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In the depression, moving into the labor movement beginning to confront Ford and his paid enforcers. Also following the gradual development and devolution of Fords great plan to make his own rubber in Brazil, Fordlandia. Epic presentation of so many affected by Ford and his plans.

Another Dickensians group read. Love these. Interesting book.

Wow! So much to see here. No one is left unscathed so far.

I’m going to DNF this book. I have finished the first three stories and simply can’t become engaged with them. The characters don’t have enough movement or internal momentum in their lives to carry me along. They think, but, so far, don’t really act in their own lives. Sorry. I’d hoped for more. I know many really like this collection but it’s not for me.

I am getting nowhere with this book. I keep putting off returning to it. I am going to DNF it. Sadly. I thought I would like this but I find it overwrought and difficult to keep my attention on these people who don’t seem more than caricatures. Maybe it would improve if I continued. Maybe I’m just not in the mood for this book now. Oh well. I tried.

A quote from a section of this book dealing with occupied Paris in 1942, as Jewish families are being forced out of their homes to places unknown.

“The world he once believed in—of reason, of medical ethics, of
fundamental human dignity—is gone, replaced by something
monstrous. And they have all let it happen, one small
compromise at a time.”

It does make one think….

The..steam wasn’t thick enough to fog the chipped mirrors, so his own wide eyes stared back at him from the mirror above the sink. The sight of his own face startled Robert.. He forced himself to straighten up..stop standing like a turtle in a shell..narrow his eyes into a glare. No, too much: someone would take offense. He softened his glare into a thoughtful scowl, alert but unafraid practicing which face to wear

The land agent-“The weather being hot, he had no cravat, and wore his shirt collar wide open; so that every time he spoke something was seen to twitch and jerk up in his throat, like the little hammers in a harpsichord when the notes are struck. Perhaps it was the Truth feebly endeavoring to leap to his lips. If so, it never reached them.”

The four hearse-horses especially, reared and pranced, and showed their highest action, as if they knew a man was dead, and triumphed in it. “They break us, drive us, ride us; ill treat, abuse and maim us for their pleasure—But they die; Hurrah, they die!”

There were English..Irish..Welsh..and Scotch people there; all with their little store of coarse food and shabby clothes; and nearly all, with their families of children. There were children of all ages; from the baby at the breast to the.. girl..as much grown as her mother. Every kind of domestic suffering that is bred in poverty…and long travel..and yet infinitely less complaint…infinitely..more kindness

What a fascinating, exciting reading experience. I’ve never read anything like this before.