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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Now that was a book. Incredibly good intro and outro, but recommend saving them both until the end I your a first time reader. My favorite parts were Samson's description of everyday life. I could read about the Moores' running their farm all day. Flawless execution, engrossing, and addicting.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book came to my attention via Grady Hendrix, he describes it as if Cormac McCarthy wrote Needful Things, an apt description.
There's definitely commentary on city vs rural living and the idealization of living in the country.
The tension gets wratcheted up each time to auctioneer comes looking for things to sell, the pressure to give for the benefit of the police force (the auctioneers private army).
I did get frustrated about half way through with our protagonist John's inability to do anything to help his family.
Eventually things boil over when the town finally comes together, but when that is not the feel good moment we want for a conclusion.
Joan Samson makes us look back at ourselves in America and our pursuit of money as well as an idealized sense of home.
There's definitely commentary on city vs rural living and the idealization of living in the country.
The tension gets wratcheted up each time to auctioneer comes looking for things to sell, the pressure to give for the benefit of the police force (the auctioneers private army).
I did get frustrated about half way through with our protagonist John's inability to do anything to help his family.
Eventually things boil over when the town finally comes together, but when that is not the feel good moment we want for a conclusion.
Joan Samson makes us look back at ourselves in America and our pursuit of money as well as an idealized sense of home.
medium-paced
Loved this. Superb storytelling, great writing.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Definitely a book that requires the reader to suspend quite a bit of disbelief over the fact that the protagonists are so complicit in their own downfall. The first two thirds include a lot of wheel-spinning, but somehow didn't really bother me because I was so eager to find out where it was going.
I think what mostly saved the book for me was the fact that it's presented as an allegorical tale, with many minor time jumps and not a lot of time spent on anything other than the main issue at hand. I came to grips early on with the fact that not a lot of details are going to get fleshed out.
I think what mostly saved the book for me was the fact that it's presented as an allegorical tale, with many minor time jumps and not a lot of time spent on anything other than the main issue at hand. I came to grips early on with the fact that not a lot of details are going to get fleshed out.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes