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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As usual, I love Ann's writing and found this one interesting and enjoyable to read. I grapple a little with the choice to begin introducing Taft, posthumously, as a character somewhere midway in the book. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to imagine the main character (John, whose name I didn't know till way into the book!) imagining Taft's life? Or I'm just being told about it by an omniscient narrator other than John? Regardless, I still liked it and will think about the plot lines and relationships for a while.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ann Pachett's Taft is characteristically-compelling writing, and as a plus is set in my hometown. Her characters are believable and the story, while predictable, wraps you into the lives of the characters.
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
There's an element of magical realism to TAFT. John Nickel may be that magic. He loves, he feels, his direction is to do the right thing. This worthy read will have you wondering about his relationship to young Faye (and her brother), Marion and her sister, but never to Franklin or the people working for him at Muddy's. He's loyal, guided, intentional and proves to be willing to make sacrifices for those in his orbit - even those you might chose to forsake for the right reasons.
I was caught up in musing about these characters - not entirely clear about what happened at the lumberyard between Faye and her dad, or why Nickel believed so keenly in Marion's ability to save him over what might happen with more fully accomplished options. The end left me wondering. But this is what happens when magic is threaded into the narrative by someone so deft at capturing with language. The New York Times review said, "Expect miracles when you read Ann Patchett's fiction." They couldn't be more right.
I was caught up in musing about these characters - not entirely clear about what happened at the lumberyard between Faye and her dad, or why Nickel believed so keenly in Marion's ability to save him over what might happen with more fully accomplished options. The end left me wondering. But this is what happens when magic is threaded into the narrative by someone so deft at capturing with language. The New York Times review said, "Expect miracles when you read Ann Patchett's fiction." They couldn't be more right.