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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My girlfriend read a page of this book over my shoulder and claimed that it’s targeted for middle aged women. While I believe her, I still very much enjoyed Keyes’ debut novel. Her ability to make me laugh out loud on one page while delivering a hammer blow to my heart the next is fantastic. A true talent. A hilariously heartbreaking story that borders on soap opera territory while retaining the elements of a black comedy. Rounded up to 4.5 stars.
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have read quite a few books by Keyes and normally enjoyed them (despite her abrupt endings), but I hated this one.
I hated the writing. I find myself shouting "Get to the point!". She loses track of the main story so many times! Also I think she fails in the attempt of writing it as a dialogue with the reader, in my opinion it does not work. The book is long for not good reason and it full of one sentence paragraphs (which drives me crazy)
I hate the characters, all of them (except the poor baby :) ). The main character is weak and annoying. She is basically getting abused all through the story. The sister are terrible. I dont like how the 'rebound guy' is depicted and definitely didnt like the husband.
The history was pretty slow. I wanted to hear from the husband for ages (it takes 3/4 of the book for her to made contact with him) and I wish she never did.
Apparently it was her first book. Thankfully she has improved tons but now I have promised myself not read anything from her publish before 2006.
I hated the writing. I find myself shouting "Get to the point!". She loses track of the main story so many times! Also I think she fails in the attempt of writing it as a dialogue with the reader, in my opinion it does not work. The book is long for not good reason and it full of one sentence paragraphs (which drives me crazy)
I hate the characters, all of them (except the poor baby :) ). The main character is weak and annoying. She is basically getting abused all through the story. The sister are terrible. I dont like how the 'rebound guy' is depicted and definitely didnt like the husband.
The history was pretty slow. I wanted to hear from the husband for ages (it takes 3/4 of the book for her to made contact with him) and I wish she never did.
Apparently it was her first book. Thankfully she has improved tons but now I have promised myself not read anything from her publish before 2006.
medium-paced
Ended up skimming a lot. The writing style isn’t for me. I also don’t think this book has aged well.
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Every character in this book was insufferable. Everyone from the main character, to her family, to the men need serious therapy and to stay far away from relationships with other people.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt like in the first half/two thirds of this book, very little actually happens. I know for a longer book you have more opportunity to go into detail and spend more time in one place but I felt like this took it a bit to the extreme. I found it quite hard to get through and then we hit the last half/third and suddenly it all started moving and my enjoyment increased. Lots of the internal monologues were quite frustrating at times, although they were also sometimes relatable. I feel like it’s clear that it was written in the 90s as some stuff hasn’t aged particularly well, but overall I enjoyed it as a lighthearted read.
It was a funny book.. I liked the way Claire's mind worked :)
Such an amazing book, I love the humour! The drama and the madness of the family. All I can say is fuck James