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juliasilge's review against another edition
3.0
This is actually the second time I've read this book; I first read it soon after it came out in 2002 when I was in my early 20s like the main character. My book club did this novel last month and it was pretty interesting to revisit it now in my early 30s. The protagonist Carrie is the final rocky throes of a long-term relationship that stretches back to high school when her fiance is in a catastrophic accident and is paralyzed. The bulk of the narrative shows her navigating what she is going to do, who she owes what kind of loyalty to (family, friends, lovers), and what kind of life she is going to make. I think essentially this book is about being at the brink of adulthood and deciding who you are going to be. It's dramatic but not in a trashy way, fairly contemplative and serious. Nice.
ericfheiman's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book for my novel writing class, and as with Mark Haddon's novel, it's a great teaching tool even if Packer hasn't quite given us a novel for the ages. The book ably tackles a difficult predicament of life and love that I hesitate to reveal here, but can say of it that no one will be impervious to the questions raised. Packer is also a deft unspooler of first person narrative and the novel never flags. Her dialogue rarely feels canned and while the last third's plot developments are a little contrived, overall the journey feels real and earned.
dannb's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A long read to nowhere
romanticalrj's review against another edition
3.0
The only characters that were likable were the friends in NY that the main character ditched after hanging out with them for 0.2 seconds.
Good writing tho.
Good writing tho.
maryehavens's review against another edition
1.0
Abandoned on page 145. She hooked me at the beginning, telling the tale of staying in the same town you grew up in, with the same people. Even the struggle of dating the same guy and whether or not to stay with him was interesting. She lost me when the main character moved to New York (or fled?) and hooked up with a guy a week later. Maybe I'm a prude but it just didn't grab me. And after that, I didn't care how much she struggled. She was making her own bed but I don't have to lie in it :)
mollyisfullybooked's review against another edition
I cannot read a book about someone who wallows in self pity. Get a grip lady! Go do something, for God's sake.
wonderwoman619's review against another edition
4.0
Great book, enjoyed the characters. I thought that the main character should have ended up with the New Yorker. I would have enjoyed a different ending.