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joymargot's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
While the slow pace coupled with the huge page count might ordinarily have put me off, I read this during the throes of covid and it was oddly comforting to spend so much time with the flawed and frustrating - but ultimately still likeable - Casey.
The story covers a relatively short time period in its 650 pages and feels more like a snapshot of Casey’s life than a structured story with a beginning, middle and satisfying end. It feels a little under-edited but the characters are well-developed and I found myself genuinely caring about (most of) them.
The story covers a relatively short time period in its 650 pages and feels more like a snapshot of Casey’s life than a structured story with a beginning, middle and satisfying end. It feels a little under-edited but the characters are well-developed and I found myself genuinely caring about (most of) them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Addiction, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual assault
kitschykitchen's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was definitely hard to get through at times. Coming in at a whopping 600+ pages, it definitely takes some time to finish. Not to mention, the plot can tend to drag as we’re effectively recycling the same core issues. Despite this, it was still an enjoyable read and I’m glad I read it. As a recent college grad who’s struggling to find her place in the world especially after growing up poor, this book hit super close to home and I recommend people in a similar situation to read it. You won’t regret it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Domestic abuse
rljenn's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Abortion
kshertz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read Pachinko first but this book is very similar in some ways. I really enjoyed learning these different members of a family tree. We learn every person individually and they make choices that are sometimes hard to understand and also realistic. You are invested, proud, disappointed and hurt in many different ways. It’s an excellent read
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, and Addiction
machenn's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
semeyers's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a nearly 600 page book that I found myself not wanting to end! This novel definitely reads like a soap opera. It is dramatic, full of twists, lots of sex, but very dark. Near humorless. It is a slice of life novel for sure, by the end almost nothing is resolved.
I loved the main character, contrasting to most of the reviews that I read! Casey's struggles with her background and family, debt, religion, and relationships were relatable to me. Even her coming to terms with her own selfishness and need to ask others for help, despite wanting to be as independent as possible, spoke to me. Casey spends most of the novel striving to be independent, but constantly ends up falling back on others - receiving money from family, living rent free with friends, bosses, and boyfriends, and calling in favors to get jobs or more commission. It was an interesting juxtaposition and I think an accurate world view for someone so young (we follow Casey from ages 22-26ish).
Lee also does an amazing job with the background characters. Each person has a clear place in the novel and each becomes a fully fleshed out character with a layered personality and development by the end. Several of them (Leah and Ella, mostly) nearly become co-main characters in their own right.
What I did not love about the novel is echoed in many other reviews - the sex becomes tiresome. It seems every relationship hinges on sex. Every marriage that is unhappy is due to the lack of sex. Every relationship ends because someone cheats. A number of relationships *start* because someone cheats. Even in the only happy relationship that makes it through the entirety of the book, one of the spouses cheats and the other accepts it as part of the deal. The only truly happy/healthy relationships either take place off the page (George's) or one spouse has passed before the novel even begins (Joseph's). This had me begging for just one happy relationship by the end. Writing wise, there were also some blips. The perspective would sometimes shift from one paragraph to the next and the structure of some descriptions were confusing, but overall it didn't affect my read much.
Overall, though, I do highly recommend this book! I didn't love it as much as I loved Pachinko, but I still really liked it.
I loved the main character, contrasting to most of the reviews that I read! Casey's struggles with her background and family, debt, religion, and relationships were relatable to me. Even her coming to terms with her own selfishness and need to ask others for help, despite wanting to be as independent as possible, spoke to me. Casey spends most of the novel striving to be independent, but constantly ends up falling back on others - receiving money from family, living rent free with friends, bosses, and boyfriends, and calling in favors to get jobs or more commission. It was an interesting juxtaposition and I think an accurate world view for someone so young (we follow Casey from ages 22-26ish).
Lee also does an amazing job with the background characters. Each person has a clear place in the novel and each becomes a fully fleshed out character with a layered personality and development by the end. Several of them (Leah and Ella, mostly) nearly become co-main characters in their own right.
What I did not love about the novel is echoed in many other reviews - the sex becomes tiresome. It seems every relationship hinges on sex. Every marriage that is unhappy is due to the lack of sex. Every relationship ends because someone cheats. A number of relationships *start* because someone cheats. Even in the only happy relationship that makes it through the entirety of the book, one of the spouses cheats and the other accepts it as part of the deal. The only truly happy/healthy relationships either take place off the page (George's) or one spouse has passed before the novel even begins (Joseph's). This had me begging for just one happy relationship by the end. Writing wise, there were also some blips. The perspective would sometimes shift from one paragraph to the next and the structure of some descriptions were confusing, but overall it didn't affect my read much.
Overall, though, I do highly recommend this book! I didn't love it as much as I loved Pachinko, but I still really liked it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Infertility, Abortion, Fatphobia, and Death
internationalreads's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Infidelity, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abortion
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