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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
This had been on my list for a while as it's gotten a lot of buzz, and I was excited to borrow it from a friend who'd read it as the first choice of her new bookclub.
When I told friends I was reading this and they asked, "what is it about?" all I could say was, "It's about a family." It's tough to describe, because while it falls into the category of 'family drama' it's not as juicy or exciting as that sounds, if anything it's a little more sad than I expected.
Without giving away any spoilers, I enjoyed reading about the four Padavano sisters and their deep connection. At times I struggled feeling sympathetic with some of the main characters, and was even more interested in some of the lesser prominent ones, but in the end the story resolved in a way that felt right.
I think I was mostly intrigued by Napolitano's writing style - specifically how she handled the passing of time. This story follows the four Padavano sisters from childhood to middle age, so there's a lot of time to cover. An aspiring writer myself, time is always tricky for me. Each chapter is from one of four main character's points of view, with dates, and while that usually annoys me, I found that in this book it felt very natural.
I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a solid read and to anyone who enjoys stories about complicated families.
When I told friends I was reading this and they asked, "what is it about?" all I could say was, "It's about a family." It's tough to describe, because while it falls into the category of 'family drama' it's not as juicy or exciting as that sounds, if anything it's a little more sad than I expected.
Without giving away any spoilers, I enjoyed reading about the four Padavano sisters and their deep connection. At times I struggled feeling sympathetic with some of the main characters, and was even more interested in some of the lesser prominent ones, but in the end the story resolved in a way that felt right.
I think I was mostly intrigued by Napolitano's writing style - specifically how she handled the passing of time. This story follows the four Padavano sisters from childhood to middle age, so there's a lot of time to cover. An aspiring writer myself, time is always tricky for me. Each chapter is from one of four main character's points of view, with dates, and while that usually annoys me, I found that in this book it felt very natural.
I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a solid read and to anyone who enjoys stories about complicated families.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a beautifully written book about a strong knit family, specifically 4 sisters. I loved the relationships, how each one was woven into the other, and how the other characters existed through each of them. Novels (for me) are always a little slower BUT I loved the powerful love, loyalty, and growth of the characters in this book.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to live in a super-duplex with my beloved sisters!
Despite all the raves I couldn’t tell how this family epic was going to be as great as everyone said, but I was very quickly pulled into the lives of the four Padavano sisters and of William, the shy basketball player eldest sister Julia sets her sights on in college. Napolitano’s prose is often gorgeous, and she weaves an engrossing plot around rich, fully realized characters and relationships. Although I couldn’t quite accept Julia’s sudden decision to get pregnant (despite the careful rationale for it), it was crucial in moving the plot forward. Everything else felt believable to me, and I was impressed with the way Napolitano explores the possibility of healing a deep childhood wound, managing to convey tender emotion without becoming overly sentimental. I’m reluctant to raise readers’ expectations, but I can’t help it - this book lived up to the hype.
(It only took me so long to finish because I had to switch to another book for my book club!)
Despite all the raves I couldn’t tell how this family epic was going to be as great as everyone said, but I was very quickly pulled into the lives of the four Padavano sisters and of William, the shy basketball player eldest sister Julia sets her sights on in college. Napolitano’s prose is often gorgeous, and she weaves an engrossing plot around rich, fully realized characters and relationships. Although I couldn’t quite accept Julia’s sudden decision to get pregnant (despite the careful rationale for it), it was crucial in moving the plot forward. Everything else felt believable to me, and I was impressed with the way Napolitano explores the possibility of healing a deep childhood wound, managing to convey tender emotion without becoming overly sentimental. I’m reluctant to raise readers’ expectations, but I can’t help it - this book lived up to the hype.
(It only took me so long to finish because I had to switch to another book for my book club!)
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really loved this one. Gonna miss the community in this book.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Grief
Minor: Homophobia
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes