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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
This book was really slow and hard to follow at some points. The ending was unexpected, but somewhat anticlimactic.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As I always try to give reasons when I give a book less than 4 stars, here is my thoughts on Girl A. I went into this book with high expectations, such was the hype that accompanied the debut. Unfortunately, this is one of those instances where the book fails to live up to the hype - and in fact, is probably a good example of everything that is wrong with the publishing industry's obsession with the debut novel.
In my opinion, the writing was pretty average: there was very little that made me sit up and think that the author had produced a sentence that was a work of art. The internal monologue of Girl A was sometimes meandering, and often boring. I found it very difficult to stay focussed on what was going on with her (and as someone who has read Ducks, Newburyport and is partial to the internal monologue of characters this is not a good reflection on Girl A).
I found myself spending more time wondering what it was about this book that meant that it got extracted from an agent's slushpile, rather than so many of the other excellent books that I have read in my writing groups from far better writers. The only answer that I can come up with is that this is probably due, in part, to the sensationalist subject matter of the book - a child escapee from a House of Horrors, who is trying to piece together the shattered remnants of her life. I mean, it sounds good on paper, right, and easy to sell in bookshops?
To be fair, the concept is enticing, and could have made for an excellent book. But... I just failed to connect emotionally with it on any level, I found the various motivations of some of the characters difficult to comprehend, some of the plot developments were implausible, particularly where Girl A is able to find and connect with her youngest sibling, and we never get what we are promised with the book - which is the reason I bought it - the reparation of the relationships between the siblings who survived the horrors of their childhood.
This book just didn't work for me. Not at all. The only thing that was surprising about the book is that I pressed on to the end and finished it.
In my opinion, the writing was pretty average: there was very little that made me sit up and think that the author had produced a sentence that was a work of art. The internal monologue of Girl A was sometimes meandering, and often boring. I found it very difficult to stay focussed on what was going on with her (and as someone who has read Ducks, Newburyport and is partial to the internal monologue of characters this is not a good reflection on Girl A).
I found myself spending more time wondering what it was about this book that meant that it got extracted from an agent's slushpile, rather than so many of the other excellent books that I have read in my writing groups from far better writers. The only answer that I can come up with is that this is probably due, in part, to the sensationalist subject matter of the book - a child escapee from a House of Horrors, who is trying to piece together the shattered remnants of her life. I mean, it sounds good on paper, right, and easy to sell in bookshops?
To be fair, the concept is enticing, and could have made for an excellent book. But... I just failed to connect emotionally with it on any level, I found the various motivations of some of the characters difficult to comprehend, some of the plot developments were implausible, particularly where Girl A is able to find and connect with her youngest sibling, and we never get what we are promised with the book - which is the reason I bought it - the reparation of the relationships between the siblings who survived the horrors of their childhood.
This book just didn't work for me. Not at all. The only thing that was surprising about the book is that I pressed on to the end and finished it.
Was taken from 3 stars to 4 because of the twist.
I really liked the scenes in the house, but the real world was a little dull at times.
The ending was especially nice, however.
I really liked the scenes in the house, but the real world was a little dull at times.
The ending was especially nice, however.
I'd give this 3.5 stars. Enjoyable throughout, an interesting twisty tale, but yeesh, does the author miss the landing in an astounding way.
Girl A is one of seven siblings living in isolation, squalor, and abuse. How their lives each wind up, and by what means, forms the rest of the story.
TW for child physical and mental abuse, and their affects.
Girl A is one of seven siblings living in isolation, squalor, and abuse. How their lives each wind up, and by what means, forms the rest of the story.
TW for child physical and mental abuse, and their affects.
I really wanted to not finish this book but I forced myself. The plot had so much potential but the way this book was written and dragged out was just sooooooo boring. The constant eluding to what they went thru but taking forever to finally go into detail was really annoying. There was only like 3 pages total that I was like “wow this is interesting” then it immediately got so boring again.
I went into this expecting to be skeeved out but I never hit a point where I couldn’t handle it, and I couldn’t out it down. It is a really odd, sad kind of powerfully quiet, book about something awful that happened slowly and the aftermath of that on the adults who lived through it.
sad
medium-paced
The concept was promising. The idea of an adult child from a neglectful and abusive home, untangling their childhood is potentially fascinating. In parts, I was fascinated. But in the end I felt unsatisfied. The possibilities were great, but sadly, it fell short. I don’t feel I know any more than if I’d just read the blurb.
Anyway, let's bring in a large cast of characters with complicated relationships, speak vaguely about literally every god damn thing, and not explain what's going on or bother introducing the characters at all. This writing style drove me crazy.