I'm so excited to be participating in the Take A Chance Challenge hosted by Jenners over at Find Your Next Book Here. She has come up with 10 fun and clever tasks that involve books, reading, and even a little writing. This is my blog entry for Challenge #2.
Here are the instructions for this particular challenge:
2.Random Word
Go to this random word generator and generate a random word. Find a book with this word in the title. Read the book and write about it.
I knew this one would be very interesting. I went to the random word generator, and, I cannot lie...I did not go with the first random word that was generated. I didn't go with the second random word, either. I tried, but, I just couldn't find any books that I wanted to read whose titles contained the words "prostitute" or "bog." (Yikes, does this make me a cheater?) Anyway, when I finally got the word "away" I figured that was a much safer choice. I searched around on paperbackswap.com and found this:
Away by Amy Bloom
This story takes place during the early 1920's. Lillian Leyb is the main character - a young Jewish wife and mother whose entire family is slaughtered in a Russian pogrom. After losing her parents, husband, and little daughter, Lillian comes to America to start a new life. We follow along as Lillian tries to make her way in a new land. When word reaches Lillian that her daughter may have actually survived the massacre, she begins a desperate journey to try and find the truth. Her search takes her from New York's Lower East Side, to Seattle, to Alaska, and along the "fabled Telegraph Trail" toward Siberia, where she thinks her daughter may be living. The hardships she faces during her search are great. Throughout her travels, she meets several people who impact her life in some way or other. One thing I really liked about this book - even though Lillian moved on and was no longer involved with a person, the author lets you know how that person's life played out. She gives a brief synopsis to let you know what became of the people Lillian met.
The book started a little slowly for me at first, but, I was drawn in soon enough. Then, it became a fairly quick and easy read. Without giving away the ending, I will just say that I thought it was rather abrupt; not quite what I was expecting. But, it was a satisfying ending, nonetheless.
(if you decide to check out this book, be aware that it does contain some mature sexual subject matter)
8 comments:
Sounds like a good book.
Wishing you a Tremendous Thursday!
that sounds like a good book!
Sounds like a good book. What a fun way to come up with a new book.
Sounds good!
Love your blog design as well :)
I don't think you cheated ... as along as you gave it a little bit of a try! I must admit, "bog" and "prostitute" are some doozys. And I think I had this book to read at one point and then didn't -- I'll have to see if I still have it around. I like that the author gives you follow-up on the people she meets! Sounds like a slow starter, a great middle and a sudden end! Great job!
sounds like a good book. I didn't go with my first generated word either :) Thanks for stopping by.
I was able to go with my first word 'keep' but there were some very interesting titles that came up when I searched. Good Review!
What is your paperbackswap nickname? I'm on it as kristalo!
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