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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I borrowed this after hearing Dunlop speak on Sounds Like a Cult Podcast. This novel, with a Munchausen by Proxy side story, follows Katie, a former competitive skier, who escapes her tumultuous public life for an interlude in Buenos Aires. She bonds with others also seeking escape. Based on the author’s sister who committed medical child abuse, and tried to keep the book from publication. A solid read!
This well-crafted and moving novel of family matters has a steady pace that nevertheless keeps a reader turning pages to find out what happened that messed up so many lives.
In alternating chapters, readers come to know Katie as a world-class ski competitor from Idaho and then her alter ego Liz (same person) who is now living anonymously as an ex-pat in Buenos Aires and learning the tango. Katie has loving supportive parents along with Penny, an older sister. It seems like a picture perfect family, but there are subtle clues that all is not well with Penny and it takes most of the novel for those clues to result in a terrible result.
This offers an interesting look at the arc of becoming an Olympic skier, i.e., training, injuries, sponsors, and the tight camaraderie within that tight-knit community. Later, some of these same qualities apply to learning the intricate art of the tango as Liz works with and falls for a master instructor. Really different activities; similar intensity. In Buenos Aires, Liz falls in with a group of ex-pats and they are virtually all there fleeing from trouble-filled pasts. Needless to say, there is a lot of drinking and sensual exploits afoot.
Katie/Liz is a strong and likable character who is torn by her feelings for all the people she loves. She is living in somewhat of a PTSD haze that slowly, very slowly clears, resulting in a humbling yet hopeful conclusion. Bottom line: life can be incredibly messy.
In alternating chapters, readers come to know Katie as a world-class ski competitor from Idaho and then her alter ego Liz (same person) who is now living anonymously as an ex-pat in Buenos Aires and learning the tango. Katie has loving supportive parents along with Penny, an older sister. It seems like a picture perfect family, but there are subtle clues that all is not well with Penny and it takes most of the novel for those clues to result in a terrible result.
This offers an interesting look at the arc of becoming an Olympic skier, i.e., training, injuries, sponsors, and the tight camaraderie within that tight-knit community. Later, some of these same qualities apply to learning the intricate art of the tango as Liz works with and falls for a master instructor. Really different activities; similar intensity. In Buenos Aires, Liz falls in with a group of ex-pats and they are virtually all there fleeing from trouble-filled pasts. Needless to say, there is a lot of drinking and sensual exploits afoot.
Katie/Liz is a strong and likable character who is torn by her feelings for all the people she loves. She is living in somewhat of a PTSD haze that slowly, very slowly clears, resulting in a humbling yet hopeful conclusion. Bottom line: life can be incredibly messy.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Not a very good book but it’s a pleasant enough read on an interesting topic. I appreciated knowing that the author had actually been through wha the main character had and her sister was similarly ill.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This is not quite a thriller/mystery and not quite literary but it's well written and I appreciated the lesson that the people you want in your life are ones who can "handle the hard stuff."
I would possibly give this a 4.5. I liked the pace, I liked how it kept my attention from the onset and had a level of mystery that kept me wanting to find out more. One of the better books I have read this year in terms of wanting to get to the end to see where it all shook out! It also made me want to go to Buenos Aries!
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and love/hated a few too.
If only we could all could runaway when life gets too tough to bare!
If only we could all could runaway when life gets too tough to bare!
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced