Run
by Ann Patchett
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Book Reviews of Run
Book Review: Slowly Reaches the Finish Line
Summary: 2 Stars
I wanted so much to like this book. It speaks to so many life-impacting themes - family, race, class, politics, science. But, the many enjoyable parts do not congeal into a satisfying whole. The prose is softly spoken even when describing pain and death, and follow-on grief. The writer turns some phrases so well that they warrant reading them aloud. In a natural, off-hand manner, Patchett centers the plot on a white politician's and his wife's adopting two black children to fill out their one-child family. The children's acceptance by the Irish extended family further defines the capacity to love those born outside our bloodline. This is a strong, well done element of the book. The first sentence tells us that Bernadette, the mother has died, and this sets the tone for how the all-male unit, including the uncle, Father Sullivan continues in her absence. Yet, she is never truly absent; her memory drives the men's thoughts and actions. Also, the writer uses the device of the mother to connect to the other females, including the statue of the Madonna. Two of these females are another mother and her daughter, who are introduced in a contrived scene (one of several that just don't ring true). All the characters, including walk-on parts, convey nearly total goodness. Perhaps, this is the critical weakness in the story: everyone is just too good. The inter-generational conflict, the appearance of the birth mother, everyone's quiet approach to loss (lots of losses here), are subdued to the point of robotic. Yes, the characters are likeable, even lovable, if too often flat. The research in history and science is apparent. There just isn't enough dramatic heat to fuel total interest in the story.Book Review: What does it mean to be a family?
Summary: 4 Stars
Unlike Bel Canto, the spellbinding novel that first introduced me to Ann Patchett's talents, Run doesn't immediately charm with a wildly imaginative setting and premise. But over the course of the book, Run shows the same deep insight into humanity that Patchett shares with other great writers, and builds to a conclusion that left me teary-eyed on the final page, something that I consider no small accomplishment from a work of art.
Run is set in present-day Boston, but as with Bel Canto, it is not the setting that is most important, or the novel's great strength, but it is the people, their intersections, and the questions they raise: about adoption, about family, about community, about politics, and about why we try to make of our lives what we do. One could argue (as is discussed in the worthwhile interview with the author) that the book is about any one of these things, but the way it touches on truths relating to all of these themes gives the story its power, regardless of your background.
I was hoping to simply read Run for enjoyment--e.g. not make notes, just drift along on the current of the story--but then I kept coming across effortlessly polished pearls of wisdom and so the moleskine had to come out. Observations like this: "His undoing had started out simply, as undoings often will," or "It was a sign of maturity that he could recognize a peaceful moment and decide to let it stand" show how Patchett, like other great writers, points us to truths about life that resonate even if we haven't experienced them. And that is one of fiction's greatest gifts. I will actively seek out more of Patchett's work in the future.
Book Review: Run where the heart takes you...
Summary: 4 Stars
A tender, lovely book, about Bernard & Bernardette Doyle who, after the birth of their son Sullivan are unable to have more children and decide to adopt. Teddy, an African-American infant is therefore welcomed into their family with open arms and soon after his older brother Tip joins the family too, much to their delight. Everything seems to be perfect until Bernardette dies prematurely.
Bernard finds himself to raise the three boys alone. He is very protective and has plans for them, however between his politically-oriented job and raising the family by himself, as the kids grow up some strain starts to develop between them. Sullivan, much older than Tip & Teddy, moves out very quickly and resurfaces only every now & then.
One snowy night, a stranger passing by with her daughter saves Tip from an accident, but she ends up badly injured. The Doyle's lives shall change forever after the accident.
My first book by Ann Patchett but I shall read more. The prose flows beautifully, despite the intricate backs & forths from past to present, from character to character. This shifting however is uncomplicated and it adds an interesting touch to the narrative style.
I gave it 4 stars (instead of 5) only because, despite my liking it a lot, I found some situations a bit far-fetched, and some of the characters with a goody-goody quality that I found a bit unreal given the circumstances.
All in all however, I would say that this book is quite a page-turner and I would certainly recommend it.
Book Review: Nice, feel-good story (3.25*s)
Summary: 3 Stars
This novel is a rather kindly, subdued look at a mix of family, race, and class issues that in other hands would likely have been far more explosive. Boston, Irish politico Doyle (no first name given) has single-handedly raised his two black, adopted sons, Teddy, age 20, and Tip, age 21, for the last sixteen years. His natural-born son Sullivan, age 33, has proven to be a disappointment, but his adopted two have grown to show great potential for whatever life may bring.
The story, which occurs over a twenty-four hour period, gets its impetus when Tip's life is fortuitously saved by a black woman who knocks him out of the way of a SUV in a nighttime snow storm, only to be seriously injured herself. The woman has an eleven-year-old daughter named Kenya, who seems to be remarkably mature and prescient, especially in terms of her knowing details of the Doyle family. As the mother Tennessee is visited in the hospital and Kenya is taken under the wings of the Doyle's, more is learned of the connections and commonalities of all parties.
The book is basically a feel-good examination of family and its possibilities even in the face of the premature death of a parent, the short-changing of birth-mothers, and the difficulties of adoption. The book is fairly short as the night's events are resolved; the characters are no more than sketched; but the most interesting character by far is Kenya. Overall, the book is a nice, short story, but it really makes no effort to aspire to greatness.
Book Review: lacks depth - good beach read, if you're into that sort of thing
Summary: 2 Stars
Let me start off by saying that this book was a fast-paced read. I 'ran' through it in 2 days (sorry for that, I couldn't help it). The hook kept me going, and I wanted to find out what happened. Patchett did a good job baiting me through the text. However, as you may have guessed, I have some issues.
First, there is point of view. Written in the third person, the author is in everyone's head. While this allows us more access to events and background story, something important is lost in the process - the reader forms no deep connection with the characters. This, to me, is the book's biggest flaw. To jump from character to character is okay, but then explore at least one of them in greater emotional depth. Give us someone to latch onto.
This first point is related to my second major issue with the book - it comes across as superficial. It reads almost like a screenplay, and treads very lightly on the 'issues' highlighted on the book jacket. My feeling is that if Patchett had beefed up this book by about 100 pages with meaningful character development it would have been a fantastic read.
Finally, the ending felt 'patched' on, and it was also a little too fairy tale Hollywood for me. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against happy endings, but this one felt too Sunday Night Disney Movie warm and fuzzy for me. In fact, now that I think of it, this book would probably make a great sunday night movie. One that I'd watch and enjoy, but would forget soon afterwards.