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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
"...a solitary middle-aged man in the August of life, looking for a few more Aprils..."
This was an interesting read. I liked how the stories wound together, the past came into play, and color lines were drawn and crossed. I kept forgetting this was taking place in the 60s/70s. The characters were interesting - there was just so many of them and a lot were important to the storyline and needed to track them.
I never would’ve picked up this book if not for my book club and so very glad I did. It’s just….good. The characters are well rounded, fleshed out and realistic. The plot is knotted and braided but smoothes out at the end. Characters get good endings - not necessarily happy ones but good ones. Highly recommend.
A fascinating work of historical fiction set in 1969 Brooklyn. The characters are well crafted, complex, and beautifully human.
I love a good multi-character, multi-thread story! Entertaining listen, good narrator. NYC and Brooklyn history is great, too. A romping read.
How have I not read James McBride yet?!? This book is literally everything great books are supposed to be -including characters so deeply human, flawed and endearing that you can't help but totally be engrossed in their stories.
McBride created a world so alive with history, racism, love, struggles, humor and hope.
I was truly so sad with each page that brought me closer to the end of this book.
This is a MUST READ.
McBride created a world so alive with history, racism, love, struggles, humor and hope.
I was truly so sad with each page that brought me closer to the end of this book.
This is a MUST READ.
4.5 stars because
Spoiler
where the hell is the Christmas money? I thought it was hidden in a little hidey hole in the wall with the Venus but there was no hidey hole and Sister Paul didn't tell us where the Christmas money is kept! Hedy could have taken it with her, for all I know, but I still would have liked to have known where the box o' money was kept. I will wonder about that forever and will get no peace.
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
Against my better judgment, I kept plodding through this book. The other reviews all kept saying to stick with it and it would come around to be amazing. Didn’t happen for me at all - way too many characters and pointless dialogue all to end up with no resolution.
I am claiming this book as a DNF.
I think my first mistake was choosing to “read” this book on Audible. The narrator is great, but I just felt that it would’ve been better had I read it.
And I suppose I started listening when I wasn’t focused - and I could never really catch a good rhythm. I don’t understand how the different characters interplay, and the way it is written between past and present led to more confusion.
I fully believe this was probably one of the best books of last year, I just couldn’t get into it!
I think my first mistake was choosing to “read” this book on Audible. The narrator is great, but I just felt that it would’ve been better had I read it.
And I suppose I started listening when I wasn’t focused - and I could never really catch a good rhythm. I don’t understand how the different characters interplay, and the way it is written between past and present led to more confusion.
I fully believe this was probably one of the best books of last year, I just couldn’t get into it!