Scan barcode
lauratoline's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. I adored this book. It was a fairly easy read, but with plenty of substance. The characters, flaws and all, were built with such love. Each were believable, and had their own distinct voices. Their relationships all made (painful) sense. And then they didn't hurtle toward disaster! The ending was hopeful, while still open-ended. A beautiful portrait of a family. I enjoyed the way that much of the plot development occurred in the context of the characters' memories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Animal death, Abortion, Pregnancy, Vomit, Abandonment, and Fatphobia
woodsymel's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Abortion
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Vomit
carlytenille's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Miscarriage
courtneyer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy and Abortion
mc235's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
bookmaddie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Abortion
ashmont27's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
3.0
While I think this book certainly has some good qualities, I mostly found it boring and a slog to get through. I enjoyed the family dynamic, but felt like everything came to a conclusion in like the last 5 pages and it felt so sudden to me. Idk feeling very meh about this one.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Abortion, and Miscarriage
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Strange weather brings out strange behaviour. As a Bunsen burner applied to a crucible will bring about an exchange of electrons, the division of some compounds and the unification of others, so a heatwave will act upon people. It lays them bare, it wears down their guard. They start behaving not unusually, but unguardedly. They act not so much out of character but deep within it."
July 1976 and London is in the middle of a prolonged heatwave. Steady and quiet Robert Riordan leaves the house one morning to get a newspaper and doesn't return. His wife, neurotic and sociable matriarchs, Gretta frets and calls their grown-up children home; from nearby, eldest and responsible Michael Francis, from rural Gloucestershire comes Monica and from New York City, comes Aoife, the baby, and black sheep, of the family. They're all carrying their own secrets and each have different ideas about where their father may have gone, but perhaps Gretta has a better idea she can't share.
Told from multiple perspectives, although not Robert's, the reader is quickly immersed in the pasts and present (over a couple of days) of the dysfunctional but likeable, Riordan family. Irish-Catholics in the mid-late twentieth century, much of their choices have been restricted by what is expected of them by their mother, who is guided by the omnipresent Catholic Church. Beautifully written with affection for the Riordans, this reminds me of Claire Chambers' and Sarah Moss's perceptive and character-driven novels. A family saga about forgiveness and understanding that I didn't want to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Abortion
Minor: Chronic illness, War, and Xenophobia