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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
I do not speak with hyperbole here: this is the worst book I have ever read.
It saddens me to say this, but, though I tried and tried to like this book, I couldn't even make myself finish it. Enough people I trust have told me how brilliant Moore is that I may still try her short stories. But here, I just couldn't find anything redeeming. The whole thing felt like it was written by someone with no knowledge or experience of what she was writing about. I didn't care about or, even worse, believe in the characters. Quite frankly, they all seemed like bland caricatures, and the few attempts at depth felt like nothing more than intrusions of the author's own thoughts and words. The characters themselves couldn't support their weight. In short, the whole thing felt like a sham.
I should acknowledge here that I have yet to find a single professional negative review of this book, so maybe I'm totally off base. But I will also point out that many of these reviews do mention Moore's "clumsiness" at several major points in the novel. They just seem to think it's forgivable, because the rest of the book is so fantastic. Maybe so, but I couldn't see it. And I really did try.
I should acknowledge here that I have yet to find a single professional negative review of this book, so maybe I'm totally off base. But I will also point out that many of these reviews do mention Moore's "clumsiness" at several major points in the novel. They just seem to think it's forgivable, because the rest of the book is so fantastic. Maybe so, but I couldn't see it. And I really did try.
As I read this book I grew more and more invested in the lives of Sarah and Tassie. I loved their ever changing relationship with each other and the journey they were on together. When tradegy strikes Sarah's household the story shifts and is about the everyday mundane life of Tassie. It was at that point that I no longer cared for the story. It's like Tassie was no one without Sarah and Mary Emma.
challenging
funny
reflective
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:
Yes
Wow--what a book. Sometimes I loved it, sometimes I wasn't so sure about it. It's funny and weird and beautiful; in the end, I think it's a book I will remember for quite a long time.
I gave up on this book because after slogging through it, in the middle there are 2 very disturbing plot points, one involving parental negligence (abuse?) and child death. It should come with a trigger warning.
Oh, Lorrie Moore. What a disaster. I'm so disappointed. How could such a wonderful writer go so, so, so wrong?
I think we can all take something away from this clunky vehicle for every possible hot-button cultural concern of the past decade. Two things, actually:
1) If you feel compelled to write fiction that has anything remotely to do with 9/11, THINK VERY LONG AND HARD before you actually put pen to paper.
2) One ludicrous plot twist = shame on you. Two ludicrous plot twists = seriously, shame on you.
I think we can all take something away from this clunky vehicle for every possible hot-button cultural concern of the past decade. Two things, actually:
1) If you feel compelled to write fiction that has anything remotely to do with 9/11, THINK VERY LONG AND HARD before you actually put pen to paper.
2) One ludicrous plot twist = shame on you. Two ludicrous plot twists = seriously, shame on you.