Jovana Markovski Markovski itibaren Comal County, TX, Birleşik Devletler
In a way, the title is misleading, as all of Rilke's work presents pictures of God. But this collection regroups and reframes the specifically religious work, highlighting Rilke's deepening faith as it showcases his development as a poet and an artist. Nothing about this work is preachy or dogmatic; Rilke writes of God, Moses, the Virgin Mary as long-lost friends, or distant relatives perhaps, who deserve respect and veneration, while still fielding some of the toughest questions of the 20th century. Rilke does not spare them these hard questions, but nor does he dismiss their importance and their relevance in modern human life. Rather, he opens a window and lets the questions rise - like incens, like prayers above the altar.
This is one of my favorite books. There's something magic in these pages. Read it. And that's all I can say. I think every teenager should read this, and a lot of adults too. It deals with so many tough subjects with grace and humour. No matter how much I like Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green wins the fight with this book.
A stunning book - for both its words and its pictures. Lovely to share with children.
I think I might be too old for this book. It is about a self-absorbed white guy going on a journey of discovery in a foreign country. And if that was me years ago, I'm trying to get away. If it is me now, I'm trying to deny it. That's all to say that I might be very biased about this book. In the "good things about this book" column, is the fact that it is funny. Also, it is sweet. It has a unique narrative style based upon the trick of the author communicating with another person, whose English is not so good. The back and forth between them creates two narratives that actually fit pretty well together, though the one who is not the author is infinitely more fun to read. Because of this trick, the narrative at times has a hint of Nabakov, because the lack of self-awareness of the author is illustrated by the other narrator, and you realize who the author "really is". While nice, it quickly becomes a bit trite. In the "bad things" column, the book is overwrought, the attempts at adding flashy Joyce-like stream of consciousness totally fails, the authors juvenile descriptions of sex and attendant feelings shows his college age, and I'm ten pages from the ending without a real great desire to finish the book up--always a bad sign. That is all. I'd much rather talk with someone about it than write up a book review.