Reviews

I just didn't feel like there was much of a story here. While I don't mind a story about memories of a life, this was just boring. Also I'm normally quite good about scenes switching between timelines but I felt it was overdone here for cleverness rather than the effect it had on the reader. Not hideous, just not very exciting.

orygunn's review against another edition

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4.0

This was an interesting and unexpected story of people and their relationships in rural Canada. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending but can appreciate the sentiment.

kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition

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2.0

I'm sorry, hasn't this been done before? Isn't there another recent novel (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) about an elderly person suddenly taking off for a really long walk across the country? In any case, I couldn't like this book. I don't like books that take themselves too seriously, and this is one of them. I could not get inside of any of the characters, and the plot was not engaging enough to make up for it. I finished it because it got good reviews and some of my library patrons have asked me about it. And that's the most positive thing I can say, is that I did finish it, reluctantly.

hazelrah's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

rakg7's review against another edition

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4.0

I haven't seen Amelie in a while but this book reminds me of it - it's quirky and unique. It's a bit unclear where one character stops and another one begins at times which I simultaneously liked and found confusing from time to time. I think this was better than a 4 but not quite sure if it's a 5 level.

rainyamy's review against another edition

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5.0

This was a very, very good book, an excellent book. This is a book written in the rhythmic and natural style I would love to be able to write in someday. The seemingly effortless way the words communicate thoughts and deep feelings, so smoothly and beautifully, is perfect. I loved the way the story wove through time and perspectives elegantly and seamlessly, even though I expected to dislike this format going in. The details and the cleverly complete descriptions made this book exactly right. I saw every inch of this story, and I was grateful for it. It was a love story, an adventure story, a war story, a wilderness survival story, a story of bravery, a story of patient perseverance, a story about finding yourself and loving others. It was whatever kind of story Forrest Gump was, but totally different at the same time. I didn’t like all the wilderness survival bits—eating animals in the woods isn’t something I enjoy reading about—but I loved this book. I knew, very early in, that this would make me cry, even though I couldn’t tell yet if this book would have a happy ending, a sad ending, or something bittersweet. I won’t tell you about the ending, but I will admit: I cried.

hannahmh13's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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