Across an Ocean
Updates from June's sharing session.... Unfortunately, Li Sa was unable to share her books (very bz woman!) So here' s mine..
==============================================
Dear Exile: the true story of 2 friends separated (for a year) by an ocean
By: Hilary Liftin & Kate Montgomery
Dear
Exile is a candid and humourous look at a relationship between two women; roommates and best friends in college. Newly married Kate and her husband, Dave, travels to Kenya to volunteer and teach at various schools in villages. Hilary moves to New York City, where she looks for a suitable job, a decent place to live and her other half. Both women chronicle their travels, mis-adventures and other life experiences in their letters to each other.
What I especially like about the book is that it deals with many issues but in a light-hearted way. In a broader perspective, the book deals with cultural differences, for eg. the Americans (first world) and Kenyans (third world) cultural clashes. Back home, Hilary suffers her own 'culture shock' when she goes to work, caving in to the standards of office and beauty cultures. Other issues dealt with are relationships between people they meet (incl men-women relationships), and staying true to one's dreams when having to make adjustments in life.
One of my favourite observations in the book is by Hilary when she writes her wry thoughts about differences between her life as a single woman and the lives of couples, in particular from pg 52 and 64.
Another big question that the book tries to tackle is how much an individual can do to make a change in society. Kate and her husband leave Kenya because they don't have the spirit or the energy to move to another village. Are they giving up too soon? Were they too idealistic?
The book works well as the letters make their experiences more real and personal. It shows the power of friendship which should not be taken for granted. Effort needs to be put in to order to make it work.
~~ Rasica MH
PS: Hilary has another book "Candy and Me (A Love Story)" ... check it out!
=============================================
==============================================
Dear Exile: the true story of 2 friends separated (for a year) by an ocean
By: Hilary Liftin & Kate Montgomery
Dear
Exile is a candid and humourous look at a relationship between two women; roommates and best friends in college. Newly married Kate and her husband, Dave, travels to Kenya to volunteer and teach at various schools in villages. Hilary moves to New York City, where she looks for a suitable job, a decent place to live and her other half. Both women chronicle their travels, mis-adventures and other life experiences in their letters to each other.
What I especially like about the book is that it deals with many issues but in a light-hearted way. In a broader perspective, the book deals with cultural differences, for eg. the Americans (first world) and Kenyans (third world) cultural clashes. Back home, Hilary suffers her own 'culture shock' when she goes to work, caving in to the standards of office and beauty cultures. Other issues dealt with are relationships between people they meet (incl men-women relationships), and staying true to one's dreams when having to make adjustments in life.
One of my favourite observations in the book is by Hilary when she writes her wry thoughts about differences between her life as a single woman and the lives of couples, in particular from pg 52 and 64.
Another big question that the book tries to tackle is how much an individual can do to make a change in society. Kate and her husband leave Kenya because they don't have the spirit or the energy to move to another village. Are they giving up too soon? Were they too idealistic?
The book works well as the letters make their experiences more real and personal. It shows the power of friendship which should not be taken for granted. Effort needs to be put in to order to make it work.
~~ Rasica MH
PS: Hilary has another book "Candy and Me (A Love Story)" ... check it out!
=============================================
posted by Book Sharers Club at
8:26 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home