tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921792247092751297.post7654947951893757542..comments2023-07-14T11:39:48.746-04:00Comments on Smashwords Books Reviewed : Featured Author: Susanne O'LearyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921792247092751297.post-67947571207403610412010-10-04T16:56:09.753-04:002010-10-04T16:56:09.753-04:00My intentions? To show that nobody is perfect and ...My intentions? To show that nobody is perfect and that you CAN love someone despite their flaws, as long as you have the imagination to see the heart and the soul within. And Maud certainly does...susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10641069952150378913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921792247092751297.post-31180956765599507172010-10-04T14:07:24.634-04:002010-10-04T14:07:24.634-04:00Susan- Excellent explanation and this comment;
&q...Susan- Excellent explanation and this comment;<br /><br />"In any case, the fact that I was still thinking about it days later is a testament to the strength of the novel." <br /><br />This is certainly what every author strives for from their readers.<br /><br />Thanks for the additional commentary!Sean Patrick Reardonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051252366031997054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921792247092751297.post-72194778657516219292010-10-04T11:10:28.787-04:002010-10-04T11:10:28.787-04:00Sean -- What I liked most about Swedish for Beginn...Sean -- What I liked most about Swedish for Beginners were its portrayals of family relationships. Sometimes when we try to describe family members whom we are fond of to friends, the friends can see their flaws a lot more clearly than we ever could.<br /><br />As someone with a very small family, I understood how Maud could overlook the flaws of her cousin because she thought it was more important to have Barbara in her life than to call her on her bitchiness. Blood ties can trump likeability.<br /><br />Maud's relationship with her stepmother and its evolution, on the other hand, shows how we sometimes "choose" our family -- in which case, likeability trumps blood ties!<br /><br />The more I thought about the "flaw" that I saw -- the unlikeable characteristics of Barbara -- the more I wondered about Susanne O'Leary's intentions. <br /><br />In any case, the fact that I was still thinking about it days later is a testament to the strength of the novel.Susan Wells Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05868839291466166576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1921792247092751297.post-47150674594598263232010-10-04T10:16:02.592-04:002010-10-04T10:16:02.592-04:00Neil- Another great post.
Susanne- Very good answ...Neil- Another great post.<br /><br />Susanne- Very good answers. I'm of Irish heritage and my wife's of Swedish heritage. I agree with you on the excellent writers coming out of Ireland. Adrian McKinty, Declan Burke, and Arlene Hunt are just a few that have great stuff out there. Best of luck with SFB.<br /><br />Susan- Interesting review. I particularly like this comment "Despite its flaws (or perhaps because of them), it has a lot to say about the true definition of family."<br /><br />If you read this comment would love you to elaborate on it, if possible.Sean Patrick Reardonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051252366031997054noreply@blogger.com