Search the Products Store
Search the Book Store
clog dancing Book Store Index
Privacy Policy
Copyright Notice
Home
|
|
The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God |
Author: Timothy Schaffert
Published: 2005-11-21 |
List price: $14.95
Our price: $11.66
|
Usually ships in 24 hours
As of: November 19th, 2008 10:22:56 AM
|
|
|
Customer comments on this selection.
 Interesting take on a standard story type
There have been thousands of stories based on broken families in eccentric small-towns, but not many of them are as well-written as this one. The storytelling was fairly tight with enough twists to seperate Schaffert's novel from others.
The characters were rich and interesting, but I would have liked to have known more about some of them. Mrs. Schrock, Ozzie, and Rose either needed to be more fully developed or omitted. The Smith family were believable without being cliche or too familiar. All of the characters worked in illustrating the theme of familial loss, but sometimes they were a smidge too subtle. That said, I'll take subtle over heavy-handed any day, but I was left wanting a bit more.
Overall, I think the novel might have benefitted from another 50 pages or so. Otherwise, it's an engrossing, enjoyable read with characters who will reside in my head for quite some time, I'm sure.
 A Warm, Witty Look at Family
Timothy Schaffert's 2nd novel is much more than the typical, quirky rural novel; it's a tender, thoughtful examination of parents and children. I thought it expertly captured that duality we parents all face: our fierce desire to protect and love our children, contrasted with the damage we sometimes inflict upon them, despite our best intentions. Hud, Tuesday and Oz are deeply flawed and barely able to make sense of their own lives, let alone their children's, but that doesn't stop them from loving their children deeply and trying, no matter what, to keep their families together. In the end I cared so much about these characters I wanted to wrap my arms around them and take them home with me. I can't wait until Schaffert's next book.
 not a winner
I did not find any of the characters believable! Suspension of disbelief never happened for me: I'm not buying that everyone went trick-or-treating early in celebration of the execution of a man who killed his kids. I'm not buying it that Hud & Tuesday can make a living by playing piano & face painting, respectively.
 Not terrible but of a typical type
The poor, the downtrodden, the huddled masses... find your compassion, chuck in a few laughs, and it's off to the races as you watch dysfunctional lives try to become whole. It's well-written, funny and the characters are endearing, but I've now seen so many stories constructed along this line, I want to put up a billboard outside Schaffert's house: "Yes, We Know, Already." My soul wasn't changed by this book, and while it's not a terrible read, it's not one I'm compelled to recommend either.
Eccentricly Wonderful!
Timothy Schaffert's style is takes-no-prisoners wonderful. The Singing and Dancing Daughters of God is filled with characters who have foibles and flaws but who take the reader along on a wonderful ride. As a librarian I can recommend this book to an over-70 crowd knowing they will appreciate it, but more importantly I can give it to my 20-year-old daughter and know she'll love it too. It's a rare writer who appeals to such a wide range of readers. This novel is very nearly perfect.
|
|
Our clog dancing book picks:
|
|
Search the clog dancing Products Store
LCS Amazon Store 2.5 © 2008
|