3.77 AVERAGE


as someone who grew up around women who were just like ann (and as someone who sometimes had tendencies to become just like her), this story really made me think about how i want to live my life
reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

2.5 ⭐️
adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
medium-paced
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

In theory I should love this book: we're following a morally questionable but still, in her own way, strong female character in the tradition of Becky Sharp or Scarlett O'Hara, there were some really impressive scenes and I liked Joy and how she was used both in the relationship to her stepmother and to discuss how mental illness was viewed back then. I really enjoyed the time on the train and Part Two, where we mostly follow Joy, but there were phenomenal moments between the characters throughout.
Unfortunately, I could never fully immers myself into the story and always felt like I was looking at people but not enough into their minds, something about the writing just didn't click with me. It's a great story but not the perfect presentation for me.