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rossiell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nglofile's review against another edition
2.0
2 1/2 stars? Admittedly, the biggest problem I had with this book wasn't the fault of the author; it was how the story is wildly misrepresented. The aspect that interested me turns out to not be revealed until over 200 pages in, and even then it is anticlimactic. At first I was exasperated, but I tried to refocus my assessment and appreciate the book for what it was. The structure of the first chapter fails distractingly, and the epilogue seems abrupt and unsatisfying, but the strength of the narrative is an ambitious (though flawed) character study that raises complicated questions. Promising for book discussion groups, though I don't know how one would tease the book without giving away too much.
mcsayegh's review against another edition
3.0
In the first few chapters of this book I kept looking at the cover to make sure I hadn't accidentally picked up a Bobsy Twins book from 6th grade, with all the country clubs, blonde hair and golden tans. But then the book takes a major turn and becomes very very real. The rest of the book was terrific, really enjoyed the writing, pacing and the characters.
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this would be more compelling than it turned out to be. I was with her for the first two thirds but she lost me at the end. Worth a read, however, if only for her writing which I thoroughly enjoyed.
jmcphers's review against another edition
3.0
This book's cover promised that it combined thoughtful literature with the compelling plot of a page-turner.
It was a good deal more well-written and introspective than your average thriller--can you imagine a scene from a Stephen King novel in which female prisoners take great pleasure in swinging and throwing clots of weeds during community service, reveling in the distance and accuracy they can achieve, or Michael Crichton describing a therapist's voice as a "soft path through the woods"? Didn't think so.
It was also more a more compelling read than the aimless, artistic drone you find in some post-modern literature.
In the end, though, I failed to really get caught up in the story or care for the characters. The story is told dispassionately, and while it succeeds in not coming across as overly precious, it also fails to really connect the reader to the characters. The lovely metaphors seemed almost out of place in the otherwise plain prose. And the plot bumbled and skipped erratically through the life of the protagonist, glossing over major events and skipping through years when I wanted more detail, then carefully spending a whole page describing who came to the barbecue that night. The story seemed aimless--and so did the protagonist's life, I suppose, and that's part of the premise of the book.
It was a good deal more well-written and introspective than your average thriller--can you imagine a scene from a Stephen King novel in which female prisoners take great pleasure in swinging and throwing clots of weeds during community service, reveling in the distance and accuracy they can achieve, or Michael Crichton describing a therapist's voice as a "soft path through the woods"? Didn't think so.
It was also more a more compelling read than the aimless, artistic drone you find in some post-modern literature.
In the end, though, I failed to really get caught up in the story or care for the characters. The story is told dispassionately, and while it succeeds in not coming across as overly precious, it also fails to really connect the reader to the characters. The lovely metaphors seemed almost out of place in the otherwise plain prose. And the plot bumbled and skipped erratically through the life of the protagonist, glossing over major events and skipping through years when I wanted more detail, then carefully spending a whole page describing who came to the barbecue that night. The story seemed aimless--and so did the protagonist's life, I suppose, and that's part of the premise of the book.
ebgould's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this book up on a whim... and am glad I did. This is one of my new favorite books. I have already recommended it to a number of people.
As someone who has recently begun the process of reevaluating her life, I have found this book refreshing, full of hope. It is always interesting to watch a character grow into maturity, from late twenties to early fifties. Patsy MacLeemore, from beginning to end, is a character I can relate to, although my actions have not been anywhere near as dire as hers, I understand the need to grow and change ones perspectives. I thought Ms. Huneven did a wonderful job in changing and maturing her characters (not just Patsy, they all evolved from immature points-of-view to varying degrees of adulthood) and will most likely read this book again in the future. This is a book I can take something new from each time I read it.
As someone who has recently begun the process of reevaluating her life, I have found this book refreshing, full of hope. It is always interesting to watch a character grow into maturity, from late twenties to early fifties. Patsy MacLeemore, from beginning to end, is a character I can relate to, although my actions have not been anywhere near as dire as hers, I understand the need to grow and change ones perspectives. I thought Ms. Huneven did a wonderful job in changing and maturing her characters (not just Patsy, they all evolved from immature points-of-view to varying degrees of adulthood) and will most likely read this book again in the future. This is a book I can take something new from each time I read it.
ljjohnson8's review against another edition
3.0
I really loved the first half of this book, but then the story meandered a bit and lost some of its edge. Patsy is a successful published professor and a drunk. She kills a mother and daughter Jehovah's Witness pair dropping off a Watchtower as she drives drunk and without a license in her own driveway. The first half - about Patsy's early life and her time in prison - is fascinating and compelling, but her later years drag on and the novel becomes a little shallow after a very promising and interesting beginning.
sortabadass's review against another edition
3.0
Just one thing, one evening, can shape our entire lives. In Blame, party girl Patsy MacLemoore wakes up from a night of drinking in a prison cell with a hangover and two manslaughter charges. The book details her atonement and coming to terms with her horrific actions.
The most aggravating thing about this book was the publisher's description--it completely gives away the last few pages. If you haven't read the description above on Goodreads yet, don't! Massive spoilers.
Otherwise, it was kind of a dreamy, meandering journey through one woman's life. Despite the title, I think Huneven could have made MacLemoore's self-punishment a little more front-and-center. At times it was difficult to empathize with MacLemoore, because she gave up so much control in her life to those around her.
The most aggravating thing about this book was the publisher's description--it completely gives away the last few pages. If you haven't read the description above on Goodreads yet, don't! Massive spoilers.
Otherwise, it was kind of a dreamy, meandering journey through one woman's life. Despite the title, I think Huneven could have made MacLemoore's self-punishment a little more front-and-center. At times it was difficult to empathize with MacLemoore, because she gave up so much control in her life to those around her.
kclever's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0