital (where Conroy's mother and stepfather are wardens), and to New York City (where he survives by his wits in schools, at jobs, and even more dangerously at home). Then, after his mother leaves for Europe and his stepfather installs an insane mistress in the family's apartment, Conroy runs away, embarking on new adventures.
Eli and Aiden are polar opposites, but despite their differences, a strong friendship blossoms. For Eli and Aiden, their unlikely bond becomes a lifeline in the midst of their tumultuous lives. But just as they begin to let their guard down, a promise made by Aiden changes everything—forever. Eli is left to pick up the pieces.
In Cutting of Harp Strings, Eli tells a tale of his younger self and artfully weaves together a story of friendship, living in the moment, and love. It's a story of self-discovery and will take you on an emotional rollercoaster of joy, heartbreak, and ultimately, utter bliss that is sure to stay with readers long after the last page is turned. With deeply feeling characters and evocative and visual plot, the story is a poignant coming-of-age poetic mosaic that will leave us reflecting on the beauty of true friendship and the power of love.
If you enjoy novels that explore the complexities of relationships and the journey of self-discovery, Cutting of Harp Strings may be your next read.
