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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
When I saw that Laurie Frankel had a new book out, I knew that it would be one I would want to read. Then I read the synopsis and was even more convinced that this would be one I would love. And love it I did! I loved the setting, the plot, the characters, the struggles, the regrets and the ending.
This story centers around triplets born in a poor town, Bourne, that was devastated by a chemical company and their flippant and careless ways. The story is told through each of the sisters’ voices: One - Mab – the sister who feels the weight of the world on her shoulders simply because she is normal, Two - Monday – the sister on the spectrum who takes everything literally, and is emotionally challenged, but fine physically, and Three - Mirabel – the sister in a wheelchair who has extraordinary mental capacity and yet lacks physical capacity save for the use of her fingers and a voice box.
As the reader learns, this town is different than any other. Sickness and disease have ravaged and decimated most of its residents. It has had to morph into a town that caters to people with disabilities. Because that is what Belsum Chemical forced upon it. The runoff from the plant poisoning the water system and turning it sulphuric and green. Once it was aware of the catastrophic effects of their greed, the company picked up and left without taking any of the blame.
“I think about the ways cause and effect might break you. Bourne is a town of unexpected consequences, a place where what no one sees coming runs you over like a truck.”
Although the town tried to force Belsum to assume responsibility, it was a David and Goliath fight with no results. The champion of the cause, Nora, the triplet’s mother, continues throughout the story to search for evidence. The evidence that will finally point the finger at Belsum and prove its culpability. The story was slightly reminiscent of Erin Brokovich. But only in purpose as these characters are all their own.
Without saying too much about the story and ruining the suspense for the reader, know that there are developments which bring Nora’s fight back into the forefront. Belsum moves to re-enter Bourne and reopen the plant. In a town with no jobs and no prospects, it proves easy to get people to forget the past and hope for a brighter future. There is suspense, betrayal, shock, unbelief, understanding and finally growth.
The character development in this book is sublime. The ways in which all the characters are interwoven serve to strengthen the story and yet also blur the lines between duty and responsibility. An overarching theme emerges – parental expectations and children paying the price for the sins of a parent. Although this may sound like a book that is depressing and heavy, it amazingly is not. It is a story of acceptance, flexibility, fight and personal triumph. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the advance copy of this book to read and review. Pub Date: June 8, 2021.
This story centers around triplets born in a poor town, Bourne, that was devastated by a chemical company and their flippant and careless ways. The story is told through each of the sisters’ voices: One - Mab – the sister who feels the weight of the world on her shoulders simply because she is normal, Two - Monday – the sister on the spectrum who takes everything literally, and is emotionally challenged, but fine physically, and Three - Mirabel – the sister in a wheelchair who has extraordinary mental capacity and yet lacks physical capacity save for the use of her fingers and a voice box.
As the reader learns, this town is different than any other. Sickness and disease have ravaged and decimated most of its residents. It has had to morph into a town that caters to people with disabilities. Because that is what Belsum Chemical forced upon it. The runoff from the plant poisoning the water system and turning it sulphuric and green. Once it was aware of the catastrophic effects of their greed, the company picked up and left without taking any of the blame.
“I think about the ways cause and effect might break you. Bourne is a town of unexpected consequences, a place where what no one sees coming runs you over like a truck.”
Although the town tried to force Belsum to assume responsibility, it was a David and Goliath fight with no results. The champion of the cause, Nora, the triplet’s mother, continues throughout the story to search for evidence. The evidence that will finally point the finger at Belsum and prove its culpability. The story was slightly reminiscent of Erin Brokovich. But only in purpose as these characters are all their own.
Without saying too much about the story and ruining the suspense for the reader, know that there are developments which bring Nora’s fight back into the forefront. Belsum moves to re-enter Bourne and reopen the plant. In a town with no jobs and no prospects, it proves easy to get people to forget the past and hope for a brighter future. There is suspense, betrayal, shock, unbelief, understanding and finally growth.
The character development in this book is sublime. The ways in which all the characters are interwoven serve to strengthen the story and yet also blur the lines between duty and responsibility. An overarching theme emerges – parental expectations and children paying the price for the sins of a parent. Although this may sound like a book that is depressing and heavy, it amazingly is not. It is a story of acceptance, flexibility, fight and personal triumph. I highly recommend!
Thank you to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the advance copy of this book to read and review. Pub Date: June 8, 2021.
I don't even know if I should rate this. I listened to it, and it made for a choppy reading experience, as I kept falling asleep and having to find the right spot to restart. I absolutely LOVED _This is How it Always Is_. Sadly, I can't say the same about this one. Maybe it was just not for me at the moment.
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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:
Complicated
3.5 *
This was a really intriguing set up (town full of people that were disabled because of chemical run off in their water) and what should have been a compelling plot, but it was a really slow read for me. It might have been the switch between such different voices (which I did appreciate the differences between). The plot did pick up near the end, which I did enjoy.
This was a really intriguing set up (town full of people that were disabled because of chemical run off in their water) and what should have been a compelling plot, but it was a really slow read for me. It might have been the switch between such different voices (which I did appreciate the differences between). The plot did pick up near the end, which I did enjoy.
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
Audio book. 3 voices which I thought was super smart. This book bounced around a lot for me. At the beginning it was a 5 star. Then, in the middle it dragged a bit and became a 3 star. But, I enjoyed the resolution. And I especially enjoyed the author's interview at the end of the book. Helped me like the book more.
This was really a beautiful book, and I took off one star only because I struggled to follow the narration in the beginning. Really, though, I’d give it 4.5. Triplets Mab, Mirabel, and Monday live in the dying town of Bourne, a town full of widows, cancer patients, and children who are almost but not quite right. Bourne was famous once almost 2 decades ago when a chemical plant, meant to bring salvation to the town, turned the river brown then green. As the pets and people became sick, the Templeton family shuttered the plant and quietly left town. Ever since, the triplets’ mother, Nora, has been fighting a lawsuit to prove the plant knew they were poisoning the town, but every turn is a dead end.
Until 17 years later, they return to reopen the plant with promises of prosperity once again. The girls know they can prove once and for all the Templeton family is implicit in the poisoning of Bourne, but it isn’t easy. I truly loved the characters in the book and Frankel’s writing.
Until 17 years later, they return to reopen the plant with promises of prosperity once again. The girls know they can prove once and for all the Templeton family is implicit in the poisoning of Bourne, but it isn’t easy. I truly loved the characters in the book and Frankel’s writing.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A truly enjoyable book told through the eyes of a set of triplets living in a forgotten small town that was decimated by a chemical plant. I would highly recommend.
lighthearted
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:
No