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The Pursuit of Happiness
Manhattan, Thanksgiving Eve, 1945. The war was over, and Eric Smythe's party was in full swing. All his clever Greenwich Village friends were there. So too was his sister Sara -- an independent, canny young woman, starting to make her way in the big city. And then in walked a gatecrasher, Jack Malone -- a U. S. Army journalist just back from a defeated Germany, and a man whose world-view did not tally with that of Eric and his friends. Set amidst the dynamic optimism of postwar New York and the subsequent nightmare of the McCarthy witch-hunts, The Pursuit of Happiness is a great tragic love story; a tale of divided loyalties, decisive moral choices, and the random workings of destiny.
656 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Douglas Kennedy
121 books1,091 followersDouglas Kennedy was born in Manhattan in 1955. He studied at Bowdoin College, Maine and Trinity College, Dublin, returning to Dublin in 1977 with just a trenchcoat, backpack and $300. He co-founded a theatre company and sold his first play, Shakespeare on Five Dollars a Day, to Radio 4 in 1980. In 1988 he moved to London and published a travel book, Beyond the Pyramids. His debut novel The Dead Heart was published in 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 582 reviews
May 10, 2013
Reading this book I fell in love with Kennedy's writing... And bought the rights for his first (and only so far) Serbian edition... Everybody who read the book fell in love as well... but as it usually happens, when I left the publisher nobody continued to take care of "my" author... His books are big bestsellers in France as well and many of his novels made it to big screen...
MUST READ! One of my most valuable "editorial picks"...
MUST READ! One of my most valuable "editorial picks"...
December 23, 2015
Douglas Kennedy writes women so well; he writes about how women think, like a female writer does. There is no insult meant in that comment. A wonderful story set in 1940-50s America; this novel will teach you something about McCarthyism if you are unaware of that shameful time in USA.
New Years Eve, a party at struggling playwright Eric's apartment. A gatecrasher Jack, an army journalist looks across the room at Sara, Eric's sister, and so begins a powerful but tragic love story. It is not a soggy romance, simply a great love story. This is a story I could see done like a black and white movie. Just doing this short review years after I first read this makes me decide to read this novel again (for about the tenth time).
My first Douglas Kennedy book and I've been hooked on this writer ever since. For me, this novel is so a 5★
New Years Eve, a party at struggling playwright Eric's apartment. A gatecrasher Jack, an army journalist looks across the room at Sara, Eric's sister, and so begins a powerful but tragic love story. It is not a soggy romance, simply a great love story. This is a story I could see done like a black and white movie. Just doing this short review years after I first read this makes me decide to read this novel again (for about the tenth time).
My first Douglas Kennedy book and I've been hooked on this writer ever since. For me, this novel is so a 5★
January 5, 2020
4.5 stars
Before reading The Pursuit of Happiness I had almost no idea about the American political landscape of the 1950's and though I may have heard of McCarthyism I certainly couldn't have said what it was. Though this theme was prevalent in Douglas Kennedy's novel I wouldn't describe it as a political novel. At its core it was a tragic love story, written in a most compelling manner and I was fabulously impressed by this reading experience.
The story opens in 2001 at Kate's mothers funeral. Naturally she's not happy on this day but she struck me as a generally unhappy character. As a single mother, overworked with a strained relationship with her ex husband and her brother she was described as having "...a real talent for unhappiness". So, when approached by a mysterious stranger at the funeral it was hardly surprising that Kate was uninterested, even angry, at what this stranger - Sara- had to say.
The vast majority of the story was from Sara's perspective and we got to know her and her brother Eric quite intimately. Sara's story opened on the night in 1945 when she met Jack, the man who was to be the love of her life. This was no straight forward love story though as the very next day Jack was shipped out on a nine month stint with the American army. Sara was prepared to wait but was eventually forced to accept Jack had other ideas. As her life went into freefall Eric stood by and supported her. As the story progressed we heard about Sara's life, the people she loved and those she loathed. We heard about her losses but also her successes. And we heard about her enduring love for Jack.
Jack's story was complex and thanks to some unfortunate timing and his own moral standards he found himself locked into the role of husband - but not to the woman he loved.
Eric's story was one of lows, highs, and yet more lows. At the peak of his success in both his work and personal life Eric found himself on one of McCarthy's blacklists and his life began to unravel. Given the "choice" of naming names or losing everything Eric made the ultimate sacrifice and remained true to his own ethics but not everyone acted that way. "...That was the worst thing about the blacklist - the way it scared everyone away from acts of common good, and appealed to the most basic of human instincts: personal survival ...at all costs".
The denouement brought all the stories together beautifully. Personally I was invested in these characters and wanted only the best for them but I fear my pursuit of their happiness seemed futile. This was very much a story about the lasting impacts of our chance encounters and the choices we make. It was a story of betrayals, the importance of forgiveness and the consequences of withholding that forgiveness.
I'm not sure what else Douglas Kennedy has written but I'd be more than willing to tackle any of his other novels if this was indicative of his standard. Highly recommended reading.
Before reading The Pursuit of Happiness I had almost no idea about the American political landscape of the 1950's and though I may have heard of McCarthyism I certainly couldn't have said what it was. Though this theme was prevalent in Douglas Kennedy's novel I wouldn't describe it as a political novel. At its core it was a tragic love story, written in a most compelling manner and I was fabulously impressed by this reading experience.
The story opens in 2001 at Kate's mothers funeral. Naturally she's not happy on this day but she struck me as a generally unhappy character. As a single mother, overworked with a strained relationship with her ex husband and her brother she was described as having "...a real talent for unhappiness". So, when approached by a mysterious stranger at the funeral it was hardly surprising that Kate was uninterested, even angry, at what this stranger - Sara- had to say.
The vast majority of the story was from Sara's perspective and we got to know her and her brother Eric quite intimately. Sara's story opened on the night in 1945 when she met Jack, the man who was to be the love of her life. This was no straight forward love story though as the very next day Jack was shipped out on a nine month stint with the American army. Sara was prepared to wait but was eventually forced to accept Jack had other ideas. As her life went into freefall Eric stood by and supported her. As the story progressed we heard about Sara's life, the people she loved and those she loathed. We heard about her losses but also her successes. And we heard about her enduring love for Jack.
Jack's story was complex and thanks to some unfortunate timing and his own moral standards he found himself locked into the role of husband - but not to the woman he loved.
Eric's story was one of lows, highs, and yet more lows. At the peak of his success in both his work and personal life Eric found himself on one of McCarthy's blacklists and his life began to unravel. Given the "choice" of naming names or losing everything Eric made the ultimate sacrifice and remained true to his own ethics but not everyone acted that way. "...That was the worst thing about the blacklist - the way it scared everyone away from acts of common good, and appealed to the most basic of human instincts: personal survival ...at all costs".
The denouement brought all the stories together beautifully. Personally I was invested in these characters and wanted only the best for them but I fear my pursuit of their happiness seemed futile. This was very much a story about the lasting impacts of our chance encounters and the choices we make. It was a story of betrayals, the importance of forgiveness and the consequences of withholding that forgiveness.
I'm not sure what else Douglas Kennedy has written but I'd be more than willing to tackle any of his other novels if this was indicative of his standard. Highly recommended reading.
July 5, 2017
4,5
Menudo novelón. Que un libro de más de 700 páginas no se te haga aburrido tiene, para mí, un mérito brutal. Decir que Douglas Kennedy escribe bien es quedarse corta (él está a otro nivel) por lo que me costará empezar nueva lectura. Los personajes femeninos me han parecido increíbles; todas son distintas pero tienen muchísima personalidad, sobretodo Sara.
Douglas Kennedy nos regala decenas de frases y párrafos bonitos; de esos que te hacen reflexionar o pensar, y que a mí tanto me gustan.
Dicho todo esto, ¿por qué no ponerle entonces cinco estrellas?. No tengo una razón concreta; es por el sentimiento que me ha quedado al cerrar el libro, como si me hubiera faltado algo.
En cualquier caso, En busca de la felicidad es un novelón, y quiero agradecer a Lidia que hable tan bien de este escritor americano al que no conocía. Si he leído su libro ha sido por ella. ♡
Menudo novelón. Que un libro de más de 700 páginas no se te haga aburrido tiene, para mí, un mérito brutal. Decir que Douglas Kennedy escribe bien es quedarse corta (él está a otro nivel) por lo que me costará empezar nueva lectura. Los personajes femeninos me han parecido increíbles; todas son distintas pero tienen muchísima personalidad, sobretodo Sara.
Douglas Kennedy nos regala decenas de frases y párrafos bonitos; de esos que te hacen reflexionar o pensar, y que a mí tanto me gustan.
Dicho todo esto, ¿por qué no ponerle entonces cinco estrellas?. No tengo una razón concreta; es por el sentimiento que me ha quedado al cerrar el libro, como si me hubiera faltado algo.
En cualquier caso, En busca de la felicidad es un novelón, y quiero agradecer a Lidia que hable tan bien de este escritor americano al que no conocía. Si he leído su libro ha sido por ella. ♡
November 25, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. At times, it felt a bit light and predictable, but it dealt with a very interesting time and place, and Sara was a great character. Also, unlike many books I have read, it got better and more complex as the story developed. I often find that books start well and then fizzle out. This book certainly did not follow that pattern. I think I will read another book by Kennedy sometime soon.
July 22, 2016
Douglas Kennedy es un autor de los que acomplejan al lector. Muestra tal dominio del lenguaje, de la trama, de los sentimientos que siempre me resulta un reto y además de los difíciles porque también es un maestro del detalle. Qué gran trabajo hacen sus traductores, por cierto.
Una historia real, creíble, dura e incomprensible a veces. Muy recomendable.
Una historia real, creíble, dura e incomprensible a veces. Muy recomendable.
April 15, 2015
The story starts with Kate at her mother’s funeral and a stranger who appears at the funeral. Then it goes back to tell is who this woman is, why she came to the funeral and what her interest is in Kate. I liked the way the story went back to fill in the background and history of Sara Smythe and Jack Malone.
This is a story of choices and consequences that have far reaching effects on others. The characters are complex and well portrayed. Even if I didn’t agree with their choices, it was easy to understand how they arrived at them. The writer has a good understanding of what motivates people and the way they will react to events. Three quotes that particularly appealed to me and in a way sum up the novel for me are:
‘I think that is the hardest thing about bereavement – coming to terms with what might have been, if only you’d been able to get it right.’
‘Forgiveness is the hardest thing in life and the most necessary. But it’s still the hardest.’
‘Pride is the most blinding and self-indulgent of all emotions.’
At times I became bit bored with all the McCarthy information, yet it was essential to the story. It is the characters that make the novel memorable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be interested to try another of this author’s books.
This is a story of choices and consequences that have far reaching effects on others. The characters are complex and well portrayed. Even if I didn’t agree with their choices, it was easy to understand how they arrived at them. The writer has a good understanding of what motivates people and the way they will react to events. Three quotes that particularly appealed to me and in a way sum up the novel for me are:
‘I think that is the hardest thing about bereavement – coming to terms with what might have been, if only you’d been able to get it right.’
‘Forgiveness is the hardest thing in life and the most necessary. But it’s still the hardest.’
‘Pride is the most blinding and self-indulgent of all emotions.’
At times I became bit bored with all the McCarthy information, yet it was essential to the story. It is the characters that make the novel memorable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be interested to try another of this author’s books.
April 5, 2018
Awful preppy girl meets awful smug guy, falls in love, then spends the rest of the novel reflecting on it over coffee. It's an 'epic' - so expect awful kids to grow up into awful people too.
There is a section where the nightmare of Kate's domestic situation is played out as Gothic melodrama in a tiny village, under the watchful eye of the mother in law from hell, which is fantastic; as is the part exposing the pomposity and callousness of the HUAC. After that, it's all downhill.
We are constantly told how funny the three central characters are but, believe me, they hide it well. My biggest beef though is with Kate - she writes one short story (one) and is compared to Hemingway; people remember it for years - she even lands an internationally read column on the back of it. If she could only have mustered up the energy to write one more (or maybe just a poem) they would have given her a Pulitzer, but she was too busy, y'know, reflecting profoundly about life.
A literary heavyweight that lacks punch.
There is a section where the nightmare of Kate's domestic situation is played out as Gothic melodrama in a tiny village, under the watchful eye of the mother in law from hell, which is fantastic; as is the part exposing the pomposity and callousness of the HUAC. After that, it's all downhill.
We are constantly told how funny the three central characters are but, believe me, they hide it well. My biggest beef though is with Kate - she writes one short story (one) and is compared to Hemingway; people remember it for years - she even lands an internationally read column on the back of it. If she could only have mustered up the energy to write one more (or maybe just a poem) they would have given her a Pulitzer, but she was too busy, y'know, reflecting profoundly about life.
A literary heavyweight that lacks punch.
March 28, 2020
O carte cat o viata de om! Ce este viata pana la urma? O suma de incercari, o sumedenie de alegeri si decizii care ne pot schimba irevocabil destinul. Cartea asta este despre viata a doi oameni atat de perfecti impreuna si atat de tragici si tristi separat. Mi-a lasat un gust amar povestea lor de viata. De cele mai multe ori i-am judecat, mai ales pe Sara, pentru ca in general nu am inteles deciziile ei. Dar in anii aceia imediat dupa razboi, ma intreb cine oare ar fi avut curajul sa procedeze altfel? M-a impresionat faptul ca in ciuda tuturor jocurilor destinului, ei au avut parte de o iubire cum doar putinor oameni le este dat sa traiasca. O iubire care i-a si pedepsit pe fiecare in parte, ceea ce m-a facut sa ma intreb daca nu cumva ar fi mai bine sa ai parte de mai putina dragoste dar sa ai o viata mai tihnita si sa gasesti placere si frumusete in lucruri marunte. Cel mai mult insa, m-a indignat Dorothy. De ce ai alege sa traiesti astfel? Dar fiind in anii '40 probabil optiunile ei erau aproape inexistente, si totusi...
Nu degeaba se spune ca suntem suma tuturor alegerilor noastre. Am suferit pentru Sara si m-am tot pus in locul ei, ma intrebam mereu daca eu as fi procedat altfel si m-a impresionat putere ei de a o lua mereu de la capat. Va recomand cartea, mi-a placut mult.
Nu degeaba se spune ca suntem suma tuturor alegerilor noastre. Am suferit pentru Sara si m-am tot pus in locul ei, ma intrebam mereu daca eu as fi procedat altfel si m-a impresionat putere ei de a o lua mereu de la capat. Va recomand cartea, mi-a placut mult.
August 25, 2017
Емоционално опустошаваща . Думите ми няма да са достатъчни , за да изразя всичко онова , което извика в ума ми тази книга. И в душата ми. Много ме разстрои и ме разплака. Много пъти.
По думите на автора -"Плачът е самосъжаление. А самосъжалението не решава нищо."
Невероятни диалози както винаги.
"Човек всъщност никого не познава истински. Мислиш , че познаваш някого, накрая той направо те изумява. Особено ако е човек , с когото те свързва любов."
"Никога не си поставяй за цел да се влюбиш."
"Мъжете са винаги десет пъти по-привлекателни, когато просто седят и слушат."
"В момента , в който повериш своето щастие на друг човек, ти застрашаваш самата възможност да бъдеш щастлив.Защото елиминираш фактора лична отговорност от уравнението.Ти казваш на другия човек: направи ме завършена,пълноценна,желана ,обичана.Но истината е , че единствено самият човек може да накара себе си да се чувства завършен и пълноценен."
"Любовта не трябва да бъде форма на зависимост......"
"Толкова е странно да откриеш с колко много неща в живота можеш всъщност да се справиш."
"Хората никога не могат да ти създадат чувство за сигурност, когато имаш нужда от него."
"Когато се стигне до прошка,може думите да имат значение,но жестът е всичко.Защото всеки жест поражда друг жест.Защото ,когато прощаваш на другия имаш право да простиш и на самия себе си."
"Животът е нещо дълбоко несъвършено.Никога не постъпваме правилно докрай.Повечето от нас тръгват с добри намерения.Опитваме се да направим най-доброто, което можем.Но толкова често губим ориентация и подвеждаме другите.Какво друго можем да направим,освен да опитаме отново?"
Трябваше ми нов прочит на книгата, за да мога да осмисля или поне да опитам , всичко онова , което се съдържа в нея.
Много ме разстрои отново.
Няма смисъл да преписвам всяка една мисъл, която ме накара да се замисля, ужасно много са .
Ще продължавам да си я припомням.
По думите на автора -"Плачът е самосъжаление. А самосъжалението не решава нищо."
Невероятни диалози както винаги.
"Човек всъщност никого не познава истински. Мислиш , че познаваш някого, накрая той направо те изумява. Особено ако е човек , с когото те свързва любов."
"Никога не си поставяй за цел да се влюбиш."
"Мъжете са винаги десет пъти по-привлекателни, когато просто седят и слушат."
"В момента , в който повериш своето щастие на друг човек, ти застрашаваш самата възможност да бъдеш щастлив.Защото елиминираш фактора лична отговорност от уравнението.Ти казваш на другия човек: направи ме завършена,пълноценна,желана ,обичана.Но истината е , че единствено самият човек може да накара себе си да се чувства завършен и пълноценен."
"Любовта не трябва да бъде форма на зависимост......"
"Толкова е странно да откриеш с колко много неща в живота можеш всъщност да се справиш."
"Хората никога не могат да ти създадат чувство за сигурност, когато имаш нужда от него."
"Когато се стигне до прошка,може думите да имат значение,но жестът е всичко.Защото всеки жест поражда друг жест.Защото ,когато прощаваш на другия имаш право да простиш и на самия себе си."
"Животът е нещо дълбоко несъвършено.Никога не постъпваме правилно докрай.Повечето от нас тръгват с добри намерения.Опитваме се да направим най-доброто, което можем.Но толкова често губим ориентация и подвеждаме другите.Какво друго можем да направим,освен да опитаме отново?"
Трябваше ми нов прочит на книгата, за да мога да осмисля или поне да опитам , всичко онова , което се съдържа в нея.
Много ме разстрои отново.
Няма смисъл да преписвам всяка една мисъл, която ме накара да се замисля, ужасно много са .
Ще продължавам да си я припомням.
April 12, 2011
This was a 99cent special from Nook so I didn't know much about it when I started reading it, but I got so completely absorbed in the story that I couldn't put it down. It's about 500 pages and I read it in about a week. Rarely do I get so engrossed in a book but it was heartfelt, interesting, and good plot twists that I didn't see coming.
February 25, 2011
This was my fifth Douglas Kennedy novel, and I was not disappointed. Kennedy is a true story-teller; I can't put his books down! The Pursuit of Happiness takes place in post-WWII and much of the plot revolves around tragic McCarthyism period in U.S. history. Young Sara Smyth moves to New York against her very staid parents' wishes where her older brother, Eric, already resides. Sara meets journalist Jack Malone at a party at Eric's house. They spend one passionate night together and fall in love with one another, thereby sparking a long chain of events that cover 1945 to the mid-2000's.
Kennedy's characters are always vivid, and his insight into human behavior is amazing. His ability to write in a female voice is remarkable. I highly recommend this novel.
Kennedy's characters are always vivid, and his insight into human behavior is amazing. His ability to write in a female voice is remarkable. I highly recommend this novel.
August 3, 2015
Truly outstanding. It grabbed my attention from the very first page. I highly recommend.
Read
March 1, 2019 Nueva York estaba tan frenética y obsesionada consigo misma como siempre. Todos parecían correr hacia alguna parte. Todos parecían preocupados, y tan ocupados que no eran conscientes de las cosas que se perpetraban en su nombre: carreras destrozadas, confianzas traicionadas, vidas destruidas. Aquello era lo que hacía la lista negra. Si no te tocaba a ti personalmente, podías seguir como si no estuviera ocurriendo nada oscuro a tu alrededor. No podía comprender cómo nos habíamos podido dejar intimidar por aquellos demagogos patrióticos. Lo único que tenía claro era que tenía que irme. Poner un océano entre mi país y yo. Hasta que terminara la locura.
He pasado las últimas cuatro noches en una vorágine lectora sin igual.
Douglas Kennedy me ha llevado por donde ha querido con esta historia; no es perfecta y en algunos momentos me ha resultado un pelín trágica en exceso, pero está tan bien escrita y tan bien hilada que lo he pasado completamente por alto. Me he dejado llevar y ha merecido la pena.
Mención especial para los grandísimos personajes, esos diálogos maravillosos y el momento histórico que retrata: años 40-50 en EEUU en plena caza de brujas de McCarthy, brutal.
Y, por mucho que ame a este país, no creo necesario envolverme en una bandera. El fanatismo patriótico es como seguir la Biblia: me da miedo porque es doctrinario. El patriotismo de verdad es silencioso, discreto y reflexivo. Crítico.
Reconozco que he sido muy visceral tanto con la historia como con los personajes; en muchos momentos he tenido la sensación de estar leyendo sobre vidas reales, y supongo que cuando un libro consigue eso, es de los buenos.
Leer En busca de la felicidad ha sido como ver una película clásica en blanco y negro, donde todo es a lo grande, todo es épico y emocionalmente inmenso e intenso.
Y qué decir de Sara Smythe..., un personajazo tremendo: luchadora, humana, honesta. La lealtad y el apoyo incondicional entre ella y su hermano Eric es una de las cosas más bonitas y emocionantes de esta lectura; ese, es el verdadero amor de este libro.
Duerme; y si la vida fue amarga contigo, perdona; si fue dulce, da las gracias; no tienes nada más que vivir. Y dar las gracias es bueno, como perdonar. -Algernon Charles Swinburne.
He pasado las últimas cuatro noches en una vorágine lectora sin igual.
Douglas Kennedy me ha llevado por donde ha querido con esta historia; no es perfecta y en algunos momentos me ha resultado un pelín trágica en exceso, pero está tan bien escrita y tan bien hilada que lo he pasado completamente por alto. Me he dejado llevar y ha merecido la pena.
Mención especial para los grandísimos personajes, esos diálogos maravillosos y el momento histórico que retrata: años 40-50 en EEUU en plena caza de brujas de McCarthy, brutal.
Y, por mucho que ame a este país, no creo necesario envolverme en una bandera. El fanatismo patriótico es como seguir la Biblia: me da miedo porque es doctrinario. El patriotismo de verdad es silencioso, discreto y reflexivo. Crítico.
Reconozco que he sido muy visceral tanto con la historia como con los personajes; en muchos momentos he tenido la sensación de estar leyendo sobre vidas reales, y supongo que cuando un libro consigue eso, es de los buenos.
Leer En busca de la felicidad ha sido como ver una película clásica en blanco y negro, donde todo es a lo grande, todo es épico y emocionalmente inmenso e intenso.
Y qué decir de Sara Smythe..., un personajazo tremendo: luchadora, humana, honesta. La lealtad y el apoyo incondicional entre ella y su hermano Eric es una de las cosas más bonitas y emocionantes de esta lectura; ese, es el verdadero amor de este libro.
Duerme; y si la vida fue amarga contigo, perdona; si fue dulce, da las gracias; no tienes nada más que vivir. Y dar las gracias es bueno, como perdonar. -Algernon Charles Swinburne.
July 24, 2011
THE STORY:
The story starts of with the death of Dorothy, Kate’s mother. We see Kate trying to come to terms with the death of a complicated woman whom she loved but never understood. It is only after her mother’s death that she catches a glimpse of the magnitude of the sadness and loneliness that overshadowed 40 years her mother’s life. She learns this through a manuscript written by Sara whose life was intricately entwined with that of Dorothy for 40 years. Dorothy married and lived with a man who did not love her and whom she did not love, not even from the first day of marriage. Sara loved a man she could not have but whom she loved at first sight and knew would be the only one she ever would.
WHO'S WHO?
Kate a 40 something year old divorcee raising a child on her own and trying to cope with life and the foreboding suspicion that she is a failure.
Sarah is a writer around whom the story is told and an independent woman who loves the man who becomes her undoing.
Eric, devoted bother and homosexual in the 30’ and 40’s.
Jack Malone, husband to Dorothy, Father to Kate who in my opinion a spineless man responsible for a 40 year long catastrophy and the loss of two lives..
Dorothy, a woman who made the choice to marry Jack Malone because of an accidental pregnancy and it cost her happiness to a very large degree.
THIS WAS HOT....
I cannot count the number of "MOMENTS" this book contains and each one is more gut wrenching than the last, that’s one of the things that keep the nail biting suspense going. There is one part that will remain with me forever, I was so disturbed there after by the pain felt by this woman I could not read further for a couple of days and didn’t think I would again. For the first time I really cried for a character.
The entire book It feels like a life that’s been lived in its tragedies and triumphs and as a result you forget you’re reading a work of fiction.
It is a multi layered work that takes you through the heteregenous nature of man. You realize that this book is a reflections of real people with real problems that the rest of the world remains is blissfully unaware of. That resonated with real life for me.
NOT SO HOT:
I felt that there were bits that went on a tad bit long with explanation but not long enough to tempt me to put the book down and they were very few.
I wished he could have covered something about her brother and her ex-husband post her becoming a woman of means, mostly t make the ending more exciting. But perhaps after the rollercoaster of emotions we go through in almost 600 pages, he thought it better to let it go easy.
OVERALL:
When I read the last word I immediately though: WOW, so this is what life is........If not for knowing who the writer was, I would have sworn that this is the work of a female novelist, it almost seems impossible that a man should have such insight into and understanding of the female psyche and emotions.
The Pursuit of Happiness is piece of genius. I believe if a novelist writes with the aim of moving their audience to feel joy, pain, fear, anxiety, heartache, sadness, triumph, and myriad of other emotions to their extreme, this is a book to look up and study. The imagery Kennedy creates is beyond magnificent, no words can adequately explain his gift with words. His book, Temptations made me fall in love with the English language, The Pursuit of Happiness made me fall in love with his creative genius. He is an author I am sure I will enjoy for decades to come.
January 1, 2021
A tragic love story spanning a lifetime
The year is 1945 and Sara Smythe reluctantly attends her brother, Eric’s, Thanksgiving Eve party. She is swept away by the enigmatic gate-crasher, Jack Malone. Jack says he is a U.S army journalist and is being deployed to Germany the very next day, despite the war being over. Will Jack make good on his declarations of undying love and devotion or will he breaks Sara’s heart, just as Eric suspects.
The Pursuit of Happiness is set in a time of great unrest in the USA. After the initial optimism of the war ending the country moves quickly to a state of great unease and fear of Communism. The McCarthy witch-hunts of this era a nasty little piece of American history!
The writing of this novel was beautifully done, perhaps a bit too well for me in parts. I found myself becoming a little bit depressed by this novel. There was just one depressing event after another for Sara and her loved ones. Kennedy did such a brilliant job with all of the characters that I just really felt their pain with them throughout the novel.
Originally posted at https://scatterbooker.wordpress.com/2...
The year is 1945 and Sara Smythe reluctantly attends her brother, Eric’s, Thanksgiving Eve party. She is swept away by the enigmatic gate-crasher, Jack Malone. Jack says he is a U.S army journalist and is being deployed to Germany the very next day, despite the war being over. Will Jack make good on his declarations of undying love and devotion or will he breaks Sara’s heart, just as Eric suspects.
The Pursuit of Happiness is set in a time of great unrest in the USA. After the initial optimism of the war ending the country moves quickly to a state of great unease and fear of Communism. The McCarthy witch-hunts of this era a nasty little piece of American history!
The writing of this novel was beautifully done, perhaps a bit too well for me in parts. I found myself becoming a little bit depressed by this novel. There was just one depressing event after another for Sara and her loved ones. Kennedy did such a brilliant job with all of the characters that I just really felt their pain with them throughout the novel.
Originally posted at https://scatterbooker.wordpress.com/2...
May 19, 2019
Leer a Kennedy es admirarte por su brillantez, su facilidad para llevarte a su terreno, desarmar tus previsiones y cuestionar tus certezas. En esta novela la absoluta protagonista es Sara (con el permiso de Eric, su brillante hermano) y y Jack queda un poco opacado. El macarthismo, el puritanismo y la hipocresía de la época, todo conspira contra Jack y Sara, aunque, al igual que en El momento en que todo cambió, es a ellas a quienes Kennedy dota de mayor fuerza y autoridad moral y a Jack le toca un papel mucho más ingrato.
February 19, 2018
Recenzia completă se poate citi pe blog: https://andreeapandelea.blogspot.ro/2...
„Sara, ca personaj, m-a fermecat încă din momentul în care se afla în prezentul cărții și a deschis ușa apartamentului ei pentru acel musafir. Atunci mi-am spus că ce voi afla despre trecutul ei urma să fie o poveste absolut de neuitat. Și am avut foarte multă dreptate! Nu știu câți oameni ar fi putut să mai fie întregi după ce au trecut printr-o viață atât de tumultuoasă pe care a avut-o aceasta, dar după mine Sara este personajul cel mai puternic pe care l-am citit până acum. [...]”
„Sara, ca personaj, m-a fermecat încă din momentul în care se afla în prezentul cărții și a deschis ușa apartamentului ei pentru acel musafir. Atunci mi-am spus că ce voi afla despre trecutul ei urma să fie o poveste absolut de neuitat. Și am avut foarte multă dreptate! Nu știu câți oameni ar fi putut să mai fie întregi după ce au trecut printr-o viață atât de tumultuoasă pe care a avut-o aceasta, dar după mine Sara este personajul cel mai puternic pe care l-am citit până acum. [...]”
August 18, 2017
Douglas Kennedy mi-a mai fost recomandat cu romanul Clipa (pe care l-am pus pe primul loc în lista mea cu cărți de citit). Plimbându-mă prin anticariat și negăsind nimic de pe lista mea, am dat de numele autorului, însă cu alt roman, Jocurile destinului. Ce să zic, 15 lei, neavând material de citit, l-am luat (fără să citesc vreo recenzie sau măcar să dau un search pe Goodreads, ceea ce mi se întamplă foarte rar)
Romanul acesta m-a cucerit. Cred că nu am mai citit o asemenea poveste de dragoste de ani buni, chiar renunțasem la acest gen. E atât de bine construită, încât cele 700 de pagini trec pe nerăsuflate.
Romanul alternează între prezent (povestea lui Kate și perspectiva ei) și trecut (povestea Sarei), fiind foarte bine echilibrat.
Sara e genul de personaj care te trece prin toate stările. Acum o apreciezi, peste un minut o compătimești, apoi o detești pentru alegerile făcute, urmând să o înțelegi și să te atașezi de ea, așa imperfectă cum e.
E un roman despre alegeri și felul în care fiecare suportă consecințele propriilor alegeri, despre viață în toată complexitatea ei, despre niște oameni obișnuiți, care încearcă să se găsească după război, despre o societate care încearcă să se refacă, dar care are un drum lung în față,despre conflictul dintre generații și felul în care părinții își lasă amprenta asupra copiilor. Și nu în ultimul rând, despre dragoste. Nu dragostea aceea perfectă, unde oamenii trăiesc happily ever after, ci dragostea reală, care vine cu compromisuri, suferință, sacrificii și ...pierderi.
Iată și câteva citate:
" Întotdeauna ne împiedicăm, ezităm și ratăm clipele excepționale. Poate pentru că în viață cu toții construim scuturi protectoare în jurul nostru."
"M-am gândit adesea că te maturizezi cu adevărat atunci când îți ierți părinții pentru că sunt la fel de imperfecți ca și ceilalți...și când conștientizezi că, lăsând la o parte limitele lor, s-au străduit din răsputeri să-ți ofere ce au ei mai bun."
"Noi toți facem ceea ce trebuie ca să apucăm sfârșitul zilei."
"- O să mă întorc, a rostit el într-un târziu.
-Știu. Dacă ai supraviețuit războiului, vei supraviețui și păcii de acolo. Se pune însă întrebarea dacă te vei întoarce pentru mine."
Romanul acesta m-a cucerit. Cred că nu am mai citit o asemenea poveste de dragoste de ani buni, chiar renunțasem la acest gen. E atât de bine construită, încât cele 700 de pagini trec pe nerăsuflate.
Romanul alternează între prezent (povestea lui Kate și perspectiva ei) și trecut (povestea Sarei), fiind foarte bine echilibrat.
Sara e genul de personaj care te trece prin toate stările. Acum o apreciezi, peste un minut o compătimești, apoi o detești pentru alegerile făcute, urmând să o înțelegi și să te atașezi de ea, așa imperfectă cum e.
E un roman despre alegeri și felul în care fiecare suportă consecințele propriilor alegeri, despre viață în toată complexitatea ei, despre niște oameni obișnuiți, care încearcă să se găsească după război, despre o societate care încearcă să se refacă, dar care are un drum lung în față,despre conflictul dintre generații și felul în care părinții își lasă amprenta asupra copiilor. Și nu în ultimul rând, despre dragoste. Nu dragostea aceea perfectă, unde oamenii trăiesc happily ever after, ci dragostea reală, care vine cu compromisuri, suferință, sacrificii și ...pierderi.
Iată și câteva citate:
" Întotdeauna ne împiedicăm, ezităm și ratăm clipele excepționale. Poate pentru că în viață cu toții construim scuturi protectoare în jurul nostru."
"M-am gândit adesea că te maturizezi cu adevărat atunci când îți ierți părinții pentru că sunt la fel de imperfecți ca și ceilalți...și când conștientizezi că, lăsând la o parte limitele lor, s-au străduit din răsputeri să-ți ofere ce au ei mai bun."
"Noi toți facem ceea ce trebuie ca să apucăm sfârșitul zilei."
"- O să mă întorc, a rostit el într-un târziu.
-Știu. Dacă ai supraviețuit războiului, vei supraviețui și păcii de acolo. Se pune însă întrebarea dacă te vei întoarce pentru mine."
April 11, 2011
Even though this was a pretty long book and there were parts that had me thinking "why am I reading this", this was a very enjoyable read.
This story tells the life mainly of Sara Smythe. I didn't expect the book to be this way but soon found it extremely enjoyable getting to know Sara. Sara was a successful writer yet her life was never complete. She had an immense love for her brother, Eric, and not only were they siblings they were friends. He would get her through many times and visa versa.
Douglas Kennedy touched on a real life fact where that even though success and fortune may be abundant happiness is not always guaranteed. This is the aspect where I felt sorry for Sara. The dream of reaching her own personal happiness just was also shy of her grasp.
The events her life shaped the lives of Jack Malone's family even in adulthood. All in all, all the characters were always searching for their pursuit of happiness.
Wonderful read. There was a political sense which was a bit boring at times but neccessary to the story. My favorite quote in the book is, "Forgiveness is the hardest thing in life...and the most necessary. But it's still the hardest." I believe this quote could be the heart of the book.
This story tells the life mainly of Sara Smythe. I didn't expect the book to be this way but soon found it extremely enjoyable getting to know Sara. Sara was a successful writer yet her life was never complete. She had an immense love for her brother, Eric, and not only were they siblings they were friends. He would get her through many times and visa versa.
Douglas Kennedy touched on a real life fact where that even though success and fortune may be abundant happiness is not always guaranteed. This is the aspect where I felt sorry for Sara. The dream of reaching her own personal happiness just was also shy of her grasp.
The events her life shaped the lives of Jack Malone's family even in adulthood. All in all, all the characters were always searching for their pursuit of happiness.
Wonderful read. There was a political sense which was a bit boring at times but neccessary to the story. My favorite quote in the book is, "Forgiveness is the hardest thing in life...and the most necessary. But it's still the hardest." I believe this quote could be the heart of the book.
April 19, 2015
Easily became one of my favorite books!
April 27, 2020
Gdje ste ljubitelji priča iz II Svjetskog rata? Gdje ste ljubitelji tužnih sudbina i nepravde nanijete ljudskom rodu?Gdje ste nepopravljivi romantičari i pristalice ljubavi na prvi pogled? Gdje ste ljubitelji američkog sna i ideala? Gdje ste pristalice heroina i doživotnog iskupljivanja za loše učinjene stvari? Gdje ste vi, koji vjerujete, da je svako kovač vlastite sreće?
Ako ste i na jedno od navedenih pitanja poželjeli odgovoriti TU SAM - ovo je knjiga za vas. 🖤
Knjiga sa prosječnom ocjenom 4,12 na GR, neshvatljivo zanemarena i prerijetko spominjana u književnim grupama. Žao mi je što je 5 zvijezdica najveća ocjena koja joj se može dati jer zaista zaslužuje mnogo više.
Priča koju će vam ispričati glavni lik Sara Smajd vas ni u jednom trenutku neće ostaviti ravnodušnim, pripremite se na razni spektar emocija od bijesa, tuge, boli do istinske sreće i smiraja.
Radnja počinje zabavom na Menhetnu za Dan zahvalnosti nakon završetka rata 1945., koju je upriličio Sarin brat Erik Smajd, vječiti boem i uživatelj dobrog društva, muzike, pića te samog luksuznog života i njegovih prednosti. Iako na prvi izgled potpuno opušten i nezainteresovan za ratna ili bilo koja druga dešavanja oko sebe, Erik se upušta u duhovitu , politički usmjerenu' debatu sa pripadnikom američke vojske koji se upravo vratio sa ratišta, Džekom Malonom.
Prije nego je situacija eksalirala, Sara stiže u pomoć bratu, jer njih dvoje su jednom drugom sve što imaju. U trenutku kad se okrene da pogleda Erikovog sugovornika, njen svijet potpuno staje dok je gledaju oči koje će je pratiti do njenog posljednjeg daha.
Kako će jedan susret dovesti do zadivljujućeg spoja različitih životnih priča, do podijeljene odanosti i okrutne igre sudbine saznajte u ovom odličnom romanu Daglasa Kenedija, i zaboravite sve što ste mislili da znate ili pretpostavljate jer ništa nije onakvo kakvim se čini! 🖤
"Svi mi pokušavamo da učinimo sve u najboljoj namjeri. Ipak, vrlo često pogriješimo na svoju, i na štetu drugih. Šta nam drugo preostaje nego da pokušamo ponovo? To je jedini izbor koji imamo. I u tim pokušajima nam prolaze dani..."
Ako ste i na jedno od navedenih pitanja poželjeli odgovoriti TU SAM - ovo je knjiga za vas. 🖤
Knjiga sa prosječnom ocjenom 4,12 na GR, neshvatljivo zanemarena i prerijetko spominjana u književnim grupama. Žao mi je što je 5 zvijezdica najveća ocjena koja joj se može dati jer zaista zaslužuje mnogo više.
Priča koju će vam ispričati glavni lik Sara Smajd vas ni u jednom trenutku neće ostaviti ravnodušnim, pripremite se na razni spektar emocija od bijesa, tuge, boli do istinske sreće i smiraja.
Radnja počinje zabavom na Menhetnu za Dan zahvalnosti nakon završetka rata 1945., koju je upriličio Sarin brat Erik Smajd, vječiti boem i uživatelj dobrog društva, muzike, pića te samog luksuznog života i njegovih prednosti. Iako na prvi izgled potpuno opušten i nezainteresovan za ratna ili bilo koja druga dešavanja oko sebe, Erik se upušta u duhovitu , politički usmjerenu' debatu sa pripadnikom američke vojske koji se upravo vratio sa ratišta, Džekom Malonom.
Prije nego je situacija eksalirala, Sara stiže u pomoć bratu, jer njih dvoje su jednom drugom sve što imaju. U trenutku kad se okrene da pogleda Erikovog sugovornika, njen svijet potpuno staje dok je gledaju oči koje će je pratiti do njenog posljednjeg daha.
Kako će jedan susret dovesti do zadivljujućeg spoja različitih životnih priča, do podijeljene odanosti i okrutne igre sudbine saznajte u ovom odličnom romanu Daglasa Kenedija, i zaboravite sve što ste mislili da znate ili pretpostavljate jer ništa nije onakvo kakvim se čini! 🖤
"Svi mi pokušavamo da učinimo sve u najboljoj namjeri. Ipak, vrlo često pogriješimo na svoju, i na štetu drugih. Šta nam drugo preostaje nego da pokušamo ponovo? To je jedini izbor koji imamo. I u tim pokušajima nam prolaze dani..."
November 12, 2023
4,5⭐️
Me ha ENCANTADO esta historia. Simplemente maravillosa. Quiero seguir leyendo al autor, un muy buen descubrimiento.
Me ha ENCANTADO esta historia. Simplemente maravillosa. Quiero seguir leyendo al autor, un muy buen descubrimiento.
October 17, 2012
WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!!!! I found this book interesting on many levels. I, also, found it interesting that I had read another of Kennedy's books a while ago, "A Special Relationship". As I was reading this book, my mind went back to Kennedy's other book, because I, once again, kept thinking, "How can a man write so convincingly about women?". Until I researched Kennedy's other books on "Goodreads", I did not know the other book that kept coming to mind was written by the same author! I have recently been interested in the topic of "Forgiveness" and the idea of, "How can we know how someone else feels unless we have gone through the same thing?". This book dealt with both subjects. Life is full of choices and consequences. That is what this book is about. It is also about honoring others BY forgiving, even if we don't want to forgive! I must admit, the author caught me totally off guard several times! Just when I thought I had figured everything out...WHAM, there was another situation that left me with my mouth hanging open! I will probably end up reading all of Kennedy's books now!
October 30, 2012
This is my 3rd Kennedy book and I'm glad it was much more like the first one I read ("Leaving the World"). I'm impressed, again, that the narrator of this book, like "Leaving," was a woman. Kennedy does a good job of using a woman's voice. I actually forgot that a man wrote it. Is that sexist? I don't know. I just know that he's a good storyteller. There always seems to be dark elements and tortured souls in his novels but not so much that you get depressed and want to give up reading. Instead, I find myself rooting for the characters. I have three more books of his to read (I'm sorry Borders closed, but I was totally happy for the sale on books AND that they carried Kennedy at all -- I don't see him on the Barnes & Noble shelves very often). I look forwarding to delving into those stories.
(The second book of his that I read was "The Woman in the Fifth" and I was totally disappointed with it. The plot twist was lame and seemed beneath him, really.)
(The second book of his that I read was "The Woman in the Fifth" and I was totally disappointed with it. The plot twist was lame and seemed beneath him, really.)
October 14, 2010
Somehow, whenever I'm sick I find myself reading a WWII novel, and really loving it...
(Not sure what the cause/effect relationship is here, but I'm not really complaining.)
Actually, the main story of this novel is set in the period of time immediately following WWII through the height of the McCarthy Era. Two people meet one night at a party, but life separates them and puts them on paths that really aren't headed the same way. Usually, when two characters are presented as "soul mates," I don't buy it - but this time, I bought it, and was asking for seconds.
More than anything, this is a beautiful story about forgiveness. Love, too, but more so about the effects of holding on to anger and how doing so puts so many limitations on life's experiences. I can't wait to read more from this new-to-me author!
(Not sure what the cause/effect relationship is here, but I'm not really complaining.)
Actually, the main story of this novel is set in the period of time immediately following WWII through the height of the McCarthy Era. Two people meet one night at a party, but life separates them and puts them on paths that really aren't headed the same way. Usually, when two characters are presented as "soul mates," I don't buy it - but this time, I bought it, and was asking for seconds.
More than anything, this is a beautiful story about forgiveness. Love, too, but more so about the effects of holding on to anger and how doing so puts so many limitations on life's experiences. I can't wait to read more from this new-to-me author!
November 18, 2012
This was the first Douglas Kennedy book I read. I thought he must actually be a woman and then checked and realized he really was a man. I was blown away at his dead-on insights into the emotions of women in marriage, divorce, motherhood, grief, etc.
The book opens with a woman's loss of her mother. The roller coaster of emotions she experiences, and the way that loss leads the daughter to review the breakdown of her own marriage was very moving to me. The grief was incredibly raw to me.
And then the mystery of the family begins to come to light. I found it to be a fascinating story, hearkening back to the McCarthy era. It touches on the love of one's life as well as the love of a brother and sister and the risks of living outside of the societal "norm".
I read all of Douglas Kennedy's published books as soon as I could after I finished this one.
The book opens with a woman's loss of her mother. The roller coaster of emotions she experiences, and the way that loss leads the daughter to review the breakdown of her own marriage was very moving to me. The grief was incredibly raw to me.
And then the mystery of the family begins to come to light. I found it to be a fascinating story, hearkening back to the McCarthy era. It touches on the love of one's life as well as the love of a brother and sister and the risks of living outside of the societal "norm".
I read all of Douglas Kennedy's published books as soon as I could after I finished this one.
June 22, 2015
The Pursuit of Happiness by Douglass Kennedy
The measure of a great book for me is when they characters continue to reside in my head long after reading the novel. This is the case in The Pursuit of Happiness. It is a story of the forties and fifties and narrated by two characters; Kate the younger more modern women and the elder Sara self-driven writer. . .the connecting link being Kate’s father. Both characters are deeply flawed but in a way that for me was believable in a somewhat dysfunctional way. Set against the McCarthy witch hunts aimed at the American entertainment Industry forcing innocent citizen's to name names to protect their livelihoods, destroying too many lives...this is a period in American history that should never be forgotten. Kennedy is an agile story teller and I will def follow up with more of his books.
The measure of a great book for me is when they characters continue to reside in my head long after reading the novel. This is the case in The Pursuit of Happiness. It is a story of the forties and fifties and narrated by two characters; Kate the younger more modern women and the elder Sara self-driven writer. . .the connecting link being Kate’s father. Both characters are deeply flawed but in a way that for me was believable in a somewhat dysfunctional way. Set against the McCarthy witch hunts aimed at the American entertainment Industry forcing innocent citizen's to name names to protect their livelihoods, destroying too many lives...this is a period in American history that should never be forgotten. Kennedy is an agile story teller and I will def follow up with more of his books.
January 9, 2009
I picked this up in New Zealand. My first Douglas Kennedy experience - and definitely not my last! This guy can write! Pursuit of Happiness is written in the first person from a women's perspective, set in America during the McCarthy era. It tells the tales of the ups and downs of Sara, her brother Eric, and Jack Malone - a wayward stranger who turns up at Eric's New Years eve party.
I couldn't put this book down. Until it ended. Then I went to amazon.co.uk and ordered more Douglas Kennedy!
If you cant get your hands on this book - try his others - they are all exceptional!
I couldn't put this book down. Until it ended. Then I went to amazon.co.uk and ordered more Douglas Kennedy!
If you cant get your hands on this book - try his others - they are all exceptional!
January 4, 2017
Agréable mais répétitif dans le genre. Pour avoir lu Leaving the world juste avant, je peux dire que j'ai regretté d'y avoir retrouvé des tournures d'événements similaires: ie *l'avocat sans prétention qui se trouve face aux grosses pointures et trouve sa cliente tellement intègre et admirable qu'il est prêt à la facturer à peine *Les sommes d'argent qui tombent du ciel et qu'on accepte d'abord à moitié mais qui finalement arrange bien, deus ex machina et tout le bazar.... etc...
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