Saving the World

I actively decided to stop reading this book, over 3/4 of the way through. Enough was enough. And stopping a book once I've started it is a rare occurrence. I was surprised myself--I loved Alvarez's "In the Time of the Butterflies", but this was nowhere near up to that standard. It was interesting,......more

This belongs that hit or miss category of novel that attempts to connect a contemporary story rooted in the modern woes of a writer/journalist with the subject of her historical research. The novel becomes the story of two women from vastly different circumstances and eras whose stories begin to mer......more

Two stories alternately told are separated by time but linked thematically. Excellent story (ies), beautifully written. I thought it "worked" overall and was fascinated by the true story of the Spanish Royal Philanthropic Expedition which I had never heard of until I read this book. Although some cr......more

quotes I like: "There has to be a place left in modern life for a crisis of the soul, a dark night that doesn't have a chemical solution." "people don't just belong to themselves, ..., they belong to the people who love them." "...they keep the world running.Somebody's got to do it. Just like someone h......more