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suvata's review against another edition
3.0
From the Publisher:
ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS is a timely, piercing exploration of what it means to be caught in the web of a toxic man who abused his power; it shows how those webs can tangle a family for generations and what it takes to—maybe, hopefully—break free. With her signature “sparkling prose” (Marie Claire) and incisive wit, Jami Attenberg deftly explores one of the most important subjects of our age.
ALL THIS COULD BE YOURS is a timely, piercing exploration of what it means to be caught in the web of a toxic man who abused his power; it shows how those webs can tangle a family for generations and what it takes to—maybe, hopefully—break free. With her signature “sparkling prose” (Marie Claire) and incisive wit, Jami Attenberg deftly explores one of the most important subjects of our age.
caramarie345's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.75
andersond826's review
2.0
I finished this audio book less than a week ago and I already had a difficult time remembering what it was about. That’s not the sign of a book read and loved. And when I remembered the story, I remembered not liking the characters or caring about them in any way. That’s often a reason for me not enjoying a book, and this one was no exception. Three stars because I finished it!
kelswid's review
3.75
I really liked the first half, but felt like there were significant chunks that would have been better suited to another book and/or short story.
elisegerardi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
hilaryroberts's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book was hyped to have family secrets and they were all boring. Felt like a lot of build up for very little reward. Would not recommend this to anyone
novelvisits's review
4.0
{My Thoughts}
2019 has been a year of many amazing family drama novels. From The Last Romantics, to Ask Again, Yes, to Mrs. Everything, to The Most Fun We Ever Had, to The Dearly Beloved, to The Dutch House family dysfunction has been thoroughly and wonderfully covered. But, when it comes to family dysfunction, there’s always room for a different take and that’s exactly what Jami Attenberg delivers in her new novel All This Could Be Yours.
As Victor Tuchman lies dying in a hospital bed his entire family is reluctant to gather round. Victor was never a good husband, never a good father, but that’s usual. Victor was much more. He was a bad man, and though the family didn’t talk about it, they all lived it. Daughter, Alex travels to New Orleans to “make peace” with her father, but all she really wants is answers from her mother.
“Things had shifted, things were in motion; a long-iced-over river thawed inside her, and the rapids were running. Now, though she would never utter it to anyone, Alex couldn’t wait until her father died, so that at last she could learn the truth about him.”
Alex’s brother, out of town as his father begins to fail, just can’t seem to motivate himself to go home. And his wife, Twyla, is a hot mess and the only one shedding any tears at all for Victor. And then there’s Barbra, Victor’s long-suffering wife, ever-disengaged mother, and obsessive re-decorator.
Over the course of a few hot summer days in New Orleans, Attenberg takes her readers into the dark world of Victor Tuchman and how he affected his family. It’s definitely dark and won’t be for everyone, but the story is told in an over-the-top style that adds a lot of levity. The uniquely dark angle in All This Could Be Yours provides the perfect end cap to a great year of family dysfunction. Grade: B+
Note: I received a copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/
2019 has been a year of many amazing family drama novels. From The Last Romantics, to Ask Again, Yes, to Mrs. Everything, to The Most Fun We Ever Had, to The Dearly Beloved, to The Dutch House family dysfunction has been thoroughly and wonderfully covered. But, when it comes to family dysfunction, there’s always room for a different take and that’s exactly what Jami Attenberg delivers in her new novel All This Could Be Yours.
As Victor Tuchman lies dying in a hospital bed his entire family is reluctant to gather round. Victor was never a good husband, never a good father, but that’s usual. Victor was much more. He was a bad man, and though the family didn’t talk about it, they all lived it. Daughter, Alex travels to New Orleans to “make peace” with her father, but all she really wants is answers from her mother.
“Things had shifted, things were in motion; a long-iced-over river thawed inside her, and the rapids were running. Now, though she would never utter it to anyone, Alex couldn’t wait until her father died, so that at last she could learn the truth about him.”
Alex’s brother, out of town as his father begins to fail, just can’t seem to motivate himself to go home. And his wife, Twyla, is a hot mess and the only one shedding any tears at all for Victor. And then there’s Barbra, Victor’s long-suffering wife, ever-disengaged mother, and obsessive re-decorator.
Over the course of a few hot summer days in New Orleans, Attenberg takes her readers into the dark world of Victor Tuchman and how he affected his family. It’s definitely dark and won’t be for everyone, but the story is told in an over-the-top style that adds a lot of levity. The uniquely dark angle in All This Could Be Yours provides the perfect end cap to a great year of family dysfunction. Grade: B+
Note: I received a copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/
alexisrt's review
3.0
This is a multifocal novel about a dysfunctional family that pivots around the deathbed of the patriarch.
Attenberg is a good writer, and I enjoyed the book well enough, but I kept asking myself, "why?" I didn't feel like there was enough new here. It's a fairly well worn plot, and while soapy revelations aren't necessary, the voices of the individual characters don't feel very unique--only Twyla really seems to develop as a character. The multiple points of view work well enough for the most part, but there are sections that are devoted to characters who are only tangentially related to the main story. I understand why they were there--there's information revealed through these points of view--but at the same time, their backstories that are given in these sections don't seem terribly well meshed with the main story. It read as if she wanted to integrate the novel into the city of New Orleans, and it doesn't totally work.
Attenberg is a good writer, and I enjoyed the book well enough, but I kept asking myself, "why?" I didn't feel like there was enough new here. It's a fairly well worn plot, and while soapy revelations aren't necessary, the voices of the individual characters don't feel very unique--only Twyla really seems to develop as a character. The multiple points of view work well enough for the most part, but there are sections that are devoted to characters who are only tangentially related to the main story. I understand why they were there--there's information revealed through these points of view--but at the same time, their backstories that are given in these sections don't seem terribly well meshed with the main story. It read as if she wanted to integrate the novel into the city of New Orleans, and it doesn't totally work.
maviemerveilleuse's review
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Gun violence