Okay, so I’ve been diving into this book called “Still Life” recently, and I gotta say, it’s been a bit of a journey. I started reading it last week, thinking I’d just skim through it during my daily commute.
First thing I did was actually buy the book. I mean, you can’t really start reading without it, right? I found it in this quaint little bookstore downtown. I love the smell of old books, it’s so nostalgic. Anyway, I started reading it on the train ride home.
- Buy the book
- Start reading on the train
Initially, I found the writing style a bit odd. The author, Sarah Winman, she doesn’t use quotation marks for dialogue, which threw me off at first. It felt a bit like jumping into the middle of a conversation without knowing who’s talking. But, you know, I’m not one to give up easily. I kept at it, and after a few chapters, I started to get used to it. It actually made the story feel more immediate, like I was right there with the characters.
The story itself is set in Italy during World War II, and then it shifts to London, and then back to Florence. It’s a bit all over the place, but in a good way. I met these characters, Ulysses Temper, a young soldier, and Evelyn Skinner, an older art teacher. Their first encounter is during the war when they are trying to save some artworks from the Nazis. Pretty intense, huh?
- Get used to the writing style
- Follow the story through different locations
I spent a good chunk of my weekend just curled up on the couch, flipping through the pages. There’s a lot of talk about art, which isn’t usually my thing, but the way Winman describes it, it’s actually quite fascinating. The characters, they’re all so vivid and full of life. There’s this old guy, Cressy, who’s always cracking jokes, and a whole bunch of others who are all connected in some way.
As I got deeper into the book, I realized it’s not really about the plot. I mean, there are some events, some coincidences, but it’s more about the relationships between these people. It’s about love, in all its forms, and how it brings people together, even in the most unlikely circumstances.
- Spend time immersed in the book
- Appreciate the art discussions
- Observe the character dynamics
What I Achieved
By the end of the week, I finished the book. It left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. It’s one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. I even went back and reread some of my favorite parts. I realized that “Still Life” is a book about the power of human connection, and how love, in its many forms, can be a source of salvation. It’s also subtly queer, which I appreciate. It wasn’t what I expected at all, but I ended up really enjoying it.
- Finish the book
- Reflect on the themes
- Reread favorite parts
So yeah, that’s my little adventure with “Still Life.” It was a bit of a bumpy ride at first, but I’m glad I stuck with it. It’s a beautiful story, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something a bit different.
