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canngrob's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Alcohol and Child death
Minor: Cancer
cassiebartelme's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
4.0
Am I ever disappointed with an Ann Patchett book? I don't think so. Her ability to weave together stories across time, space and characters is amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Infidelity
inkandbooksforever's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This story was not big on action. It focuses mainly on human interaction and the possibilities of life, how small choices can push someone to have a completely different life had they done something different. I think there is beauty in those relationships and interactions. However, it was confusing to keep track of all the characters and their connections to the other characters. I wish there was more plot but overall a good and fast read. Not boring, entertaining but might not read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcoholism
tiasreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, and Infidelity
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
rachthecreator's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts
cibani's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, and Gun violence
marnash's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Saw it on the kitchen counter, remembered Ima recommended it, and then read it in 3 days. Was good. At times not gripping enough and found myaelf putting it down, somewhat bored. I liked the writing, though some of the characters were too similar (or not distinct enough?) and so I found myself mixing them. It didn't help that the plot kept moving between years and decades, so sometimes it was hard to distinguish what was happening. Without having read the blurb beforehand, I'd have no idea what was going on. Still - enjoyed it, though it was quite sad throughout it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Infidelity
Moderate: Child abuse and Cancer
theblushbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes for neat, happy endings in their books. In this way, Ann Patchett’s work challenges me as a reader, but her ambiguous endings and imperfect characters always stay with me much longer. This novel is a testament to the complexity of family. Ten members in all, four adult, six children, and two plus broken marriages this family is certainly complicated. There were certain plot lines I wanted explored more, which I won’t share because of spoilers, and the chronology of the novel was interesting but not to my taste. But this novel remains solidly four stars for the way it stays with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Infidelity
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
laurasullivan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Infidelity
Minor: Drug abuse
macyh3's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the concept was phenomenal. the chapters individually were perfectly structured, almost like little short stories that tie together into a whole. i loved seeing the relationships between the characters develop and change, sometimes moving backwards in time. the sibling and familial relationships felt really raw and real. The authors voice was really cohesive and witty, and a lot of the language was brilliant— just a brilliant writing style, i’ve never read anything quite like it.
cons… it took me a second to get over the mid-book hump, but i really enjoyed this book. slower than i usually like, and the jumps between family and time confused me sometimes. i ended up having to draw out a family tree to keep track of who was related to who. I wish that there were fewer characters to get into the complexities of each one, i feel like more could’ve been done.
Here are some quotes that stood out to me, simply because of her brilliant and unique writing style.
“Eric was in ever sense a wiry man, a runner with a small frame who must have once been told that blue complemented his eyes. Franny had never seen Eric in anything other than blue.”
“His daughter from the first marriage always needed money because she needed so much more than money but money was the easiest way for her to express those needs.”
“At the airport, Teresa handed over the tickets Bert had sent and put her children on the plane to Virginia without suitcases… Let Bert hit the ground running, she thought. They needed everything: he could start with toothbrushes and pajamas and work his way up...Beverly Cousins wanted her family? Have at it.”
and my personal favourite…
“The two sisters were connected by neither love nor mutual affinity but by a very small bathroom that could be entered from the bedroom on either side.”
cons… it took me a second to get over the mid-book hump, but i really enjoyed this book. slower than i usually like, and the jumps between family and time confused me sometimes. i ended up having to draw out a family tree to keep track of who was related to who. I wish that there were fewer characters to get into the complexities of each one, i feel like more could’ve been done.
Here are some quotes that stood out to me, simply because of her brilliant and unique writing style.
“Eric was in ever sense a wiry man, a runner with a small frame who must have once been told that blue complemented his eyes. Franny had never seen Eric in anything other than blue.”
“His daughter from the first marriage always needed money because she needed so much more than money but money was the easiest way for her to express those needs.”
“At the airport, Teresa handed over the tickets Bert had sent and put her children on the plane to Virginia without suitcases… Let Bert hit the ground running, she thought. They needed everything: he could start with toothbrushes and pajamas and work his way up...Beverly Cousins wanted her family? Have at it.”
and my personal favourite…
“The two sisters were connected by neither love nor mutual affinity but by a very small bathroom that could be entered from the bedroom on either side.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Cancer
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Infidelity
Minor: Drug use