Customer Reviews

Burden of Desire

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I spent a few weeks of a very hot summer in a hammock absorbed in this fascinating book. It is a sensual love story set in Halifax, Nova Scotia woven into a historical event which is both amazing and overlooked in American history - probably because it happened in Canada! This book explores the beginnings of psychoanalysis as it follows the stories of several compelling characters after a devastating explosion in the harbor of Halafax which left much in its wake. It's epic. It's exciting. It's unique. It's informative. And it's sexy. I highly recommend it

What a delight to read a story that captivates on so many different levels. The three main characters come to life and you can't help but care what happens to them and the people around them. The history of the Halifax explosion and its aftermath was fascinating. It really is amazing how little Americans know about Canada and Canadian history. Put it all together and you've got a story with sex, mystery, politics and religion that keeps you guessing how its going to turn out right up to the very end. A novel to truly get lost in for hours at a time.

This book was informative and beautifully written. I loved Julia's story. Her dairy entries were so sensual and personal. MacNeil brought a beautiful woman to life for me. He wrote with such a feminine voice. There were times in the book, though, where it was a little too textbook-like in the Freudian discussions. Overall, I loved it and have bought his "Voyage"

This was a very fast read for me. Indeed I was sorry to reach the end of it. MacNeil's reporting skills are evident in a strong, straightforward narration, filled with interesting (at least to me) detail on the tragic Halifax harbor explosion in 1917 and, more broadly, on Canada itself during WWI when it really seemed to establish its own national identity. Readers should also find the novel's characters both well-drawn and appealing, and its numerous sub-plots come together naturally in the satisfying conclusion. I strongly agree with one reviewer's comment that this is a refreshingly "humane" work. I recommend "Burden of Desire" highly.

This book is truly captivating. I realized half-way through the book that there were only a couple of possible endings and found myself desperately wanting one over the other, probably because I had become so enmeshed in the lives of these characters. The author does a great job of introducing us to their lives and really giving us a sense of what makes them tick. I wish I'd saved this book for my upcoming overseas trip so I could have read hours at a time without interruption!

Historical fiction dealing with a little known historical event, the Halifax Explosion. Most people associate Halifax Nova Scotia with the Titanic Cemetery. The story of the Halifax Explosion is actually more horrendous because many more lives were lost than on the Titanic and injuries were far greater. Excellent writing and intriguing sub-plot. I read this book before visiting Halifax which made my visit even more meaningful.

Based upon an actual event in history I was swept away, brought into the web of this story, constantly wanting to read on to what was next and what I expected did not happen, great ending!!!

Brilliant description of the harbor explosion and its historical impact. Some great character background and a strong narrative. The priest is just too pathetic a character to draw much sympathy--others fare little better, but despite the chaos, the book is still interesting. Biggest letdown is the tendency to instill too much 1990s self-asorption, psycho-babble, me me me mentality into a different era in history, when the outlook and lives of people were quite different than they are in the North America of today. Still, a more appealling work overall than most of the fiction I've run across the last 10 years.

I love this book. It is the best of the fiction books I have read this winter, yet has received the least acclaim. I have to wonder if the title has been an impediment.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. The historical aspect is very interesting and the plot is unique. The message - that convention can be paralyzing to all types of societies (religious, military, political, geographic) - is stong enough to stand on its own. Only a male author would feel the need to create the perfect woman to deliver that message. Julia is perfect in every aspect - she is young and physically beautiful (with long blonde hair); she is compassionate, benevolent, intelligent, mentally stable, strong, opinionated, and couragous. She enjoys and desires sex. She possesses a keen sense of humor and a perspective on life that is typically exhibited by much older characters. She is, in a word, unbelievable.