The Signature of All Things
Chiroyoga says:
I give this book 4.5 stars.What an ambitious book! It covers science and evolution, juxtaposed with religion, and the missing element, the things that make us human, but more specifically it's about one woman's life, from beginning to end, with all her hopes and dreams and disappointments. Her name is Alma Whitaker. She has a remarkable childhood, rich with learning and every opportunity, overseen by her stern Dutch aristocratic mother. She is her father's particular favorite,... in fact, she may be the only thing he truly loves, after business, botany and money. If you had asked me if I were interested in a book where a woman conducts a scientific study of mosses over time, I would say that it sounds quite boring. But what ended up being so enthralling was the beautifully exquisite language throughout the book. For example:"Moss dines upon boulders, slowly but devastatingly, in a meal that lasts for centuries. Given enough time, a colony of moss can turn a cliff into gravel, and turn that gravel into topsoil. Under shelves of exposed limestone, moss colonies create dripping, living sponges that hold on tight and drink calciferous water straight from the stone. Over time, this mix of moss and mineral will itself turn into travertine marble. With that hard, creamy-white marble surface, one will forever see veins of blue, green, and gray- the traces of the antediluvian moss settlements. St. Peter's Basilica itself was built from the stuff both created by and stained with the bodies of ancient moss colonies." I was thrilled over and over again by the elegant choices of language throughout the book. But more than science, religion, or botany, the story of Alma is like nothing I've never read before. Alma had an incredible mind, gifted with intelligence. At the same time, she wasn't like other girls her age, worried about their fashions, balls, social norms, or catching suitable husbands in society. Alma and her adopted sister, Prudence, were fairly isolated, even though they were wealthy. My woman-heart hurt for Alma when a gentleman caller stops by to see if the rumors of Prudence's beauty were true, and her father says, in front of both girls, "To my mind, the homely one is worth ten of the pretty one." Heartbreaking words for both girls, for completely different reasons. Words that can scar impressionable young girls their whole lives. Yet Alma tries to accept what is, and focus on her strengths, namely her intelligence, and her scientific studies. She is strong, she is capable, and it isn't long until she is publishing in botanical journals, and doing well with science and botany. Life happens, time moves on, she has a sexual awakening of sorts, there are joys and heartbreaks, and without giving any more away, the life of Alma and her family and dear ones unfolds. Spoiler ahead in this paragraph only: [My woman-heart hurt again for Alma in her marriage bed of misunderstandings. Oh, how she almost felt pretty. She was loved, certainly, but not wanted. This entire section made me groan inwardly for poor Alma, and be frustrated FOR her!]Just as a side note, I found her sister Prudence's storyline fascinating, even though she's merely a side character, and I would have loved to read an entire novel of HER story as well, as a sacrificing saint who gives up all luxuries to pursue the abolitionist causes she is so passionate about. There is some heartbreak, there is a troubling mystery, there are times of joy and fulfillment, some satisfaction to be had in pursuing one's intellectual interests, and also in righting wrongs. Much happens, but I don't want to give anything away. In Alma's writings regarding evolution, there is a passage she records that could have been a metaphor for Alma's life: "...have the courage and curiosity to stay in the battle until one's eventual and inevitable demise. Anything less than a fight for endurance is cowardly. Anything less than a fight for endurance is a refusal of the great covenant of life." This book is teeming with life, beautiful botany, and characters who relish in nature the Signature of All Things.
kylej says:
My book club selection: I'm one of a few who did NOT read Eat, Pray LoveI felt like this novel was three novels in one: 1 The beginning of the novel with Henry explorations in itself could be a novel. 2-The story of Alma and her sister and their times being raised together, in itself could be a novel: 3-Alma and her international travels, that leads her ultimately to Amsterdam can be a novel, as well:One of my favorite parts was when Henry has the Italian inventor to the estate and they reenact how the planets, rotate and Alma is acting as a comet with fire in her hands: it was mesmerizing and so beautifully written, it took my breath away: Signature Of All Things is beautifully written, thought-provoking, and takes you to another world , which was not that long ago.MoreLess
I give this book 4.5 stars.What an ambitious book! It covers science and evolution, juxtaposed with religion, and the missing element, the things that make us human, but more specifically it's about one woman's life, from beginning to end, with all her hopes and dreams and disappointments. Her name is Alma Whitaker. She has a remarkable childhood, rich with learning and every opportunity, overseen by her stern Dutch aristocratic mother. She is her father's particular favorite,... in fact, she may be the only thing he truly loves, after business, botany and money. If you had asked me if I were interested in a book where a woman conducts a scientific study of mosses over time, I would say that it sounds quite boring. But what ended up being so enthralling was the beautifully exquisite language throughout the book. For example:"Moss dines upon boulders, slowly but devastatingly, in a meal that lasts for centuries. Given enough time, a colony of moss can turn a cliff into gravel, and turn that gravel into topsoil. Under shelves of exposed limestone, moss colonies create dripping, living sponges that hold on tight and drink calciferous water straight from the stone. Over time, this mix of moss and mineral will itself turn into travertine marble. With that hard, creamy-white marble surface, one will forever see veins of blue, green, and gray- the traces of the antediluvian moss settlements. St. Peter's Basilica itself was built from the stuff both created by and stained with the bodies of ancient moss colonies." I was thrilled over and over again by the elegant choices of language throughout the book. But more than science, religion, or botany, the story of Alma is like nothing I've never read before. Alma had an incredible mind, gifted with intelligence. At the same time, she wasn't like other girls her age, worried about their fashions, balls, social norms, or catching suitable husbands in society. Alma and her adopted sister, Prudence, were fairly isolated, even though they were wealthy. My woman-heart hurt for Alma when a gentleman caller stops by to see if the rumors of Prudence's beauty were true, and her father says, in front of both girls, "To my mind, the homely one is worth ten of the pretty one." Heartbreaking words for both girls, for completely different reasons. Words that can scar impressionable young girls their whole lives. Yet Alma tries to accept what is, and focus on her strengths, namely her intelligence, and her scientific studies. She is strong, she is capable, and it isn't long until she is publishing in botanical journals, and doing well with science and botany. Life happens, time moves on, she has a sexual awakening of sorts, there are joys and heartbreaks, and without giving any more away, the life of Alma and her family and dear ones unfolds. Spoiler ahead in this paragraph only: [My woman-heart hurt again for Alma in her marriage bed of misunderstandings. Oh, how she almost felt pretty. She was loved, certainly, but not wanted. This entire section made me groan inwardly for poor Alma, and be frustrated FOR her!]Just as a side note, I found her sister Prudence's storyline fascinating, even though she's merely a side character, and I would have loved to read an entire novel of HER story as well, as a sacrificing saint who gives up all luxuries to pursue the abolitionist causes she is so passionate about. There is some heartbreak, there is a troubling mystery, there are times of joy and fulfillment, some satisfaction to be had in pursuing one's intellectual interests, and also in righting wrongs. Much happens, but I don't want to give anything away. In Alma's writings regarding evolution, there is a passage she records that could have been a metaphor for Alma's life: "...have the courage and curiosity to stay in the battle until one's eventual and inevitable demise. Anything less than a fight for endurance is cowardly. Anything less than a fight for endurance is a refusal of the great covenant of life." This book is teeming with life, beautiful botany, and characters who relish in nature the Signature of All Things.
kylej says:
My book club selection: I'm one of a few who did NOT read Eat, Pray LoveI felt like this novel was three novels in one: 1 The beginning of the novel with Henry explorations in itself could be a novel. 2-The story of Alma and her sister and their times being raised together, in itself could be a novel: 3-Alma and her international travels, that leads her ultimately to Amsterdam can be a novel, as well:One of my favorite parts was when Henry has the Italian inventor to the estate and they reenact how the planets, rotate and Alma is acting as a comet with fire in her hands: it was mesmerizing and so beautifully written, it took my breath away: Signature Of All Things is beautifully written, thought-provoking, and takes you to another world , which was not that long ago.MoreLess
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Guest 6 years ago
It froze after part 3, really never got to finish.Write Review:
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