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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I found this quite pretentious, especially Paloma's sections. I could have done without her completely. Renee's story was most interesting to me. How her story ends was a bit silly though.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Blah blah blah. “i’m so smart and nobody knows because I’m a concierge” “everyone else is unintelligent and I am above them” blah blah blah get over yourself.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Read as part of Joy Clarkson's Speaking With Joy Summer book club podcast series. I can always count on solid selections from Joy, so expected to fall in love with this book. I certainly grew to care for Renee and Paloma throughout, but got a little tired of the more dense passages about philosophy. I was expecting a generally heartwarming ending and then to find the book forgettable.
Then came the last 25 pages where I was moved more than I ever expected to be and now I need a hug.
Then came the last 25 pages where I was moved more than I ever expected to be and now I need a hug.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took me such a long time to get into this, but once I did I enjoyed it. I think it'll make for some good 'book club' discussion.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Huge, major spoiler, don't click it unless you really REALLY want to know.
*phew* I feel better now. That being said, there is some wonderful writing. I highly enjoyed the middle section of the book, when things started actually happening. It is written in a very high literature (if that's a thing) sort of way, so I had to reread some bits a few times. By the time I got to the end of a paragraph, I had forgotten what the beginning was about.
Spoiler
I HATE when books do this. The book spent 315 of the 320 pages trying to convince you that you can be who you really are, then when you've decided it is really okay to be you and have friends, *BAM* you die. As soon as Ozu said "you are not your sister," I knew her fate was sealed. Plus there was the typical "sacrifice the 'old' (puh-lease, she was only in her 50s) so the young can live," part because of COURSE her death meant Paloma decided to live. Which I'm pretty sure she was going to decide anyway.*phew* I feel better now. That being said, there is some wonderful writing. I highly enjoyed the middle section of the book, when things started actually happening. It is written in a very high literature (if that's a thing) sort of way, so I had to reread some bits a few times. By the time I got to the end of a paragraph, I had forgotten what the beginning was about.