[08S]⋙ Download Gratis Lucky Us A Novel Amy Bloom 9781400067244 Books

Lucky Us A Novel Amy Bloom 9781400067244 Books

Download As PDF : Lucky Us A Novel Amy Bloom 9781400067244 Books

Lucky Us A Novel Amy Bloom 9781400067244 Books

This story is a winner. I defy anyone to read it and not love it! I was fortunate enough to read my copy free of charge, but sooner or later I will have to pony up and pay for Bloom's work, because having read this little gem, I will follow her anywhere.

The setting is the Depression Era through the end of the second world war; the story takes place all over the United States, from the midwest to California to New York. The protagonist, Eve, and her sister, Iris are girls (and then women) who are what social workers euphemistically call people who have fallen through the safety net--not that much of one existed back then. Their father and Evie's mother are almost more liabilities than assets, and from almost the get go, they are on their own.

A large cast of secondary but engaging characters weaves its way through the sisters' adventures, but each is so believable, so palpable that there is never the slightest danger that the reader will mix one up with another, anymore than you might inadvertently mix up your own family and friends. These flawed but fascinating characters often do things that startle us, leave one's jaw hanging ("Oh no, you DIDN'T just do that!) yet their behaviors are always consistent with what they have said and done before. Just as with a ne'er-do-well relative, I found myself sometimes grimly nodding and saying, "You know, it doesn't surprise me a bit."

Eve and Iris see others betray them and commit every possible venial sin and perhaps a few mortal ones into the bargain, and indeed, they themselves become charlatans, thieves, snake oil salesmen (of a sort) in order to survive. All of this is depicted with such a winning narrative, changing perspectives and yet never the overall truth.

In most circumstances, Eve is set apart in her effort, when possible, to do the right thing, and by her loyalty to those she loves best.

Ultimately of course, it is not the storyline or the setting that sets this story apart from whatever other fiction has recently been released. It is the voice, Bloom's sassy, ironic, and sometimes devilishly understated narrative that hooks the reader, leaves us unable to let go till the last page is turned.

Bloom is an award winner for other work, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if she receives another for this. If I were to compare her work with anyone's, it would be Fannie Flagg, because of the character development and the whimsy.

In the end,I realized she does not mean the title to be entirely ironic. We are indeed lucky to have even flawed and difficult people in our lives. Loneliness is the ultimate cause of sorrow. Bloom convinced me that I am lucky too. What a wonderful message, and from a truly gifted writer! I can't wait to read the rest of her work.


Tags : Lucky Us: A Novel [Amy Bloom] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <b> NEW YORK TIMES </i>BESTSELLER • <b>NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST </i>AND O: THE OPRAH MAGAZINE</i></b></b> “My father’s wife died. My mother said we should drive down to his place and see what might be in it for us.”</i> So begins this remarkable novel by Amy Bloom,Amy Bloom,Lucky Us: A Novel,Random House,1400067243,Historical,Literary,Sagas,Abandoned children,Abandoned children;Fiction.,Domestic fiction,Domestic fiction.,Sisters,Sisters;Fiction.,AMERICAN HISTORICAL FICTION,FICTION Historical General,Family Life,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Historical,Fiction Literary,Fiction Sagas,Fiction-Historical,FictionFamily Life,GENERAL,General Adult,Historical - General,Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945),United States

Lucky Us A Novel Amy Bloom 9781400067244 Books Reviews

This book fell flat for me. I couldn't get into any of the characters and the book was jumping around and moving from characters POV to letters. I could not get settled into the story. While some of the characters were interesting I was very detached from them. I actually struggled to make myself continue reading this book and I'm someone who loves to read and generally can't put a book down. I thought certain lines were brillant but overall I felt this book needed more structure, better developed characters and editing to go deeper into fewer characters so I could form a relationship.
Well written and enlightened book - though not historically accurate with idioms and colloquialisms (which actually makes it easier to read). Enjoyable - funny and disturbing. Some of it just makes me anxious, or sad, or concerned. Other aspects make me wonder. So, I recommend it if you are looking for a new read, a well told story, and a look into a life culture that may or may not really be out there. I know this is not a deep dive into the book, but it is a 4-star book, not a 5-star book. Read it anyway. It's worth it.
I guess maybe I stuck to this book because of long subway rides. I found the characters confusing, and the style of telling a story through letters made it hard to follow. There were some redeeming passages, but not enough for me to recommend the novel.
There are as many characters in this book as there are reasons to recommend reading it. It had several separate stories within the story that made me sad when each story ended as in Gus's life with his new family in Germany and Edgar's beautiful jazz singer lover. I could have read a whole book just about her. The life of the two sisters, Eva and Iris was one rough road with a series of unfortunate events to rival the Kennedy's but through it all, the many characters and supporting cast as well as the strong if unusual relationships they build along the way are what make them lucky indeed!
Not great, wouldn't really recommend. Character development didn't really have me liking any of them! Think she was bored with writing it and ended it abruptly. Was not the least bit up lifting, I don't think author really liked these characters either. Maybe it was autobiographical....if so, then I really feel sorry for her!
The "family" at the heart of Amy Bloom's mostly successful novel is, at the onset, primarily just two half sisters, Eva and Iris. Yes, there's a mother, who isn't very motherly and who exits quickly, and a father who is a sweet ne'er-do-well widower cum con artist. But the family grows in charming ways as Eva and Iris make their way to California so the older and more attractive Iris can find fame as an actress during the early years of World War II. Lucky Us begins in Ohio, moves to Texas, Hollywood, Long Island and even London with delightful characters joining them along the way.

The term lucky in the title seemed ironic for much of the novel, as the heroines mostly struggle with little reward. To call Iris a B-actress would be generous. And Eva spends much of her teen years reading Tarot cards for desperate women in a beauty parlor. But Eva is considered the intelligent one and things begin to pan out for her. Iris isn't quite as lucky. The pleasure of Lucky Us is that the title isn't ironic; it's hopeful. The family that the characters create doesn't care about the sexual preference, skin color or failures of anyone. The beautiful tableau at the end make up for a brief stretch of tedium in the novel's middle and make it all worth the effort. There's a lot of love in this story.
Spoiler alert ! (I guess). The plot was so silly and contrived that I couldn't take this book seriously. She works as a psychic and marries the husband of her sister's lesbian lover who burned herself to death. It was ridiculous. I had to read this for book club, otherwise I wouldn't have read beyond the first few chapters.
This story is a winner. I defy anyone to read it and not love it! I was fortunate enough to read my copy free of charge, but sooner or later I will have to pony up and pay for Bloom's work, because having read this little gem, I will follow her anywhere.

The setting is the Depression Era through the end of the second world war; the story takes place all over the United States, from the midwest to California to New York. The protagonist, Eve, and her sister, Iris are girls (and then women) who are what social workers euphemistically call people who have fallen through the safety net--not that much of one existed back then. Their father and Evie's mother are almost more liabilities than assets, and from almost the get go, they are on their own.

A large cast of secondary but engaging characters weaves its way through the sisters' adventures, but each is so believable, so palpable that there is never the slightest danger that the reader will mix one up with another, anymore than you might inadvertently mix up your own family and friends. These flawed but fascinating characters often do things that startle us, leave one's jaw hanging ("Oh no, you DIDN'T just do that!) yet their behaviors are always consistent with what they have said and done before. Just as with a ne'er-do-well relative, I found myself sometimes grimly nodding and saying, "You know, it doesn't surprise me a bit."

Eve and Iris see others betray them and commit every possible venial sin and perhaps a few mortal ones into the bargain, and indeed, they themselves become charlatans, thieves, snake oil salesmen (of a sort) in order to survive. All of this is depicted with such a winning narrative, changing perspectives and yet never the overall truth.

In most circumstances, Eve is set apart in her effort, when possible, to do the right thing, and by her loyalty to those she loves best.

Ultimately of course, it is not the storyline or the setting that sets this story apart from whatever other fiction has recently been released. It is the voice, Bloom's sassy, ironic, and sometimes devilishly understated narrative that hooks the reader, leaves us unable to let go till the last page is turned.

Bloom is an award winner for other work, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if she receives another for this. If I were to compare her work with anyone's, it would be Fannie Flagg, because of the character development and the whimsy.

In the end,I realized she does not mean the title to be entirely ironic. We are indeed lucky to have even flawed and difficult people in our lives. Loneliness is the ultimate cause of sorrow. Bloom convinced me that I am lucky too. What a wonderful message, and from a truly gifted writer! I can't wait to read the rest of her work.