I've heard it said that love is not enough for a marriage to work. That there are factors such as having the same religion that make the success more likely. We find out that Lily dies just five years after the marriage. I found myself wondering how things went between Arthur and Lilly when the "rose colored glasses"stage of marriage wear off. Obviously one of the main events of the book is that Lily and Arthur do get married, but I wonder. What do you think? On the other hand I found myself cheering for Arthur and Lily as they broke the rules and that "rule" breaking was laced throughout the book for a period of several years.
I thought the line between the Jews and the Christians and how it was explained and portrayed was very interesting. I also thought that the brief periods of time where both sides of the street found common ground was something to celebrate. I found myself feeling sad that the united sense of community could not last longer.
I love this author because of his story, age and history. I think its commendable that he kept writing throughout his life. I love that he, at the age of 97 published his first book, his second is due out this May and when asked if he would write a third (and I can't find exactly what he said right now) but he said something to the effect that he didn't know but he would try. I look forward to reading the next book by this author.
8 comments:
Wow Amie! That sounds like such an interesting book! I wasn't able to read it because our library doesn't have it. Thank you for telling about the author, it was interesting. Maybe I will have to get this book through interlibrary loan!
I read this book a while ago and while I don't remember enough to talk about my favorite parts, I do remember that I enjoyed it. Amie, I didn't know he was writing another book and I'm excited to learn that.
I agree with Amie about being mostly interested in Harry and his mother--his mother in particular. I just wanted her to catch a break at some point, like most books, and it breaks my heart that she never really got one, especially it being a true story. I have often thought of her as I start complaining (especially when it comes to the stupid stuff I complain about my husband) and I realize that many have it much worse than I do and I am grateful for a husband who loves me and willingly hands the paycheck over to me:).
It is also an interesting book to compare to our lives as LDS. I don't think that we segregate ourselves from other religions as they do in the book (at least I hope not), but I couldn't help wonder how I would react if one of my sons decided to marry a nonmember. I am sure that we wouldn't act as if he were dead, but I wouldn't be extremely happy about it, mostly for the reasons that Amie brought up. I am not confident that love conquers all problems. I think that it would be extremely hard to be married to someone who didn't grow up with the values and beliefs that I have or simply doesn't take them seriously. It seems that Lily and Arthur were in a way trying to distance themselves from everything they had been taught growing up, but I don't think you can just abandon your childhood--if you could, I wouldn't take my mothering responsibilities as seriously. It seems like at some point these things would have to become a factor in a marriage, unfortunately in this case, we will never know. Any thoughts??
Anyway, I really liked the book, especially considering the author, you can't help but love him!! I would read the second one if I got the chance. Lindsay, if you get a chance, read it--it is a little depressing all that the mother has to go through for her family, but it is a good story and she is a heroine in my eyes. Some people are never rewarded in this life for what they do--those are the ones to admire the most. I hope that I would love my family that much if I was put in a situation like that.
Since I couldn't read The Invisible Wall I read The Arabian Nights. How interesting! Has anyone else read this? Have you Alisha? I was wondering why you chose it, please tell! I found it interesting to know that it is the most cirulated book besides the Bible! I suppose that in and of itself makes it remarkable. The stories fascinated me because you are hard pressed to find a lesson or moral but they are certainly high adventure!! "Fate" is a huge part of these stories and great things came to those who didn't really deserve them! The view on women was a constant annoyance to me, but that can be expected since these stories are old. When I think about it, wow, it could be much worse! I still have two stories left in the book but March is very over so I thought I would post my comments. I am glad to have been pointed to this book and did find it a fascinating and worthwhile read. My favorite story of the collection was "The Three Calendars."
This book was great. Very thoughtful yet simple, heartfelt yet plainly told, wonderous and also sad, and definately worthwhile. One of the saddest parts for me was the day Lilly was to go to her first day of grammar school having passed her exam with flying colors and earning a scholarship only to be dragged to the tailor shop by her heartless father. He may have changed her life forever by taking away that opportunity from her. One of my favorite parts (the most obvious) was the party with the joining of the two sides - a step towards equality, yes, more more significantly, a step toward compassion for others. I loved 'arry's relationship with Lilly. I wanted to hear more about Rose who was jealous and never happy because she never had what she wanted. I wondered at her relationship with her mother through her later years. I was so touched by the mother! I loved this woman. I loved her tireless work to better the lives of her children. She was compassionate. My book said under the title, "a love story that broke barriers" and I can assume they meant the love between Arthur and Lilly but it was the love of the mother for her daughter (despite her husbands constant prejudice and meaness, and despite the religious belief of mourning a person choosing to no longer be a Jew) that broke barriers. She was the character with the battle inside herself and she was the one that went to her daughter and celebrated her and the new baby while so convinced of her religious beliefs. It was her love that overcame the barrier.
I love that the mother would stand at the bottom of the stairs and count and the children would drop their clothing on top of her and laugh as she tried to catch it all at once. And then she would stay up each night sewing their one set of clothing. She tore up her only good dress to make nice clothes for Harry to go to school in. She paid for the rotton fruit to resell at her store. She was good and she never got a break. Rose always wanted more from her (such as a parlor) and Lilly always wanted her to believe differently. The poor woman was with a horrid man. Thank goodness she had her friends, thus, the shop. I love your words, Alisha, that she will be rewarded in the next life and she is the kind to admire the most.
I also ponder the significance of Lilly and Arthur turning their backs to the Jewish and Christian beliefs they were taught growing up. Arthur's mother became a Liberalist herself and I can see there may have been a difference in the way religion was taught to each child. For Lilly, it was a way of life and one each Jewish person was expected to be proud of. Lilly choose something else and it was devestating to the community. How would I react if my sons or daughters married someone not of our faith?
I also loved the side stories that demonstrated so well the attitudes of the people. Ah, the invisible wall that ran the length of the street. It was compassion for another person that began to tear it down (example: the woman who started their fires and her change of heart). I marveled at their involvement with each other and their help towards each other. Thank you, Alisha, for recommending this book.
I also read the Arabian Nights (and awhile ago the Jungle Book). I read many of the stories with Klark and he was fascninated by them. Why, I wonder? They are intriging, yes, but often their outcome so unpresidented. Sometimes I see a clear moral to be had, but the story would take a different direction and the moral was lost (I think mostly of the story about the talking bird, tree, and the water). The stories were quick to kill a person and a womans worth seemed to only remain in her beauty (with the exception of Arabian Night and the maid who saved the younger brother and his family).
Lindsay, I was interested to learn from you that these stories have been around so long. That makes me all the more curious. They are intriging, to say the least.
I find Rudyard Kipling to be brilliant and his messages and morals more explicit and profound. Nevertheless, his stories also hold much interest and fascination. I have read Jungle Book and the included stories several times. They can be stories to refer to much as a fable can be. And, my boys love his stories. Rudyard is a very clever man, indeed.
ShaLisa,
The forward of my Arabian Nights book told a little of its history, that is the only reason I knew. I wanted to tell you all that I learned that the new winner of the Newberry Honor book is a retelling of The Jungle Book, its called The Graveyard Book. Gary read it without realizing it was a retelling (I'm sure many of us would do the same) but when I told him he was able to look back and place the characters. He liked it but it does not seem to have been remarkable to him. I say this because he has not talked about it much. I have wondered if I wanted to read this book, but knowing it is a retelling intrigues me. I will think about it. A graveyard is an interesting thing to read about, and I might as well read it because it is likely my children will read it in school since it now won an award! I might as well know whats in it. :)
I read again in the forward that there are 250 tales in the compilation of Arabian nights, no wonder I don't recognize the stories ShaLisa talked of. Perhaps our books have different stories! Mine looks like it was published in the 50s or 60s. Interesting.
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