Lew's AUTHOR BLOG

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

• even though it’s a short novel (117 pages), the story seems to drag, as long narrative scenes regarding Esteban and Uncle Pio are added.
• What does this all have to do with the collapse of the bridge, and with Brother Juniper, who has totally disappeared from the story?

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

• the way Tolstoy begins Anna Karenina communicates immediately that this is not a novel about pace, but will proceed in a leisurely manner to wend its way through the lives and relationships of the many characters.
• Anna Karenina is widely regarded as the best novel ever written. So I’ve read over 400 pages, with another 400 to go, and I’ve had enough.
• The story is slow, boring even, with very little happening, and characters that are not gripping.
• Actually, it’s one long slow soap opera.
• Tolstoy’s descriptions of places are remarkable. His interior monologues are often revealing, although too frequent and too long for my taste.
• Bored, I have put Anna Karenina aside to be picked up later NOTE: it’s been four years and I haven’t