Tiko Avagimyan Avagimyan itibaren Leonard, TX, संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका itibaren Leonard, TX, संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका

** spoiler alert ** This book took some time to get going for be but once it did, i thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself conflicted from time to time with it though. It seemed there were times reading it when I couldn't help but just want something GOOD to happen to her. Then again, being an immigrant in a new country can't ever be easy. It certainly wasn't for single women in the 1880s in America so I had to tell myself that it was probably more realistic than anything. People took advantage of immigrants. Sisters came over here looking for siblings, sometimes not finding them. I couldn't help but think of my own family's experience as I was reading this book. My grandmother's mother came to the US either in the late 1800s or very early 1900s from Slovakia to Ellis Island. Couldn't help but think of their own struggles as I read of Irma's.

This is the story of George Caldwell - an aging, self-deprecating teacher whom everyone seems to love except George himself. It is also about his relationship with his son, Peter. The two end up spending three days in town when their car breaks down and then there is a blizzard, each stranding them for a night. The book also compares nearly every character to a character from Greek mythology, though only the main ones (George is Chiron the centaur, his son is Prometheus) overtly. We also see through the son's eyes for part - his thoughts on his father and family, his psoriasis, his girlfriend Penny. Themes: mythology, father-son relationship, sacrificing for family, science, growing up I loved many of the details. Updike is amazing at describing things in extremely unique ways that make images extra vivid. He describes things the way I really think they look, but never would have realized. I enjoyed the story itself more than the mythological references - I actually didn't bother to figure most of them out, despite having the index. The parts featuring George as centaur were still interesting, though I wasn't sure what was really happening (did he really get shot through the ankle?). This was an enjoyable read.