Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A novel

 

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • Sam and Sadie—two college friends, often in love, but never lovers—become creative partners in a dazzling and intricately imagined world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality. It is a love story, but not one you have read before.

 

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow follows Sam and Sadie through their childhood meeting, college reunification and the development and success of their business.   

Gabrielle Zevin does a masterful job of maturing the voices of each character over the years and the technical aspects of describing the games they created was detailed and fun to follow.   

As a kid of the 80's the evolution of online games from the Oregon Trail to the role playing games of today is a journey worthy of understanding.  It is a great metaphor for the changes we go through as we become fully formed people.  How the experiences in our lives make for a richer, more colorful experience.

Zevin uses the two characters to narrate from their own perspective, but it isn't repetitive and each has a unique view and of course different priorities and drivers.  

As a story of a lifelong friendship, the cadence also rings true.  Sometimes the friends are in lock step, lives intertwined and at others they are separated but still care deeply for another.  

I appreciated that the characters loved one another, but didn't have to have a grand romantic arc. 

Read:  April 19, 2023
Met: @ Beth's
Book Choice: Melinda

1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir

 

1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: A Memoir by Ai WeiWei

Chinese artist Ai WeiWei tells the story of his life, the influences, and the impact of his work on the world. 

Art is protest, art is communication, art is a voice for those who cannot speak.  Ai WeiWei transforms life into experiences.  As a citizen of China WeiWei was not always free to express criticism of life in China, always under surveillance and often in disfavor WeiWei describes his story of detention, government removal of his art, hidden meanings in his works, and a total devotion to his work.

As a child of the poet Ai Qing, WeiWei was often exiled with his father during times when the popularity of Ai Quig was trouble for the Chinese leadership.  Childhood was feast followed by famine, comforts given and taken, accolades given and then public shaming for being too visible.   These experiences shaped WeiWei into someone who focused on his works to the (in my opinion) detriment of others.   

As a memoir, WeiWei focuses on the events that are to him meaningful and important.  A great insight into the mind of an artist, but he tells on himself a bit with the handling of his wife, partner and child.   A bit dismissive of that aspect of his life.

Ai WeiWei, as an artist is diverse in his mediums and this memoir walks us through some of the processes of his most notable works.   

13 notable works of Ai Weiwei

 

Read:  January 2023
Met:  Heather's

Picker:  Heather