A Fine and Private Place

Rating:
Summary: my favorite love story (and by the way, I hate love stories)
Review: Although undoubtedly most well-known for his novel "The Last Unicorn," Peter S. Beagle's "A Fine and Private Place" has always been a personal favorite of mine. The title is taken from the Andrew Marvell poem, "To His Coy Mistress." The line is as follows: "The grave's a fine and private place, but none, I think, do there embrace." The story Beagle tells in this novel is of two ghosts who in death find a richer love than ever they knew in life, a love which is all the more precious to them because its doom is that it cannot last.

Peter Beagle is simply the most amazing writer ever (IMHO), and so I highly recommend all of his works. This one in particular, though, has always been special to me. The writing is so simple that it's beautiful. And the story of Michael and Laura's love is so touching,... there was a chapter in the book that was so painfully lovely that it actually brought tears to my eyes, one of only two times that I can remember being brought to tears by a book.

I can't recommend it highly enough. It's amazing in so many ways. For one, nearly the entire book takes place in a single graveyard, a place which becomes so real to me that I wish it were indeed real so that I might be buried there myself. The characters are unforgettable as well. Even the talking raven is wonderful, whereas I usually abhor loquacious animals (look for the squirrel and the raven's conversation, it is hands down the most hilarious section of the novel!).

Besides all that, it's a love story, which may be a plus to some of you. For the rest of you out there who hate love stories, I understand, becuase I hate them too. But Beagle's romance totally pulled me in. He has a way of doing that, you know, making me fall in love with things I thought I hated (see my review of The Last Unicorn).

Don't miss it. If you've read The Last Unicorn then you know how great this guy writes, so go ahead and read it already! If not, pick it up anyway, then go out and read The Last Unicorn, Innkeeper's Song, Tamsin... you get the picture.

Rating:
Summary: Death Revealed
Review: As every book is open to interpretation and molded by personal experiences and opinions of a reader, A Fine and Private Place by Peter Beagle holds no exceptions. I find the meaning of the book by replacing the original characters with my own, manipulating them the way I have seen death and sorrow. However, any other reader will do the same, producing unlimited versions of this book through their eyes. For this reason, I do not believe that I can review this book and readers take it in word for word, because they do not know my story. Although I will provide information of the plot and my views, so readers are able to produce their opinion regarding the book.
A Fine and Private Place is constantly revolving around the themes death and love throughout the whole plot. The book begins with introducing Mr. Rebeck who lives at the cemetery in a mausoleum, and is able to talk to people who have died recently; he does not know how he encountered this ability. He is continuously in hiding from the grounds crew and the visitors of the cemetery to ensure his ability to stay in the cemetery. He is unable to leave cemetery similarly to the dead people, and is afraid to enter the world that he left twenty years ago. A raven that brings him food daily by stealing from local stores accompanies him, and he is able to converse with him. Michael Morgan is then brought into the plot when his funeral procession occurs. He is unsure about death when he enters the cemetery and is confused if his life ended or if he is buried alive. This action is repeated by all who enter the cemetery; none are sure what is truly happening. Michael's wife Sandra is introduced at the cemetery and is involved throughout the book in the scandal of Michael's death. She is accused of killing him but she argues that he committed suicide. The scandal is continued through the book with trials and newspaper articles that the raven is able to read and then relays the messages. Mrs. Klapper is introduced while visiting her husband Morris Wilder. She constantly comes to visit her husband and Mr. Rebeck takes her on walks around the cemetery while she talks about Morris and Mr. Rebeck's similarities to him. Mr. Rebeck needs Mr. Klapper as a companion to talk to and he begins to love her. Laura is introduced when she is visited at her grave by three people and is first introduced to Michael. Laura and Michael eventually fall in love after they spend all of their time together at the cemetery going on walks and talking about their past lives. The problem with their situation is that they do not remember how to love because their human abilities are slowly being forgotten. They do not remember the simple things about their past lives and do not know how to apply functions like walking. These things have become unnecessary to them now so they have simply forgotten how. When Michael's trial ends, the verdict causes Michael to be moved to a different cemetery because of his Catholicism; he is moved to Mount Merrill, the cemetery for people who have committed suicide. Laura then persuades Mr. Rebeck and Campos, the graveyard grounds keeper who can also talk to dead people, to move her body from the cemetery to Mount Merrill so she can be with Michael again. Mr. Rebeck is now able to conquer his fear of leaving the cemetery and is able to start a new life in the real world with Mrs. Klapper.
This book has the ability to be looked at in many ways. As I saw it, it gave me a theory about death; a possibility to my future that I am so unsure of. To others, it may be seen as a humorous plot with dead characters that live out their once forgotten loves. Depending on how a reader looks at life, or in this case death their interpretation of the book will vary. For me I saw it as answers to the questions that I will never have answered. I took it to the next level, I believe, and put the plot into my life. Having done this I expect none to relate because they no nothing of my past, however if a reader is looking for answers to any questions, the book gives them this ability to solve the problems because they are included within the story line.
Specific information I offer would be that this is not a fairy-tale book. This is reality instead of happy endings and prince charming. I would not consider this a bad thing though, because it reminds a reader how life really is. If a reader has experienced death before it helps them with answers that have troubled them in the past. It also enables them to be grateful for the fact that they are still living and are able to do all the things that are lost with death. This is the main thing I think I and any other reader will get from this book, because it shows you all that is lost when you die and everything you take for granted like the ability to love.

Rating:
Summary: Get lost in the magical world Beagle has created
Review: Get lost in the magical world Beagle has created in A Fine and Private Place. This is an easy read, but it is elegant in its simplicity. Beagle makes his magical graveyard characters seem believable and certainly just as alive as those who survived them. The story is an interesting and beautiful tale of what life after death may be like. You will fall in love and feel at home with the characters. You'll see yourself in them. Most importantly, this is the sort of novel you'll be glad that you read, and you'll recommend it to those you cherish.

Rating:
Summary: The Night of the Loving Dead
Review: Okay, that sounds a little corny, but it's probably what I will forever call last Tuesday when I went to the library to get a Beagle book or two. I'd read "The Last Unicorn," loved it, and had decided to see what else this man could do. I picked up "A Fine and Private Place," and another book by him, "Tasmin." I started AFAPP as soon as I got home, and finished it around 3:15 that morning. From the first sentence, I was hooked. Speaking of the first sentence, I had to read this one a few times to make sure I had it. "The baloney weighed the raven down..." Yes, that's it! AFAPP is a deeply touching story about a recluse living in a cemetery, a brash raven with an attitude, and two lost ghosts. What really makes this book special though, is the writing style. Beagle seamlessly weaves together beautiful, almost lyrical, words with a timeless tale of love and discovery. Just be sure to begin reading it in the morning, because you may not be able to put it down!