All the Numbers by Judy Merrill Larsen

This book was our book club read for August. One of our members magnanimously got these for us, each personally autographed (thank you Mandy)!  I did miss the teleconference with the author due to illness :-(
If you read the blog below, my BFF did speak with her and found her pleasant.

The characters (being Ellen-the mother, Daniel-the oldest son, James-the younger son who dies, Anna and Sam-friends that own the lakehouse, and Bob-the attorney) were all very commonplace and unexceptional in my opinion. The only character I truly fancied was Bob. He developed feelings for Ellen while working on her sons' murder case. He seemed to me a very patient, kind-hearted, empathetic man/ lawyer, so I've determined he is most likely too good to be true.

The plot, being about an 11 year old boy being hit by a jet ski while on holiday and dying of a head trauma as a result, thereafter the writer shows how the family grieves and copes with death & also a lawsuit againist the 18 year old boy who hit James. This novel also tries to conquer the age-old question of "why me?", but it goes nowhere near giving the reader answers, philosophical or otherwise.

Overall, I found that the novel was a lot like a Jodi Piccoult, child-suffering, work of fiction which seems to be the popular tone these days. This was the authors first published work, so it being somewhat amateur I feel it was plain & very predictable. I do not favor this kind of reading material, so that  probably explains why others I know cried & I did not. I'm hoping my lack of tears is not because I am so synical, but I will have to say this book does not rate very high with me.
E.

All The Numbers by Judy Merrill Larsen

Why I read this book:
This was our book club book for August.  My friend Mandy bought us the opportunity to get not only autographed books from the author but also a phone chat with her at our book club meeting. This benefited the victims of the recent floods in Nashville. Needless to say we were very excited.

Characters:
Ellen- The main character in this book. She is a divorced mother of two young boys. From the very start of this book Ellen left a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't like how the author introduced her to us and it was impossible to get past my sour feelings for her. That being said she feels very real. I don't dislike the writing of the author, I just don't like this character.
Daniel- This was Ellen's older son. He is in his early teens. He seems to be a pretty "normal" teenage boy. It seemed to me that he was excluded throughout most of the book. But I feel like he also felt believable in the role. He wasn't too perfect or too mature for his age.
James- He was 11 years old when he was hit by a jet ski and killed. The boy riding the jet ski was just a teenager himself.
Tim- He is the boys father. He doesn't play a big role in this book, but you do get some of his and Ellen's history and you get to briefly see him in the father role.
Anna and Sam- Ellen's friends and owner's of the lake house that they were all staying at when the accident happened.

My thoughts:
I read this book while traveling. It made me cry in the airport and on the plane. Crying in public is not something that I like to do. I will admit that anytime I read one of these child tragedy books I get very emotionally involved. I can't help but put myself into the role of the mother. A part of me feels a very real part of that pain. I don't know how to read this type of book any differently.I do think that I would shed many fewer tears if I could figure out how to separate myself from that.
My favorite part of this book comes in the title. The story behind that in the book is that when the boys were little and Ellen would tell them that she loved them they would ask how much. They would count up as high as the boys could at that age and then Ellen would tell them that she loves them all the numbers. I thought this was very creative and had one of those why didn't I think of that moments. When talking with Judy I was able to ask her how she came up with the idea for that. She said that she used to say that to her children when they were younger. She said that she put a lot of her real life into her writing.
I was very impressed in talking with the author. I have never gotten the opportunity to do anything like that before. She was very kind and listened to and answered all our questions. I was even able to talk to her about my feelings on Ellen. She very graciously said that she feels like she is doing her job if she writes a character and people have strong feelings for them be it good or bad. I feel that this was a once in a lifetime experience. I am grateful for the generosity of Judy Merrill Larsen and also my friend Mandy.

Would I read this book again:
I would not read this book again. I would like to clarify that is it not because it is not a good book, because it is. It's just impossible not to get caught up in the sentimentality of this book.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Why I read this book: My friend Geneva talked me into reading this book for reasons that shall not be mentioned.

Characters: Heathcliff: We got to see Heathcliff as a headstrong child, as a impassioned teen and as a broken, miserable and cruel man.
Cathy- Cathy was a willful child and was torn between loves as a young adult.
Ellen- This lady played a lot of roles in this book. The story was told from her point of view. I think this was brilliant. This made it possible for us to really see the true depth of the characters without it being blurred by being told from their prospective.
There are many other characters, but in my opinion these are the most important.

This was a wonderful, painful love story. I was surprised at the depth of emotion that the characters felt and the depth of emotion that I felt for them. As much as I felt that I should, I could not have bad feelings toward Heathcliff. The depth of his love for Cathy kept me from believing him to be all evil. I felt more dislike for Cathy who, knowing that she loved Heathcliff more, married Edgar. It was that choice, in my opinion, that led to all those years of pure heartache. This choice not only affected Cathy, Edgar and Heathcliff but also their children. If she would have followed her heart rather than her pocketbook two generations would have lived happily. I do not excuse Heathcliff's actions but feel a bit of an understanding of his behavior due to his upbringing and heartbreak.

I will say that I loved this book. I've heard many differing opinions but for me it was a great read. I loved how the characters were so raw and often jumped off the deep end. It was refreshing for me to read that kind of passion.

I have some favorite quotes from this book.

Cathy speaking to Ellen about Heathcliff " If all else perished and he remained, I should still continue to be; and all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger; I should not seem a part of it. "
Heathcliff speaking to Ellen about Edgar "And there you see the distinction between our feelings-had he been in my place and I in his, though I hated him with a hatred that turned my life to gall, I never would have raised a hand against him. You may look at me incredulous, if you please! I never would have banished him from her society as long as she desired his. The moment her regard ceased, I would have torn his heart out and drank his blood! But, till then-if you don't believe me, you don't know me-till then, I would have died by inches before I touched a single hair of his head!"

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

 

This is Emily Bronte's first & only novel. It remains one of literature's most disturbing explorations into the dark side of romantic passion. 

An unpolished and devastating epic of childhood playmates who grow into soul mates. Wuthering Heights revolves around the willfully childish Catherine & Heathcliff, who in the words of Charlotte Bronte, "exemplifies the effects which a life of continued injustice and hard usage may produce on a naturally perverse, vindictive, and inexorable disposition." Heathcliff and Cathy believe they're destined to love each other forever. But when cruelty and snobbery separate them, their untamed emotions literally consume them. 

If you thought Romeo and Juliet was a tragic love story , you have no idea. This is a tragic love story, but on a whole different level. 

I am still confused on how Mr. Heathcliff earned his money & learning.  He came back after 3 years & was so able to overcome his past & take control with ease with no leverage. Yet Catherine (marries in his absence) loved him no matter his faults & he refused to admit them to her on her imposing death. 

I did feel sorry for Heathcliff on only one page(277). I will let you find out how the younger Catherine degrades him on such a level I almost cried at it. I will keep this page bookmarked for all eternity.

I will say I have never met a family who hates their entire family, especially their children, so much. When you throw your own child over the stairs for no reason, that says enough. 

In ending, I feel I truly pity Heathcliff, the heroine dies too early, and these people are the epitome of pride & selfishness beyond all I've ever seen. There is no hero or heroine.  Although I think these characters are copiously malevolent, it is a brilliantly excuted novel.

Posted by Elphaba