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eriynali's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent.
truly a magnificent work. it took me a year just to read it once, (although about 200 pages of that i reread by accident because twice i lost my place and went farther back than i needed - i didn't regret the rereading at all though because it's quite meditative). it was worth it but i shudder to think how difficult it was to write or to EDIT! i was impressed.
no matter what was going on, the book always had enough relevant and varied references that SOMETHING on the page matched my current brain cycle. i was in the hospital, she talked about being in the hospital. i was feeling a bit down, there's a thing on the page that sais "stupid irma" my kids try out for the opera la boheme, the character mentions not being able to remember the name of the hero in boheme.
"the fact that" got annoying for a bit at the beginning and then that annoyance slowly faded. i found myself peppering my own speech with it.
truly a magnificent work. it took me a year just to read it once, (although about 200 pages of that i reread by accident because twice i lost my place and went farther back than i needed - i didn't regret the rereading at all though because it's quite meditative). it was worth it but i shudder to think how difficult it was to write or to EDIT! i was impressed.
no matter what was going on, the book always had enough relevant and varied references that SOMETHING on the page matched my current brain cycle. i was in the hospital, she talked about being in the hospital. i was feeling a bit down, there's a thing on the page that sais "stupid irma" my kids try out for the opera la boheme, the character mentions not being able to remember the name of the hero in boheme.
"the fact that" got annoying for a bit at the beginning and then that annoyance slowly faded. i found myself peppering my own speech with it.
ladyzluvcooljim's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jusuwa's review against another edition
5.0
I was curious about this book but didn't expect to like it. Luckily I was wrong - I ended up loving it! The audio narrator really brought this one to life. The audiobook is 45 hours and 34 minutes long but it was well worth it for me.
painalangoisse's review against another edition
4.0
The fact that this was a lot, honestly, the fact that it started to drag badly, I mean *really badly*, within a few hundred pages, My Little Pony, Hungary, Orban, the fact that what is it with authoritarianism these days, the fact that everyone has guns, AK-47, Sandy Hook, Parkland, the mall, the fact that Ohio, the fact that I'll never be an Ohioan, not really, the fact that when you read this much of this your inner monologue starts to look like it, the fact that maybe it would be more enjoyable if she did let herself curse, ironing, laundry, washing dishes, the fact that Leo washes the dishes, the fact that my kids never do, the fact that why do I have so many kids when I didn't love Mommy enough, the fact that Mommy is dead, the fact that Mommy's death broke me, ABC, DC, dceaglecam, EAGLE, CAM, NRLB, NRA, CIA, the fact that Mormon missionaries go away for two years, the fact that the Amish live like that, the fact that I'm glad I finished it for the sake of having finished but I would never read another book like this, the fact that the gimmick gets old, the fact that I do appreciate experimentation, the fact that the experiment will either be a success or a failure, the fact that...
kateofmind's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The fact that this is maybe the most Flaws of the Main Character book ever...
krobart's review
3.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/review-1591-ducks-newburyport/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/12/21/review-1591-ducks-newburyport/
jordanfeht's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
Seriously one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read. I thoroughly enjoyed living inside this suburban housewife’s head, as she thought of pies and grief and mothers and daughters.
“The fact that there’s no room in the whole of Ohio for my needs, my desires, my dilemmas, my tragedies, my flat tires, my mommy, Mommy, the fact that I want my mommy….”
5/5 stars
“The fact that there’s no room in the whole of Ohio for my needs, my desires, my dilemmas, my tragedies, my flat tires, my mommy, Mommy, the fact that I want my mommy….”
5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Grief
reubenlb's review against another edition
4.0
the fact that i have finished this beast of a book, nook, crook, criminal, Trump, the fact that at times it felt like a bit of a slog and i zoned in and out at times, ♪ if i could turn back time ♪, the fact that i enjoy something a bit more experimental, the fact that sometimes a book should push our understanding of books, the fact that i think this might have done this for me