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dunningsk's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I can’t quite give this a 4/5 but it’s definitely not a 3 either. This is the first JCO novel I’ve read and wow. I seriously was drawn in by the world-building, the details about the characters, everything. I can understand why other people would call the book bogged down or 150 pages too long but I enjoyed almost every word.
The actual plot was fine and sometimes the characters’ actions were so frustrating it made me lose sympathy for them. Marianne is probably a character in 1,000 other things JCO has written and she’s not any more interesting in this book.
I love a family saga and that’s exactly what I got with this. By the time I was toward the end of the book, I was pining for those golden early days when the Mulvaneys were happy together on their farm. I certainly teared up at the end and the epilogue gave a great sense of closure.
If you like this type of book (slower paced family drama) then I would recommend. If you like JCO’s short stories I would also probably recommend, the tone is pretty similar to a lot of her other stuff. If you are looking for something very plot-driven with perfectly agreeable characters, then no. This book was challenging in that sense but the ending made it worthwhile.
The actual plot was fine and sometimes the characters’ actions were so frustrating it made me lose sympathy for them. Marianne is probably a character in 1,000 other things JCO has written and she’s not any more interesting in this book.
I love a family saga and that’s exactly what I got with this. By the time I was toward the end of the book, I was pining for those golden early days when the Mulvaneys were happy together on their farm. I certainly teared up at the end and the epilogue gave a great sense of closure.
If you like this type of book (slower paced family drama) then I would recommend. If you like JCO’s short stories I would also probably recommend, the tone is pretty similar to a lot of her other stuff. If you are looking for something very plot-driven with perfectly agreeable characters, then no. This book was challenging in that sense but the ending made it worthwhile.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, and Abandonment
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