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csheehan72's review against another edition
4.0
I read Traveling Mercies first and this is basically the fictionalized version of that book. It's an interesting family/teenage drama.
falconerreader's review against another edition
4.0
This is a rare book in that it didn't have much of a plot, yet I loved it. I enjoyed it much more than its sequel--I seem to be reading the trilogy in reverse order. Another oddity is that my single favorite part of this book were the fights. "From Bosnia to Paris in 24 hours" muses Elizabeth after reconciling with her husband. I've always preferred Lamott's nonfiction to her fiction, and it's her honesty that makes it great. She says out loud things I barely let myself think. That's how it felt reading about the fights as well--that mortifying yet satisfying sense of recognition. I also loved how the scary lurker turns out to be something completely different. And while Rosie is over the top, foreshadowing the nonsense she gets into by the next book, her struggles with light and darkness are true to adolescense. (But injuring yourself with your own tennis trophy? It's like cutting, which I also never got.)
pelachick's review against another edition
3.0
Book had some interesting point - especially about letting go. Nice beach read.
nwhyte's review against another edition
http://nhw.livejournal.com/780262.html[return][return]A rather heartwarming novel of adolescence, grief, sexual awakening, and tennis set in the Bay Area of California. Definitely enjoyed it.
kevinhendricks's review against another edition
4.0
When Anne Lamott talks about writing, she often talks about magpies, of collecting scraps of this and bits of that, and weaving together a story. That's what this book feels like, a collection of wonderful sayings and observations, all wrapped around a real story of teen angst and motherly depression. It reads a lot slower than I remember, but about halfway through it picks up momentum.
unlettering's review against another edition
3.0
i lied. didn't finish this book. it was too depressing.
yangyvonne's review against another edition
2.0
A story of 14 year old Rosie, a tennis upstart, father dead at a young age, mother remarried to a wonderful man, yet troubled and in AA and her doubles partner Simone having a baby. Rosie struggles to keep afloat and keep everyone together.
Could have done without th preachy tone, weird pedophilic Luther and granola-esque Rae. A long read at over 300 pages for such an underdeveloped and unresolved story.
Could have done without th preachy tone, weird pedophilic Luther and granola-esque Rae. A long read at over 300 pages for such an underdeveloped and unresolved story.
psalmcat's review
5.0
Another difficult but rewarding one; must be read in small bits. About, at least on one level, a young teenage tennis player & her mother & stepdad and how hard it is being young. And how hard it is being the mother of someone just in the process of becoming. And about gried, and love, and trust ... ooh ... lots of stuff here. Good. Should read again.
ktreadsnm's review against another edition
4.0
I'm fascinated with Anne Lamott because she's so different from me. I can't tell if I'd hate or love her in real life. I've only read her non-fiction before, so it was strange and interesting to read her fiction. This book stayed with me a long time.
fablejack's review against another edition
3.0
Poignant and heartbreaking at times with a real sense for wit in conversation and the human condition. Anne Lamott is wonderful at writing about what we have in common and what distinguishes us, but mostly the former. This is a fine follow up to Rosie, particularly if you don't mind all the tennis (which I don't).