Reviews

The Sand Castle by Rita Mae Brown

jnhamm's review

lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

judyward's review against another edition

3.0

I've long been a fan of Rita Mae Brown's writing and have loved the continuing saga of the Hunsenheir sisters--Juts and Wheezie. They have appeared in earlier novels Six of One, Bingo, and Loose Lips. This novella takes place on a single day in 1952 when Juts and Wheezie take 7 year old Nickel, and eight year old Leroy to St. Mary's, Maryland for a day at the beach. The stories about their family roll, the sisters bicker, but, ultimately, the importance of family and sticking together wins out. At a 103 pages, this book takes, at most, an hour or so to read. If you aren't already acquainted with the Hunsenmeir sisters, you may not be entralled with the story, but since I already know them and their story, I found that spending the day with them at the beach was well worth my while.

cozylittlebrownhouse's review against another edition

2.0

Not too memorable, but I liked the author's writing style so I plan on trying something else by her. This might not have been a good one to begin with, but I have to admit, the cover sucked me in.

baleypetersen's review against another edition

2.0

Strange. Very strange. Definitely created a mood, but not one I particularly want.

curlygirl71's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this short story. Although I prefer Rita Mae Brown's series with the cat/horses.

readsinbed's review against another edition

2.0

This is a nice short story, but again, inconsistent with the story she created for these characters in Six of One and Bingo, so kind of disappointing. Would have been a nice story if it were truly independent of the other books.

satyridae's review

2.0

I loved Six of One, where Brown introduced many of the characters who reappear in this book. She's written several sequels, each more perfunctory than the last. This latest chapter can't be called perfunctory but it is very odd inasmuch as several characters have inexplicably changed names (Cora becomes Big Wheezie, of all things) and other important features. This is very, very difficult to get past. Aside from that, it's an odd little story told fairly well.

kat2112's review

2.0

This is a very short book - I completed this literally in about an hour. I've read many of RMB's works and especially enjoyed the first two Runnymeade novels, which IMO are the best. The third, Loose Lips, was a disappointment, as is this one. The length, though, is not the reason - I feel these characters have become mere caricatures of their former selves.

If you've read Six of One and Bingo, you know the history of Juts and Wheezy and their personalities. In The Sand Castle, their most annoying traits are set to eleven and left there. Also, and this is a big complaint among RMB's readers, the back story is ret-conned. I won't go into the details and spoil the books, but I will advise this: if you have read Six of One and Bingo and enjoyed them, do not read this one. If you read this first and decide to back track, I think you'll find the earlier stuff better.

Getting back The Sand Castle - this is a novella set during an entire day at the Chesapeake Bay. Juts and Wheezy snipe at each other, and Juts's daughter Nickel (Nicole) snipes at her cousin. The story is heavily dialogue-driven and difficult to like if you don't find the characters sympathetic.

It hurts to review this because I loved RMB's early works. I wonder if The Sand Castle was an excised portion of an earlier work, or part of a WIP she never finished. Either way, I really think she needs to end the Runnymeade stories before she confuses readers more with rewritten history.