You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the story, but I found the language clunky and dry. Felt like a draft, and the final chapter really just wrapped it all up so fast. I feel like the author could have gone deeper into the story she wanted to tell, but I also enjoy the simplicity and matter-of-factness somehow. Things don’t always have to be touchy-feely in stories like this, so maybe that’s what made it unique, but I also wanted some of that at times.
While the overall story of this book is good, 80% of the book is unnecessary details and descriptions that are just beyond boring. The audible version should be labeled a driving hazard. It’s a miracle I’m still
alive.
alive.
I love starting in on books that are highly recommended but about which I know practically nothing. This one quickly, quietly disrupted my expectations and provided a wonderful tale. So, no spoilers in case you are approaching it from an equally naive spot.
I’d been hearing about this book for ages, and finally grabbed it at the Friends of the Library’s used book sale. I loved everything about it: I fell for the main characters quickly, and, loved how it surprised me. I don’t know what I thought it would be about, but I didn’t expect it to be like a western!
Thinking about how I’d love to imagine the ending ‘should’ be, while on a walk, I thought, “huh…”. Sure enough I’d seen it as a movie several years ago. But that wasn’t until I was three-quarters into it. While I loved the movie, this little book was far better. A quick read and fun page-turner…I ate it up
7/17/25: I am saddened to read Paulette Jiles, author of this amazing book, as well as many others, has crossed over to a better place. May she rest peacefully, always
Thinking about how I’d love to imagine the ending ‘should’ be, while on a walk, I thought, “huh…”. Sure enough I’d seen it as a movie several years ago. But that wasn’t until I was three-quarters into it. While I loved the movie, this little book was far better. A quick read and fun page-turner…I ate it up
7/17/25: I am saddened to read Paulette Jiles, author of this amazing book, as well as many others, has crossed over to a better place. May she rest peacefully, always
I like the warmth I felt from reading this book.
And I like that it's not dramatic.
I feel that it's a simple yet beautiful story. Perhaps too "Western" for my taste but it's a worth reading book anyway.
And I like that it's not dramatic.
I feel that it's a simple yet beautiful story. Perhaps too "Western" for my taste but it's a worth reading book anyway.
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is one of those books where you'll always know exactly what's going on, meaning it has utterly no capacity with which to surprise or intrigue the reader. The author clearly did a lot of research into the events and ways of life of Texas in the 1870s, but then layered it all in with clunky description so that the setting ends up feeling flat and unreal. I will say the overall arc of the story is a solid one, I just wish it had been delivered in a way that was not so dull and clear-cut.
It took a while for the story to really get going, but once it did, it was a tough book to put down.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated