Sara Schulman's novel 'Shimmer' was a disappointment. I admit, I was intrigued by the cover (I read the hardcover copy). I'm especially intrigued by the 50's since I grew up then. The novel is unfocused, angry (maybe whiney is a better word), and confusing throughout. She does not delve deep enough into her characters to make them real, they almost seem like caricatures. I kept hoping it would get better, and as a dedicated reader, I usually read to the end. I bought the book at B. Dalton, from their ... rack (I usually do this with hardcovers, once a year after the gift certificates from Christmas arrive), so I really didn't expect much, but sometimes you get a winner.
'Shimmer' is not a winner. It's a dud. If one wants to read a 'real good book' about the 50's, the McCarthy era, etc. I recommend 'The Book of Daniel' by E. L. Doctorow. Now that I bought for ... at the Humane Society Thrift Store, another of my haunts.
Initially, I kind of identified with Sylvia. She seemed real, she had a cause. But then that cause developed into a general hatred of men, hatred of the system, just finally hatred; she didn't forgive, at all. N. Tammy was a flake, someone only concerned with appearances and sex. Austin was evil incarnate and played it to the hilt. O'Dwyer a rich blowhard, but at least his heart's in the right place. Cal could have developed into a major force, but he also, is too angry and not given to giving in at any point. Caroline is another flake, sounds good but nothing there: a playgirl.
Had I known the author was an avowed lesbian, I probably would have passed on the book. I didn't even suspect until near the end of the book where Sylvia owns up to it. Had I known, I probably would have thought 'I told you so' whenever the hatred and whining showed through during the course of the story.
I really didn't see the point to the story, it lacks a sense of completeness, and it's written in kind of like a journal format with the years, the hit songs, etc. Perhaps there's a sequel to be done? Who knows. I do know I won't be reading it.
But I still like the cover.
'Shimmer' is not a winner. It's a dud. If one wants to read a 'real good book' about the 50's, the McCarthy era, etc. I recommend 'The Book of Daniel' by E. L. Doctorow. Now that I bought for ... at the Humane Society Thrift Store, another of my haunts.
Initially, I kind of identified with Sylvia. She seemed real, she had a cause. But then that cause developed into a general hatred of men, hatred of the system, just finally hatred; she didn't forgive, at all. N. Tammy was a flake, someone only concerned with appearances and sex. Austin was evil incarnate and played it to the hilt. O'Dwyer a rich blowhard, but at least his heart's in the right place. Cal could have developed into a major force, but he also, is too angry and not given to giving in at any point. Caroline is another flake, sounds good but nothing there: a playgirl.
Had I known the author was an avowed lesbian, I probably would have passed on the book. I didn't even suspect until near the end of the book where Sylvia owns up to it. Had I known, I probably would have thought 'I told you so' whenever the hatred and whining showed through during the course of the story.
I really didn't see the point to the story, it lacks a sense of completeness, and it's written in kind of like a journal format with the years, the hit songs, etc. Perhaps there's a sequel to be done? Who knows. I do know I won't be reading it.
But I still like the cover.
Sara Schulman's novel 'Shimmer' was a disappointment. I admit, I was intrigued by the cover (I read the hardcover copy). I'm especially intrigued by the 50's since I grew up then. The novel is unfocused, angry (maybe whiney is a better word), and confusing throughout. She does not delve deep enough into her characters to make them real, they almost seem like caricatures. I kept hoping it would get better, and as a dedicated reader, I usually read to the end. I bought the book at B. Dalton, from their ... rack (I usually do this with hardcovers, once a year after the gift certificates from Christmas arrive), so I really didn't expect much, but sometimes you get a winner.
'Shimmer' is not a winner. It's a dud. If one wants to read a 'real good book' about the 50's, the McCarthy era, etc. I recommend 'The Book of Daniel' by E. L. Doctorow. Now that I bought for ... at the Humane Society Thrift Store, another of my haunts.
Initially, I kind of identified with Sylvia. She seemed real, she had a cause. But then that cause developed into a general hatred of men, hatred of the system, just finally hatred; she didn't forgive, at all. N. Tammy was a flake, someone only concerned with appearances and sex. Austin was evil incarnate and played it to the hilt. O'Dwyer a rich blowhard, but at least his heart's in the right place. Cal could have developed into a major force, but he also, is too angry and not given to giving in at any point. Caroline is another flake, sounds good but nothing there: a playgirl.
Had I known the author was an avowed lesbian, I probably would have passed on the book. I didn't even suspect until near the end of the book where Sylvia owns up to it. Had I known, I probably would have thought 'I told you so' whenever the hatred and whining showed through during the course of the story.
I really didn't see the point to the story, it lacks a sense of completeness, and it's written in kind of like a journal format with the years, the hit songs, etc. Perhaps there's a sequel to be done? Who knows. I do know I won't be reading it.
But I still like the cover.
'Shimmer' is not a winner. It's a dud. If one wants to read a 'real good book' about the 50's, the McCarthy era, etc. I recommend 'The Book of Daniel' by E. L. Doctorow. Now that I bought for ... at the Humane Society Thrift Store, another of my haunts.
Initially, I kind of identified with Sylvia. She seemed real, she had a cause. But then that cause developed into a general hatred of men, hatred of the system, just finally hatred; she didn't forgive, at all. N. Tammy was a flake, someone only concerned with appearances and sex. Austin was evil incarnate and played it to the hilt. O'Dwyer a rich blowhard, but at least his heart's in the right place. Cal could have developed into a major force, but he also, is too angry and not given to giving in at any point. Caroline is another flake, sounds good but nothing there: a playgirl.
Had I known the author was an avowed lesbian, I probably would have passed on the book. I didn't even suspect until near the end of the book where Sylvia owns up to it. Had I known, I probably would have thought 'I told you so' whenever the hatred and whining showed through during the course of the story.
I really didn't see the point to the story, it lacks a sense of completeness, and it's written in kind of like a journal format with the years, the hit songs, etc. Perhaps there's a sequel to be done? Who knows. I do know I won't be reading it.
But I still like the cover.
