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rereader33's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, here's the deal:
I have a FUCK TON of thoughts regarding this novel, and I have no FUCKING clue how I'm going to arrange them in a semi-coherent review. So, what we're gonna do is I'm going to list what I liked and didn't like and leave it at that. Okay? Okay, let's go.
What I liked:
1. Frankie, Choppy, Marguerite, and Loretta were easily the best characters in this novel. I loved hearing about their stories and I loved their interactions with other characters.
2. The setting was historically accurate and worked well with the story. Clearly Ruby did her research.
3. There were a lot of great ideas like women fighting back, dealing with an unfair life/society, and learning to give it your all to get what you want.
4. The supernatural aspects were pretty cool.
What I didn't like:
1. Pearl annoyed me and I wished I could have gotten her's AND Frankie's individual perspectives. Bare in mind, I don't think Pearl was a poorly written character, I just personally didn't like her.
2. While this novel had a lot of great ideas, I didn't feel like there was one central idea that anyone could point to and say, "yeah, that's what this novel's about," like you can with other novels. It felt Ruby had a lot of great ideas, couldn't part with any of them, so she shoved them all in and they competed for attention throughout the story.
3. Pearl's final reveal in regards to her backstory was underwhelming. Not that it didn't make narrative sense, but I had slowly stopped caring about her story since it seemed to drag on for most of the novel and then the final reveal just happens.
4. The ending was unsatisfactory and I wish there had been an epilogue.
All that being said, I highly recommend this novel. This was such an incredible, often times difficult, novel to read but it was so worth it. If you're intrigued by the summary, give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.
I have a FUCK TON of thoughts regarding this novel, and I have no FUCKING clue how I'm going to arrange them in a semi-coherent review. So, what we're gonna do is I'm going to list what I liked and didn't like and leave it at that. Okay? Okay, let's go.
What I liked:
1. Frankie, Choppy, Marguerite, and Loretta were easily the best characters in this novel. I loved hearing about their stories and I loved their interactions with other characters.
2. The setting was historically accurate and worked well with the story. Clearly Ruby did her research.
3. There were a lot of great ideas like women fighting back, dealing with an unfair life/society, and learning to give it your all to get what you want.
4. The supernatural aspects were pretty cool.
What I didn't like:
1. Pearl annoyed me and I wished I could have gotten her's AND Frankie's individual perspectives. Bare in mind, I don't think Pearl was a poorly written character, I just personally didn't like her.
2. While this novel had a lot of great ideas, I didn't feel like there was one central idea that anyone could point to and say, "yeah, that's what this novel's about," like you can with other novels. It felt Ruby had a lot of great ideas, couldn't part with any of them, so she shoved them all in and they competed for attention throughout the story.
3. Pearl's final reveal in regards to her backstory was underwhelming. Not that it didn't make narrative sense, but I had slowly stopped caring about her story since it seemed to drag on for most of the novel and then the final reveal just happens.
4. The ending was unsatisfactory and I wish there had been an epilogue.
All that being said, I highly recommend this novel. This was such an incredible, often times difficult, novel to read but it was so worth it. If you're intrigued by the summary, give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.
caitlin42's review against another edition
5.0
Clearly more writers should use ghosts as narrative exposition for historical fiction. Fascinating, powerful, and empathetic writing.
cranea653's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
drorraifnesher's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
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? No
4.0
chris10b's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book and the interesting point of view of it offers. Was leaning toward 4.5 stars, but I finished this book in a day (which is something that I rarely ever do any more), so I think that says something about how much I enjoyed it. So, rounding up to 5 stars.
silentgoblin2's review against another edition
3.0
The book was definitely a slow burn but kept me wanting to know what the ending was going to be throughout. Once the twists started though, they had me hooked until the end!
librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
3.0
This was a great accomplishment, beautifully written and researched. But oh, so sad. Reminded me alot of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but without the frequent moments of beauty and hope. This was grim grim grim with only the slightest possibility of redemption near the end.
For that reason I had trouble reading it. I kept avoiding picking it up.
This is not the author’s fault... this is my relationship with sad stories.
For that reason I had trouble reading it. I kept avoiding picking it up.
This is not the author’s fault... this is my relationship with sad stories.
jcgrenn_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I had a good time listening to this audiobook! I think I would have enjoyed it more had it been in my hands though.
sierrayak's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
laflormorada's review against another edition
5.0
This layered, poignant story is about two young girls: Frankie who is temporarily left in an orphanage with her sister in 1940's Chicago and Pearl, a ghost who can't quite remember who she is. Frankie's life has been traumatic, but is no different from the lives of the other girls and boys at The Guardians Catholic Orphanage (alive and dead). The nuns are strict if not cruel, the food is terrible and the place may be haunted but at least they have a roof over their heads. Then WWII begins and what little Frankie has slowly begins slipping away. Little does she know, there is someone who cares, someone who is watching, someone who knows her story.
This book, wow. It's just a must-read. I had no idea that Laura Ruby also wrote Bone Gap until I was halfway through this book, but now it all makes sense. Her books are so magical and eerie and powerful but still grounded in real life. It's hard to separate the "reality" from the magic because it all feels so true. I was completely immersed in this emotional story and all the stories within the story (often told by the ghosts). It's hard to even describe what this book is about because there's so much to it. It's just a snippet of two lives that were or could have been, but it's also a story about girls: their dreams, desires, hopes, sadness, realities and strength. All I can really say is that it was beautiful.
This book, wow. It's just a must-read. I had no idea that Laura Ruby also wrote Bone Gap until I was halfway through this book, but now it all makes sense. Her books are so magical and eerie and powerful but still grounded in real life. It's hard to separate the "reality" from the magic because it all feels so true. I was completely immersed in this emotional story and all the stories within the story (often told by the ghosts). It's hard to even describe what this book is about because there's so much to it. It's just a snippet of two lives that were or could have been, but it's also a story about girls: their dreams, desires, hopes, sadness, realities and strength. All I can really say is that it was beautiful.