Reviews

Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls

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ashleyvirag's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious fast-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

4.0

mswrambel's review against another edition

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4.0

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

After having read The Glass Castle, I was excited to read anything from Jeannette Walls. What I mistakenly believed was that this text was more biographical than historical fiction, so it was slightly confusing in the beginning. Walls' text features the story of Sallie Kincaid, the rambunctious daughter of the county's most prominent figure, The Duke. The story follows the family drama of the Kincaid family - sisters and half-sisters coming out of the woodwork, tragic deaths, family feuds - all based around the illegal business of whiskey running.

The text is really readable, but sometimes there are plot devices that feel contrived in order to eliminate some supplementary characters. I also found the ending a bit disappointing. To me, it was a bit unfinished.

One of the more frustrating parts of the text was its less-than-nuanced approach to race. The Black characters are an integral part of the plot, but their voices are stifled and read disingenuously. While I recognize that this is a historical novel, it still seems as though the protagonist is unable to grapple with the serious threats that Black characters face. It was a problem I also had while reading The Glass Castle and it is translated here as well. However, because this text is historical, it doesn't contain any of the real empathy garnered in Walls' original memoir and as such, it doesn't rise to the same level, in my mind.