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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was hard for me. It had a good start and then got slow. It did pick up again, but didn't hold my interest.
Found it quite slow and nothing much happening couldn't warm to the characters
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
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:
No
I can't even explain what I loved so much about this book. From the first page, it was so real, so interesting, so everyday life and yet so very well-done that I had to know what happens to this ordinary couple having an ordinary conversation. What strikes me most about books like this is the power of writing at play.
If the writing were any less than what Anne Tyler delivers, the story would fall on its face.
The author tells the story in 3rd person multiple point of view, which works really well. I most enjoyed Abby's take on life.
Anne Tyler is a most gifted writer, and her words flow like a symphony, ordinary as they are. Her style is wonderful: She doesn't use big words and she doesn't write intelligent crap that you have to reread three times to understand. She writes extremely well. I'd compare her to Stephen King. She knows her craft and tells a fabulous story. Plus it's funny and heartbreaking in the most memorable way.
This story of 3 generations told in front-back-front order is extremely well-done. You learn about the Whitshanks first through Redcliffe and Abby in their present-day life when they are in their early-70s with grown children who also play a role in the story, especially Stem and Denny (the two sons), then we go back to when Abby and Redcliffe are in high school and learn about his father Junior and mother Linnie Mae and you see how Abby and Redcliffe came to be, and then we roll back to when Junior and Linnie Mae's youth and their story. We finish by rolling forward to Redcliffe's current time and situation. The very ending is with Denny, the "trouble maker" son.
If I could ask Anne Tyler one thing, I would want to know if there was more than met the eye? This was not a book with lots of secrets or mysteries being revealed at the end, and yet Denny was mysterious and the ending, while not a letdown, was very simple, and even hopeful. I liked it. I just want to know if there was more to it...
What else should I read by Anne Tyler if I loved her so much?
If the writing were any less than what Anne Tyler delivers, the story would fall on its face.
The author tells the story in 3rd person multiple point of view, which works really well. I most enjoyed Abby's take on life.
Anne Tyler is a most gifted writer, and her words flow like a symphony, ordinary as they are. Her style is wonderful: She doesn't use big words and she doesn't write intelligent crap that you have to reread three times to understand. She writes extremely well. I'd compare her to Stephen King. She knows her craft and tells a fabulous story. Plus it's funny and heartbreaking in the most memorable way.
This story of 3 generations told in front-back-front order is extremely well-done. You learn about the Whitshanks first through Redcliffe and Abby in their present-day life when they are in their early-70s with grown children who also play a role in the story, especially Stem and Denny (the two sons), then we go back to when Abby and Redcliffe are in high school and learn about his father Junior and mother Linnie Mae and you see how Abby and Redcliffe came to be, and then we roll back to when Junior and Linnie Mae's youth and their story. We finish by rolling forward to Redcliffe's current time and situation. The very ending is with Denny, the "trouble maker" son.
If I could ask Anne Tyler one thing, I would want to know if there was more than met the eye? This was not a book with lots of secrets or mysteries being revealed at the end, and yet Denny was mysterious and the ending, while not a letdown, was very simple, and even hopeful. I liked it. I just want to know if there was more to it...
What else should I read by Anne Tyler if I loved her so much?
A family saga the way only Anne Tyler can do, with characters infuriating and endearing. This one ends with the approach of Hurricane Sandy.
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A smooth read without much of apparent ups and downs, but has some interestingness within. I wasn't bored while going through this, and that's all I can say.