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orireading's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m a huge Ann Patchett fan and was excited to read her debut. I think she could have done a little more with the plot here, but she’s damn good at painting a scene!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Injury/Injury detail
carlytenille's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Child death, Death, and Pregnancy
eliterbees's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was an engaging read at first, though towards the end I only continued reading in a desperate attempt to reach a satisfying end. Instead, I was dissatisfied with the ending, as many people are – however, I do think I understand why certain choices were made throughout the book.
First, there is Rose. The first real main character we meet, Rose is a chronic liar who is to love or even like. I found Rose interesting throughout the chapters from her perspective, I was fully engaged in her sections of the book and found myself wanting to figure out more about her and follow her journey to see if she ever improved. Although she was self-aware enough in the beginning to admit some of her greatest faults from the get-go, which I found interesting, this is mainly attributed to her section of the book being retold from the future. She doesn't seem to show that same self-awareness in Son's section or in Cecilia's section, which I found hard to get through as a result. I found it really compelling to follow the themes of motherhood and maternity through the eyes of someone who was reluctant to be a mother, but that left a sour taste in my mouth in later chapters. Rose is a fascinating character that I didn't find myself liking as a person, but it was interesting at times to analyze what made her so unlikable (which seems to be a goal of the author, judging by Rose's connection to the book's title).
This seems to be a personal opinion, but I found it very hard to like Son throughout the novel. His introduction as a side character was endearing and fun, but when he became a main character by proposing to Rose, I found myself actually losing interest in him. This might be because of their age gap, and the repetitive descriptions of Son being a fatherly figure to most of the girls living at Saint Elizabeth's, including Rose, but I digress. I wish the novel followed June and Sister Evangeline more than Son, I was so intrigued by their dynamic.
Cecilia's section of the book made me sympathize with Son, however. Cecilia was an interesting character to bring in as the third and final perspective in the book, seeing as she united the three previous sections of the book and explored their dynamics through new eyes. I only wish that Cecilia was given more time to grow, primarily through the truth of her parentage and her mother's life, but in a book titled "The Patron Saint of Liars" it is easy to understand why that cannot be so.
All in all, I did enjoy the majority of this book, even if the ending left me dissatisfied but understanding.
First, there is Rose. The first real main character we meet, Rose is a chronic liar who is to love or even like. I found Rose interesting throughout the chapters from her perspective, I was fully engaged in her sections of the book and found myself wanting to figure out more about her and follow her journey to see if she ever improved. Although she was self-aware enough in the beginning to admit some of her greatest faults from the get-go, which I found interesting, this is mainly attributed to her section of the book being retold from the future. She doesn't seem to show that same self-awareness in Son's section or in Cecilia's section, which I found hard to get through as a result. I found it really compelling to follow the themes of motherhood and maternity through the eyes of someone who was reluctant to be a mother, but that left a sour taste in my mouth in later chapters. Rose is a fascinating character that I didn't find myself liking as a person, but it was interesting at times to analyze what made her so unlikable (which seems to be a goal of the author, judging by Rose's connection to the book's title).
This seems to be a personal opinion, but I found it very hard to like Son throughout the novel. His introduction as a side character was endearing and fun, but when he became a main character by proposing to Rose, I found myself actually losing interest in him. This might be because of their age gap, and the repetitive descriptions of Son being a fatherly figure to most of the girls living at Saint Elizabeth's, including Rose, but I digress. I wish the novel followed June and Sister Evangeline more than Son, I was so intrigued by their dynamic.
Cecilia's section of the book made me sympathize with Son, however. Cecilia was an interesting character to bring in as the third and final perspective in the book, seeing as she united the three previous sections of the book and explored their dynamics through new eyes. I only wish that Cecilia was given more time to grow, primarily through the truth of her parentage and her mother's life, but in a book titled "The Patron Saint of Liars" it is easy to understand why that cannot be so.
All in all, I did enjoy the majority of this book, even if the ending left me dissatisfied but understanding.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Child death
The main character marries a man twice her age.laurasullivan's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death and Car accident
hunkydory's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Pregnancy
Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, Car accident, Child death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
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