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katykelly's review
5.0
Many people wrongly assume the cacti's spikes serve only to ward off predators...
Susan Green is the cactus, a spiky, brittle, dry kind of woman, in her 40s and not known for her laid-back attitude in the office:
"I've noticed that the quantity of beverages consumed during the working day greatly exceeds the number necessary to keep a person properly hydrated."
With her elderly mother and feckless brother safely at a distance in Birmingham, Susan enjoys a staid life in London in her immaculate flat, even having a relationship "of convenience for us both... delivered the benefits of an intimate association but at no emotional cost." The fruits of this passionate affair are about to flower.
When Susan's mother suddenly dies and the house she expected to sell jointly with brother Edward is willed to him alone, the prickles start flexing.
With 'boyfriend' Richard hovering around in the background, a newly single mum neighbour keen to chat, and Edward's friend Rob noseying about in her business, Susan can't avoid human contact, however much she tries. She's always subscribed to the mantra that "if you have sole charge of your own destiny, no one can let you down."
The reader receives regular glimpses of Susan and Edward's childhoods, and how they dealt with their family life differently. We also know that while we are seeing the story through Susan's eyes, that's probably not how we ourselves are judging the other characters. Susan is an unreliable narrator, but rather adorably so. If I met her in real life, she's probably not come across as warmly as she does on the page.
I loved her. Very much in the Eleanor Oliphant vein, but a creation of her own, Susan Green is a defensive succulent, with strong roots and apparently invulnerable, but dig deeper and you can see the mortal side of her.
This is funny throughout, you do laugh at Susan, but you aren't laughing in a cruel way - we can see that Susan needs to take off her spiky lenses and judge the world anew. Not everything is the way she makes out. Or everyone.
It was a lovely journey with Susan, seeing the character arc over the whole story, as her whole life prepares for change.
With family secrets, romance, comedy, even a court case and hospital scene - it squeezes a lot in, and comfortably.
Wonderful creation, Susan. I could have read about her for days. Would make a wonderful film too - and a great starring role for a female in her 40s, for a change.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
Susan Green is the cactus, a spiky, brittle, dry kind of woman, in her 40s and not known for her laid-back attitude in the office:
"I've noticed that the quantity of beverages consumed during the working day greatly exceeds the number necessary to keep a person properly hydrated."
With her elderly mother and feckless brother safely at a distance in Birmingham, Susan enjoys a staid life in London in her immaculate flat, even having a relationship "of convenience for us both... delivered the benefits of an intimate association but at no emotional cost." The fruits of this passionate affair are about to flower.
When Susan's mother suddenly dies and the house she expected to sell jointly with brother Edward is willed to him alone, the prickles start flexing.
With 'boyfriend' Richard hovering around in the background, a newly single mum neighbour keen to chat, and Edward's friend Rob noseying about in her business, Susan can't avoid human contact, however much she tries. She's always subscribed to the mantra that "if you have sole charge of your own destiny, no one can let you down."
The reader receives regular glimpses of Susan and Edward's childhoods, and how they dealt with their family life differently. We also know that while we are seeing the story through Susan's eyes, that's probably not how we ourselves are judging the other characters. Susan is an unreliable narrator, but rather adorably so. If I met her in real life, she's probably not come across as warmly as she does on the page.
I loved her. Very much in the Eleanor Oliphant vein, but a creation of her own, Susan Green is a defensive succulent, with strong roots and apparently invulnerable, but dig deeper and you can see the mortal side of her.
This is funny throughout, you do laugh at Susan, but you aren't laughing in a cruel way - we can see that Susan needs to take off her spiky lenses and judge the world anew. Not everything is the way she makes out. Or everyone.
It was a lovely journey with Susan, seeing the character arc over the whole story, as her whole life prepares for change.
With family secrets, romance, comedy, even a court case and hospital scene - it squeezes a lot in, and comfortably.
Wonderful creation, Susan. I could have read about her for days. Would make a wonderful film too - and a great starring role for a female in her 40s, for a change.
With thanks to Netgalley for the sample reading copy.
lea_who_reads's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
aubreyew's review
sad
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
2.0
tiabuonfiglio's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
diana_trampler's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0