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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I fucking loved this book
Review (English Version-sorry for the occasional mistakes, I'm not a native speaker)
This book has got several "technical" flaws: it's got episodes instead of a "real" plot, it's snob, its language is quite redundant, the author being too much of a hardcore feminist. I can't help but loving it, though.
I got traumatized by Charles Dickens in my childhood, so I've got an obsession for talented orphans who speak like Ivy League graduates. Thanks a lot, Charles.
We could easily talk about the author's captatio benevolentiae towards our teenage Ego (mine is really strong, though I'm actually too old for these things). We could also say it's too easy to identify ourselves with the impossibly beautiful, talented, young Astrid, or the equally hot and talented Ingrid, poetress, murderer, Nietzschean Ueberfrau AND exemplary mother.
But I can't honestly say I didn't like it. I did. I recommend the reading to other people here, regardless of flaws.
Recensione (Italian Version)
Un libro non privo di difetti (ok, pieno di difetti); trama episodica, linguaggio ridondante, snobismo culturale, ideologia goffamente espressa. E tuttavia non riesco a farmelo cadere dal cuore. Probabilmente la spiegazione è che sono stata traumatizzata da Dickens prima della maggiore età, quindi gli orfani di talento che parlano come plurilaureati toccano qualche corda segreta che Charles ha installato allora.
Diciamo che è fin troppo facile identificarsi con la strafiga pittrice/scultrice Astrid, giovane e incompresa, o con l'altrettanto strafiga poetessa assassina Ingrid, superuomo nietzschiano con le tette e purtuttavia madre (a-hem) esemplare. Diciamo anche che in pratica si tratta di una captatio benevolentiae nemmeno dissimulata nei confronti del nostro ego adolescenziale. Fra l'altro, non so il vostro, ma il mio è ancora bello vitale nonostante la vecchiaia.
Ma se m'è piaciuto m'è piaciuto, eccheccazzo.
This book has got several "technical" flaws: it's got episodes instead of a "real" plot, it's snob, its language is quite redundant, the author being too much of a hardcore feminist. I can't help but loving it, though.
I got traumatized by Charles Dickens in my childhood, so I've got an obsession for talented orphans who speak like Ivy League graduates. Thanks a lot, Charles.
We could easily talk about the author's captatio benevolentiae towards our teenage Ego (mine is really strong, though I'm actually too old for these things). We could also say it's too easy to identify ourselves with the impossibly beautiful, talented, young Astrid, or the equally hot and talented Ingrid, poetress, murderer, Nietzschean Ueberfrau AND exemplary mother.
But I can't honestly say I didn't like it. I did. I recommend the reading to other people here, regardless of flaws.
Recensione (Italian Version)
Un libro non privo di difetti (ok, pieno di difetti); trama episodica, linguaggio ridondante, snobismo culturale, ideologia goffamente espressa. E tuttavia non riesco a farmelo cadere dal cuore. Probabilmente la spiegazione è che sono stata traumatizzata da Dickens prima della maggiore età, quindi gli orfani di talento che parlano come plurilaureati toccano qualche corda segreta che Charles ha installato allora.
Diciamo che è fin troppo facile identificarsi con la strafiga pittrice/scultrice Astrid, giovane e incompresa, o con l'altrettanto strafiga poetessa assassina Ingrid, superuomo nietzschiano con le tette e purtuttavia madre (a-hem) esemplare. Diciamo anche che in pratica si tratta di una captatio benevolentiae nemmeno dissimulata nei confronti del nostro ego adolescenziale. Fra l'altro, non so il vostro, ma il mio è ancora bello vitale nonostante la vecchiaia.
Ma se m'è piaciuto m'è piaciuto, eccheccazzo.
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I wanted to read something mindless (and my next Twilight book still has a bunch of holds on it ahead of me) and I bought this at value village a while back. Might be a bit too Oprah-ish though (and again, that's saying something, coming from someone who has resigned herself to loooooving all of Oprah's book picks).
Also, what's up with random totally evil Argentine lady?
Also, what's up with random totally evil Argentine lady?
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Janet Fitch’s writing is absolutely beautiful - haunting at times. A cutting look at relationships between a daughter and her maternal figures as she matures. We meet Astrid as a young girl, eager to gain her Ingrid’s, her mother, approval and already believing she is the thorn in her mothers side - holding her back. Quickly, Ingrid become obsessed and enraged when her boyfriend dumps her and ends up arrested for his murder.
Majority of the novel follows Astrid through multiple foster homes on her journey of growing up in an ever changing environment, but her mother still looming over her. We get to watch as Astrid matures and realizes she shouldn’t idolize her mother, but instead needs to branch out and become her own person.
This is a pretty rough story, it’s so bleak but absolutely enthralling. Ultimately a journey of self-discovery amongst hardships. Just as you finally think everything will be okay, the rug is ripped out from under her and she’s back at the bottom. Obsessed with the beautiful writing - it reads as poetry from time to time. Definitely recommend, but be aware what you’re in for.
Majority of the novel follows Astrid through multiple foster homes on her journey of growing up in an ever changing environment, but her mother still looming over her. We get to watch as Astrid matures and realizes she shouldn’t idolize her mother, but instead needs to branch out and become her own person.
This is a pretty rough story, it’s so bleak but absolutely enthralling. Ultimately a journey of self-discovery amongst hardships. Just as you finally think everything will be okay, the rug is ripped out from under her and she’s back at the bottom. Obsessed with the beautiful writing - it reads as poetry from time to time. Definitely recommend, but be aware what you’re in for.
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i loved this book. i love the overall theme of mother & daughter relationships, or maternal relationships. the final sequence of her with the suitcases truly moved me. the complexity of maternal relationships was truly showcased in this novel and i think anyone who was born afab and has a mother will resonate with this.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve read this probably 20 times at the least and it never fails to be the most amazing book I’ve ever read. Forever my favorite, forever in awe.
This was a disturbing, beautiful novel. I actually read this for the first time in high school, and I have to say that I took a lot more aware from it in this reading-though even the first, this book stuck with me.
Astrid is a tough character to relate to, particularly in the beginning. She doesn't quite feel her age-11. There is no real juvenile quality in her narrative, and I struggled to believe she was so young. As terrifying as her mother, Ingrid is-I was struck with a bit of disbelief. The awe with which she regards her mother was authentic, but when they were first separated I struggled.
In Astrid's first placement, the tragedy was really at it's worst, in my opinion-because Astrid was not just a victim, she was a villain-in my opinion. From there, the placements continue to break the reader, and Astrid's heart. I was completely captivated, simultaneously dreading and needing the next part in the narrative. This book took over my outlook on life while I was reading it.
I recommend this book to everybody looking for a great, compelling read-particularly for women, but for any looking to be captivated by life's tragedy-and it's beauty.
Astrid is a tough character to relate to, particularly in the beginning. She doesn't quite feel her age-11. There is no real juvenile quality in her narrative, and I struggled to believe she was so young. As terrifying as her mother, Ingrid is-I was struck with a bit of disbelief. The awe with which she regards her mother was authentic, but when they were first separated I struggled.
In Astrid's first placement, the tragedy was really at it's worst, in my opinion-because Astrid was not just a victim, she was a villain-in my opinion. From there, the placements continue to break the reader, and Astrid's heart. I was completely captivated, simultaneously dreading and needing the next part in the narrative. This book took over my outlook on life while I was reading it.
I recommend this book to everybody looking for a great, compelling read-particularly for women, but for any looking to be captivated by life's tragedy-and it's beauty.