Reviews

The Condition by Jennifer Haigh

beccersboo's review

2.0

I chose this book particularly because of the Turner's Syndrome angle. I was not expecting to have to endure chapter after chapter of the unraveling of one self-centered family member after another. The worst part is that Gwen (the character with Turner's Syndrome) was my least favorite character. Disappointed...

penny_literaryhoarders's review

3.0

Jennifer Haigh is brilliant at character studies. This is primarily what The Condition is about. She's also brilliant at family relationships and dynamics. The Condition is all about that too. The McKotch family consists of Frank and Paulette and their three children Bill, Gwen and Scott. Gwen suffers from Turner's syndrome (her body remains that of a child's), however the foundation of The Condition is not about that. It's about the McKotch family relationship, and their individual lives. It was good, but I didn't find it as gripping as the other Haigh books I've read.

britt82's review

5.0

Though this book is nearly 400 pages (a bit daunting when I picked it up from the library), I finished it in 2 1/2 days. Though not one of my typical genre choices, the story kept me from wanting to put the book down. Wonderful book- highly suggest this one.

beccake52c7's review

5.0

A beautifully written book. I was interested in the first half and completely absorbed in the second, finally finishing the last 1/4 in a single sitting, unable to put the book down.

Each character drew me in, even the minor ones, and I wanted to know more and more, to follow their lives forever. Initially I was irritated with Pauline & Frank and just about everyone in the book for being so stubborn and foolish. But the author has the gift of making you root for and love all of the characters eventually, no matter their flaws.

The ending was delicious and perfect and satisfying, in the way that an excellent book should be.