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Book Review of Blessings

Blessings
Blessings
Author: Anna Quindlen
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
joeysweeps avatar reviewed on + 15 more book reviews


Blessings is a beautifully written book about two characters whose lives become intertwined by the abandonment of a newborn. The book addresses issues of class and can people really change the economic class into which they are born. One main character is a miserly older woman who feels "the world has lost its compass." Throughout the book, she becomes melancholic and evaluates her life or rather not living her life due to societal demands. Towards the end, she observes "what a soft patina the passage of time gives." It is only with the passage of time, is she able to figure out some of the secrets of her upbringing and come to grips with family ties. The other main character is a young man who wants to improve his circumstances and do the right thing in spite of an impoverished, dysfunctional background. The novel is short at only 226 pages. It is a great read without being overtly philosophical, it compels one to think about the meaning of life and relationships.