Review of Moving Stills
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[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Moving Stills" by Marcia Slatkin.]
Moving Stills is a novel written by Marcia Slatkin. It follows Paula's life, from her complicated childhood with parents who were unable to understand her to her loveless marriage and divorced life. The story, told in the first person, allows us to better understand the emotions and feelings of this woman who has constantly sought her place not only within her family but also within society.
The book is truly intriguing from the outset. It features Paula surrounded by her family, especially her parents, who would really like her to be smarter and more talented than other children her age. Later, and throughout her adolescence, they constantly criticize her life choices until she agrees to marry a pathologist who is decent in every way. But then, Paula's torments never end. Her marriage is loveless, and she realizes that she yearns for much more freedom.
Paula's life, while not full of suspense, highlights the difficulties faced by many within the family. The parents are certainly not evil, but the choices they make and the fears they pass on to their children will leave marks that will reverberate throughout the lives of the protagonist and her siblings. No one is perfect, and everyone is doing their best. The book is also very telling about the value of forgiveness, while also remembering the mistakes made.
I really liked the author's tone, a very honest one, which immerses us directly in the emotions and torments of the main character. The chapters are also easy to understand, even if some ellipses are a little too abrupt.
Although, I must say that there is one chapter that made me uncomfortable. It's a chapter in which the protagonist, a teenager at the time, agrees to have sexual contact with a man in his forties. Although sexual awakening is a central theme for the protagonist, I found this chapter too graphic, even inappropriate.
I also found the book a bit long-winded. Some passages feel repetitive, as not much is happening.
Overall, I rate Moving Stills3 stars out of 5. Although the book is well-crafted and addresses generational trauma, societal expectations, and finding one's place in a hostile world with great tact, I still found the pacing too slow and some chapters uncomfortable.
This book will appeal to all fans of life stories who delve into the deep psychology of the characters!
******
Moving Stills
View: on Bookshelves |
Moving Stills is a novel written by Marcia Slatkin. It follows Paula's life, from her complicated childhood with parents who were unable to understand her to her loveless marriage and divorced life. The story, told in the first person, allows us to better understand the emotions and feelings of this woman who has constantly sought her place not only within her family but also within society.
The book is truly intriguing from the outset. It features Paula surrounded by her family, especially her parents, who would really like her to be smarter and more talented than other children her age. Later, and throughout her adolescence, they constantly criticize her life choices until she agrees to marry a pathologist who is decent in every way. But then, Paula's torments never end. Her marriage is loveless, and she realizes that she yearns for much more freedom.
Paula's life, while not full of suspense, highlights the difficulties faced by many within the family. The parents are certainly not evil, but the choices they make and the fears they pass on to their children will leave marks that will reverberate throughout the lives of the protagonist and her siblings. No one is perfect, and everyone is doing their best. The book is also very telling about the value of forgiveness, while also remembering the mistakes made.
I really liked the author's tone, a very honest one, which immerses us directly in the emotions and torments of the main character. The chapters are also easy to understand, even if some ellipses are a little too abrupt.
Although, I must say that there is one chapter that made me uncomfortable. It's a chapter in which the protagonist, a teenager at the time, agrees to have sexual contact with a man in his forties. Although sexual awakening is a central theme for the protagonist, I found this chapter too graphic, even inappropriate.
I also found the book a bit long-winded. Some passages feel repetitive, as not much is happening.
Overall, I rate Moving Stills3 stars out of 5. Although the book is well-crafted and addresses generational trauma, societal expectations, and finding one's place in a hostile world with great tact, I still found the pacing too slow and some chapters uncomfortable.
This book will appeal to all fans of life stories who delve into the deep psychology of the characters!
******
Moving Stills
View: on Bookshelves |
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