|
|
|
Évaluation du client type
Partagez votre opinion avec les autres clients
|
|
|
› Voir les points de vue les plus utiles
|
|
Why spend time with someone so thoroughly unpleasant?!, Jui 15 2004
All He Ever Wanted begins with a hotel fire in the early 1900's. The narrator of the story (who is recounting his past while en route to his sister's funeral) bachelor Nicholas Van Tassel, a stuffy professor at a snotty boys' school, is inside the hotel when the blaze begins but leaves unscathed. During this tragedy where twenty people perish in a fiery death he meets the woman of his dreams, Etna Bliss. Etna's "handsome" face, her lovely waist and her other womanly attributes haunt his every thought. Even her name, Bliss, brings lusty thoughts to his mind (and starts my skin to crawling). His infatuation is all consuming and before long he begins to pursue her with all of the gusto of a starving dog drooling over a choice bit of meat. She eventually agrees to a date where he learns, a bit to his dismay, that she has a brain as well as fine breasts and is surprisingly literate. They read stories together and seem to get along well but when he makes a move or turns the conversation towards the personal she immediately gives him the cold shoulder. I should add that Nicholas is described as the most un-athletic man on earth with a slight paunch and a balding pate. The sexual attraction seems entirely one-sided and a bit creepy. At this point I would've put the book aside unfinished as I found Nicholas Van Tassel boring beyond belief and far too pompous. However, since I was listening to this in its unabridged format and I was stuck in traffic I continued to torture myself with Nicholas Van Tassel's words (expertly read by a narrator who reads in a purposely haughty way). Despite the fact that Etna does not return his feelings of undying love he insists that they marry and, oddly enough, she agrees! Thus begins their awkward life together. During their years of marriage they parent two children (and, thakfully, we are spared the oogey details of their sterile love making ~ thank you Mr. Van Tassel for speedily skipping by those bits and saving me a few shudders!) and seem to get along decently enough as they plod along through their days. Nicholas gives Etna a nice life and the freedom to do whatever she wishes but sadly the love Nicholas aches for is never returned by Etna. Nicholas, the poor love starved sap, is grateful just to have her for his wife and doesn't complain about her complete lack of affection towards him. But things begin to change when he discovers that Etna has been hiding things from him. This is where the book finally picked up and actually engaged my full attention. At this point Nicholas *almost* becomes a sympathetic character if you can believe it (though he is still a thoroughly unpleasant fellow)! He is riddled with insecurities and although he has been married to a woman he cherishes for years he will never be a happy or successful man. His world begins to spiral out of control as he simultaneously discovers Etna's been keeping secrets and learns the position he's been longing to have at the University may be forever out of his reach. Nicholas's festering jealously and over-reaction to Etna's secret (which was odd but not nearly as devastatingly earth-shattering as I'd anticipated), however, ruin any smidgen of pity I may have felt for him just a few chapters earlier. Author Shreve successfully paints an unpleasant picture of a thoroughly unpleasant man caught up in a situation of his own making. Reading Nicolas Van Tassel's vitriolic comments and actions for pages on end was a depressing experience that I won't be repeating any time soon!
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Very Good Read, Fév 14 2004
Anita Shreve is very readable. She writes this novel as her others - with intelligence, and a penetrating look into the human heart and motivations. Like some of the other reviewers, I agree that this one may be a little short on story but it is written as a "memoir" from the husband's perspective in a 3-day train ride. So the reality of that would not lend itself to a War and Peace type of novel. If you enjoy Anita Shreve, you will like this book a lot. So far my favorite is Fortune's Rocks.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interesting., Fév 3 2004
Par Un client
Even though the book interested me at first, I became more than just a bit depressed halfway through the narrative. Even so, I found that I was unable to lay the book down, feeling compelled to complete the story. Although I was dissatisfied with the eventual outcome, the ending still managed to ring true. Indeed, love and jealously were wondrously pitted within the makeup of one individual. The result was disastrous, as can only be expected. If you read this book to feel 'good' about life, marriage and family, then consider picking another novel. However, if you wish to experience life - the good with the bad - the pretty with the ugly, then the character study within this book is well worth the effort.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
too much missing, Janv. 31 2004
Par Un client
Though I liked the writing, too much was left unresolved. (Don't read further if you've not read the book). We never learn the details of Etna's relationship with Samuel (either prior to marrying or after). I expected some big revelation that would help define Etna, but alas, it never came...only Nicholas' imagining what happened between Etna and Samuel's family. Also, Etna's final act was not in character...she loved her children so, yet was willing to abandon them? Given her previous acts, and her obvious love for her children, this did not make sense. Another disconnect-if Etna viewed her husband as a "monster," why would she ever leave her children with him? Too many holes to be satisfying.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
All I've Ever Wanted..., Janv. 26 2004
This is the 5th book by Anita Shreve I've read and they have all been fascinating page-turners that couldn't be put down until the bitter end. And, indeed, every one has a bitter ending -- this one in particular. I now realize... all I've ever wanted is an Anita Shreve novel with a happy ending!! I'm a "glass is half-full optimist" and I'm tiring of reading these compelling stories about pathetic people desperately pursuing lives preordained to tragic disappointment. Yes, the story is personally thought-provoking. Yes, the author is brilliant. Yes, I recommend this book highly and I really should have given it 4 or 5 stars, but I just can't read any more Anita Shreve until a happier story comes along... Will some reviewer please let me know when that happens?
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bleak and dreary, Déc 5 2003
This book is set in a Pennsylvannia college town at the turn of the last century. It is about a man's obsession to possess a woman, ie all he ever wanted. The main character is neither likable nor particularly interesting. The object of his affection, Etna Bliss (and there are some rotten puns on that name)is unappealling as well. So what is there to hold one's attention? The writing is deft and accurate, but it is not enough. I didn't like this story. It was very gloomy and self-consciously literary.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bleak and dreary, Déc 5 2003
This book is set in a Pennsylvannia college town. It is about a man's obsession to possess a woman, ie all he ever wanted. The main character is neither likable nor particularly interesting. The object of his affection (and there are some rotten puns on that name)is unappealling as well. So what is there to hold one's attention? The writing is deft and accurate, but it is not enough. I didn't like this story. It was very gloomy and self-consciously literary.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Love, Lies and Secrets, Nov. 16 2003
"I set out to win the hand of the woman whose voice and hair and skin seemed to have permeated every membrane of my body and breached every boundary of my soul." - Nicholas Van Tassel, 1899.This story is delivered as a recollection by Nicholas Van Tassel, now 64 years old, on his way to Florida by train to attend his sister's funeral. Along his journey Nicholas replays the past in his mind, putting his memoirs to paper. He recalls his past and the choices he's made over the years while reflecting the consequences of those choices. It all took place in New Hampshire, 1899. It started with that terrible fire in the hotel's restaurant. How ironic that what started with a tragedy should end similarly. As fate would have it, Nicholas was dining at that restaurant. Beyond the smoke and chaos, he notices Etna Bliss and is instantly smitten by her. Etna is staying with her uncle who teaches at the same men's college as Nicholas. A courtship begins and quickly progresses until Nicholas proclaims his love for Etna and asks for her hand in marriage. Completely honest with her feelings, Etna agrees to the marriage, although she does not love Nicholas. Fourteen years and two children later, secrets will be revealed and lies will be told, putting this family to the ultimate test. I liked Nicholas in the beginning. A true romantic, seeking out the woman he loves. Later, as he turned desperately conniving, I despised him and his obsession with his nemesis Philip Asher. In the end, I only pitied him. Until the end, which I will not reveal, Etna was a very likeable character. She was very independent and modern-day, especially for a turn-of-the-century woman. I enjoyed the language and tone used in the writing of this piece, finding it easy to follow and enjoyable. However, the story itself left a little to be desired.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Despicable & Pathetic Pair of Main Characters, Sep 22 2003
Par Un client
It was suggested I read this book since it was written in first person, and I found it interesting enough to finish. However, since I didn't care much for "Seaglass," I began it with trepidation. Ms. Shreve writes a decent novel, but I find it extremely hard to warm up to her characters. They're particularly pathetic, perhaps too much like real life people for my literary appetite. Both Etna and Nicholas have no redeeming character traits, and I found myself feeling sorry for their kids' personality inheritance. I think this book might appropriately be retitled "Late Victorian Academics Behaving Badly."I don't think I'll be picking up another Anita Shreve book anytime soon and am considering adding my copy to Amazon's growing resale pile since I don't plan to read "All He Ever Wanted" again.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some what disappointing, Aoû 11 2003
I bought the book based on some recommendations here. This was my first Anita Shreve book to read. I think we all begin a book with some kind of expectation. For me, I was looking to read more a prose type of story; so please understand that after reading my review. I found the writing very similar to a Sherlock Holmes story. I had hoped there would be more emphasis on Etna's point of view, so the letters she had written were a welcomed relief. If Nicholas had "truly" loved Etna, would he not let her go? But in (my)reality he did not love her. I suppose the book would've been better if Nicholas's character would have come to that conclusion. Nicholas's character was certainly boring. The incident with Nicholas's daughter was ridiculous. Suddenly, I'm reading something out of the 1990's and was a complete turn off. Anita certainly seems to be a good writer. Based on other's comments, I'm sure some of her other books are better.
Aidez d'autres clients à trouver les commentaires les plus utiles
Ce commentaire vous a-t-il été utile ?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ce produit
|
|
CDN$ 16.99 CDN$ 12.40
Habituellement expédié sous 3 à 5 semaines
| |
|
|
|
Accueil Amazon
