A Thousand Acres: A Novel
by Jane Smiley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jane SmileyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2003-12-02
ISBN: 1400033837
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Anchor
Book Reviews of A Thousand Acres: A Novel
Book Review: Interesting modern-day look at Shakespeare's King Lear.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book paralells Shakespeare's work almost perfectly. The two works should be read together to get the most enjoyment out of each. Smiley's treatment of King Lear is well-handled and beautifully done. Smiley helps the reader understand King Lear by bringing the ancient conflict into today's terms by placing the story in Iowa, a setting the reader well understands. The literary symbolism in Acres is well done. For example, Larry Cook, the aging father playing the part of King Lear, leaves his brand-new wood furniture to be ruined in the driveway. This symbolizes Larry's own dementia, as seen from his daughter Ginny's eyes. The reader will enjoy the skillful use of language in Smiley's work and the dedication to the original story. However, I had to rate the book an eight because it does get heavy and cumbersome, particularly towards the end. While still well-written, it gets very depressing and heavy-handed. It is still faithful to Lear, but gets slow. Overall, Lear and Acres ought to read as companions for a good look at some wonderful writing on both the authors' parts.
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