Scan barcode
lobinha's review against another edition
4.0
PROFUNDO COMO O TÍTULO
É difícil imaginar a dor que o desaparecimento de um filho pode causar nos pais e na restante família. Mais do que a história do desaparecimento de Ben, este livro é um testemunho do seu regresso, da felicidade de encontrar um filho perdido e da tomada de consciência que é impossível recuperar o passado, e que Ben nunca estará completamente de volta.
cjeanne99's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
I like the way Mitchard explored the theme of “family relationships after a child disappears”. Her primary focus is on Beth, the mother, and Vincent, the older brother. They struggle with life after Ben’s disappearance - Beth by withdrawing into herself, and Vincent by acting out to get attention. Their extended families support them as best they can. Beth develops a friendship with Candy Bliss - the police detective assigned to the case. Vincent goes to counseling - the family stays together as best they can.
I have to admit - when a chapter ends with Vincent going by the High School and seeing the coache’s car in the lot - and the very next chapter starts with Vincent in jail - I thought for sure that Vincent had physically attacked the coach - maybe even killed him. To learn he only went joyriding in a stolen car was a relief. Beth’s punishment by taking away his CD player was a little extreme to me. Vincent’s love of classical music and knowledge of opera was an endearing quality.
In the end - we think that the family will prevail - but you’re not really sure.
I have to admit - when a chapter ends with Vincent going by the High School and seeing the coache’s car in the lot - and the very next chapter starts with Vincent in jail - I thought
In the end - we think that the family will prevail - but you’re not really sure.
katymvt's review against another edition
4.0
Good read, but I wish the mom could have been more sympathetic.
ejmiddleton's review against another edition
1.0
If I did not have a compulsion to read all the books for the book club, there is no way I would have finished this. The main character was awful, and the ending was resolved too happily and too quickly. I can only hope the film was better than the book.
I feel like everything about this book was over the top - the kidnapping, the mother's selfishness, her attempted affairs, her finally realizing the worth of her husband and non-kidnapped children, and the happy resolution. I felt like I was experiencing an ABC special at its sensationalistic worst.
I feel like everything about this book was over the top - the kidnapping, the mother's selfishness, her attempted affairs, her finally realizing the worth of her husband and non-kidnapped children, and the happy resolution. I felt like I was experiencing an ABC special at its sensationalistic worst.
melsa781's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book slow moving and had hard time getting into at anytime.
laura_thereflectivebookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
While reading this book I felt like I had heard the story before. It was an interesting idea but reminded me of a Lifetime movie.
tee3's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not sure how to rate this book.
For some of the book I so bored I wanted to stop reading. Other parts were absolute page turners. For half of the book I hated Beth, pretty much the main character. Some parts really annoyed me. I did love Vincent/Reece though
It also showed its age, using words like “fag” which although hard to critisize the author for something more common place back then. I didn’t love reading those slurs.
In saying all of that I just stayed up until 1am to finish it, so it can’t be all bad. I think overall I enjoyed it, but won’t be rushing to recommend it to others
For some of the book I so bored I wanted to stop reading. Other parts were absolute page turners. For half of the book I hated Beth, pretty much the main character. Some parts really annoyed me. I did love Vincent/Reece though
It also showed its age, using words like “fag” which although hard to critisize the author for something more common place back then. I didn’t love reading those slurs.
In saying all of that I just stayed up until 1am to finish it, so it can’t be all bad. I think overall I enjoyed it, but won’t be rushing to recommend it to others
markatong's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This has a really good story but the storytelling didn’t do it for me. Her idea of building a suspenseful narrative is segueing into a boring detail with little relevance before dropping the punchline, which by that time wanes your interest in what she wants to convey.