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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
Lorrie Moore is probably the finest prose writer in the English language; the sentences are so beautiful and perfect, they make you want to cry. Narrative runs out of steam before the end, though, as if she simply decided to end the novel.
I stopped reading half-way through when I realized I didn't give a shit about any of the characters (well, maybe just the baby).
I can see why reviewers are divided about this book, but I disagree with most of the criticism. This book is the most realistic portrayal of a life near my age that I have ever read.
I really enjoyed the book up to the last couple of chapters and then felt that the author left readers wondering about the emotions of Tassie in relation to her attachment to Emmie. Like that chapter of her life, was just over for Tassie. Kept expecting the father to make a pass at Tassie, so wasn't surprised by ending.
A tad disjointed and filled with strange, gratuitous details, but that is precisely the charm of this realistic and complex novel about coming-of-age, filled with lovely writing and many lyrical passages.
Hard time getting involved in the characters. I think some of the narratives/descriptions went on for too long, and I found myself skipping over 2 or three pages at a time. Then again, maybe that's why I didn't "get it"
I plodded through waiting for something more to happen. It didn't. There was potential there, but it was disappointing and, in my opinion, written pretentiously.
Lorrie Moore, I love you, but a novel is too long a format for all your wonderful one-liners!
Gets all serious in the middle, ends with a joke.
Gets all serious in the middle, ends with a joke.
I tend to be a little skeptical about books written by women. I am not proud of this, just resigned to it. This book is a number one example of why. That any 20 year old woman could be as self-absorbed, cynical and depressed as the narrator makes one believe in Armageddon. The only character that the reader could care about in this book , a mixed race adopted child, is written out of the story about half way through so the narrator can indulge in pages of self-pitying description of leaves, and fields, and unlovable people. When her brother is killed, I almost cheered for his escape from the bleak existence of his sister and his family.
Yuck, Yuck. Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres- another book that makes me want to scream," Get a Life- Get Over It" was almost a comedy compared to this book.
Can you tell I didn't like this book? I finished it hoping for its redemption. Now I just resent wasting the time.
Yuck, Yuck. Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres- another book that makes me want to scream," Get a Life- Get Over It" was almost a comedy compared to this book.
Can you tell I didn't like this book? I finished it hoping for its redemption. Now I just resent wasting the time.