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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
This book was very interesting and I enjoyed the switching perspectives throughout the book. I enjoyed each of the characters and was surprised at how very little challenging it was to keep the characters straight. But then I realized it was because Ann Brashares did such an amazing job of creating well rounded characters. Each character has their own conflict, many of which intertwined throughout the book. Even characters I were not very fond of had admirable character arcs.
I will say, I thought that Ann would go more in depth on why the parent split, but Mattie and her father’s conversation in the last few pages of the book made me tear up.
Some stories that I felt were introduced and inadequately mixed or unfinished: the Mattie and Matthew Reese dynamic, Quinn and Myrna, things from Quinn’s perspective and her detachment/personal disassociation, the parents’ divorce, Ray and Violet (did Violet just drop off the face of the earth?), and Evie’s character (Ann touched on how she seemed the most like an outsider, but never really went further).
I feel that once the book hit the climax, everything afterwards was rushed. I feel like the Ray and Sasha dynamic was beautifully written, but it was smooshed into three paragraphs; this was disappointing since their relationship had been developing the whole book.
All in all this was a great read that had me turning pages all day throughout class.
I will say, I thought that Ann would go more in depth on why the parent split, but Mattie and her father’s conversation in the last few pages of the book made me tear up.
Some stories that I felt were introduced and inadequately mixed or unfinished: the Mattie and Matthew Reese dynamic, Quinn and Myrna, things from Quinn’s perspective and her detachment/personal disassociation, the parents’ divorce, Ray and Violet (did Violet just drop off the face of the earth?), and Evie’s character (Ann touched on how she seemed the most like an outsider, but never really went further).
I feel that once the book hit the climax, everything afterwards was rushed. I feel like the Ray and Sasha dynamic was beautifully written, but it was smooshed into three paragraphs; this was disappointing since their relationship had been developing the whole book.
All in all this was a great read that had me turning pages all day throughout class.
[b:The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants|452306|The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood, #1)|Ann Brashares|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461611233s/452306.jpg|1058370] was such a great book (and series), but everything Brashares has written after that has been meh.
This is just plain awful.
This is just plain awful.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3⭐️
The ending of this book is what made my rating 3 stars. It was a quick, easy, and nice read. But the last 3 chapters had me feeling more than the rest of the book did. It left me wanting a small glimpse into everyone’s lives. But I wish the characters and relationships had a bit more development.
The ending of this book is what made my rating 3 stars. It was a quick, easy, and nice read. But the last 3 chapters had me feeling more than the rest of the book did. It left me wanting a small glimpse into everyone’s lives. But I wish the characters and relationships had a bit more development.
I received an e-arc of The Whole Things Together by Ann Brashares from Delacorte via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.
I hadn’t heard much about The Whole Things Together when I picked it up. There weren't many reviews on Goodreads, but it seemed like something that I would enjoy reading. It seemed like a summer book that explored family, friendship and romance. And it was those things, but it just wasn’t my read.
The Whole Things Together follows protagonist Sasha and Ray who have shared almost everything but have never met. They share siblings, but they are not related by blood or even by marriage. It’s all a little confused actually.
The family tree per say – just confused me the whole book. I couldn’t remember who was related to who. Who was from which family? Who was blood-related? I forgot half the time who was who just by their name. There was just far too many characters to keep track of, especially because they all come from the same by different families.
Because of this, it was hard to get to know the protagonist and even the characters. I was just trying to keep track of everything the whole point and I couldn’t connect.
However, I did like the notion of these families coming together for different reasons. Some beautiful and happy, while others were heartbreaking and torn me. It was nice to see a family who is normally very apart come together.
Overall, The Whole Things Together is a poignant novel that just didn’t hit the right spots for me. With far too many characters and storylines to keep track off. I was confused most of the time. It explores the notions of romance, family and finding yourself.
I hadn’t heard much about The Whole Things Together when I picked it up. There weren't many reviews on Goodreads, but it seemed like something that I would enjoy reading. It seemed like a summer book that explored family, friendship and romance. And it was those things, but it just wasn’t my read.
The Whole Things Together follows protagonist Sasha and Ray who have shared almost everything but have never met. They share siblings, but they are not related by blood or even by marriage. It’s all a little confused actually.
The family tree per say – just confused me the whole book. I couldn’t remember who was related to who. Who was from which family? Who was blood-related? I forgot half the time who was who just by their name. There was just far too many characters to keep track of, especially because they all come from the same by different families.
Because of this, it was hard to get to know the protagonist and even the characters. I was just trying to keep track of everything the whole point and I couldn’t connect.
However, I did like the notion of these families coming together for different reasons. Some beautiful and happy, while others were heartbreaking and torn me. It was nice to see a family who is normally very apart come together.
Overall, The Whole Things Together is a poignant novel that just didn’t hit the right spots for me. With far too many characters and storylines to keep track off. I was confused most of the time. It explores the notions of romance, family and finding yourself.
4.5* It was exactly what Nicola Yoon said in her review. A story of loss, love and family.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn't like it but it isn't terrible
Three Willows is the only Brashares book I've not read, and I appreciate her books' ever increasing complexity, multiple perspectives, bold ideas, and gripping sense of tension. Brashares' book My Name Is Memory, the first of a planned trilogy I still hold hope for, is one of my top two favorite books.
I say this to fully disclose my ongoing appreciation for the author's writing.
The concept for this book is intriguing and its sense of place is defining.
Ray and Sasha's orbits intrigued me, and the chaos around them riveted my attention.
There are many deceptively simple lines: "How hopeful we were and are. How can we be any other way?" This rhetorical question resonates throughout the novel.
I hoped for a more fulfilling ending for certain characters, and I concede that there are a few areas in which the wording could have been better chosen.
Still, I read this book in one waking day. A work day. That says a lot about how fully I was drawn in by the story.
I say this to fully disclose my ongoing appreciation for the author's writing.
The concept for this book is intriguing and its sense of place is defining.
Ray and Sasha's orbits intrigued me, and the chaos around them riveted my attention.
There are many deceptively simple lines: "How hopeful we were and are. How can we be any other way?" This rhetorical question resonates throughout the novel.
I hoped for a more fulfilling ending for certain characters, and I concede that there are a few areas in which the wording could have been better chosen.
Still, I read this book in one waking day. A work day. That says a lot about how fully I was drawn in by the story.
As the child of parents who divorced bitterly and acrimoniously when I was young – and who have barely spoken since – I could very much relate to the children in “The Whole Thing Together”. I remember that speech – that “we still love you and this will end up being better for all of us” speech that divorcing parents give their children – and I feel the same way now that I did then. That things will be better for the parents, the kids? Too bad.
“Why was it the people who had no beef suffered the most? Like all slow are terrible wars, it was fought and borne by those who had no grievance, the most innocent enduring the worst. Because we are the ones who want peace among the grown-ups, and they still want war.”
This novel is a combination of two storylines. One, a story of two teenagers – Sasha and Ray – who share half-sisters and a vacation home – yet who have never met. Each has a vision of the other, and in that which they share, they form a completely unspoken relationship. The book starts with that being the strongest storyline – and it was once that prompted me to choose the book – but did not hold my interest. It was clearly trying to lead from a “what if two people so connected had never met” to a “what if two people who had never met fell in love” – but there was far too much going on for me to keep track. With the two sides of a family sharing the same house, but at different times and with the characters not really finding clear, separate voices until much farther info the book – I honestly couldn’t keep track of who was where and which sister was which.
But gradually the book transitions to focus more on WHY Ray and Sasha haven’t met (the hatred between the divorced parents) and the possibility that they might finally do so – under the most extreme circumstances (the warring parents being in the same place again after decades of silence).
“And what about their parents? Would they stand in the same room? Would they listen to each other’s voices? Would they shake hands? Would the world allow for that?”
I remember many years after the divorce – sitting in the same room with my parents and feeling that same thing. That this was simply not possible – these two people just couldn’t be existing in the same place at the same time – that my worlds were colliding.
And in the end, the book becomes about love after all. About love, and regret and grief. About some small, miraculous joy that comes from heart wrenching sadness. About learning far too late the consequences of one’s words and actions, but trying to find a way forward that makes those sacrifices worthwhile.
“These were the days she would later be sorry not to have appreciated. She tried to induce appreciation, mentally getting it firing like an outboard motor. It was a hard thing to will. Was it even possible to see beauty in the present at it came at you? Or did it require a dose of time and loss and maybe a little pain?”
“The Whole Thing Together” ended up being a very moving and very relatable book and the words and feelings of those children impacted by their parents’ divorce will stay with me.
“Why was it the people who had no beef suffered the most? Like all slow are terrible wars, it was fought and borne by those who had no grievance, the most innocent enduring the worst. Because we are the ones who want peace among the grown-ups, and they still want war.”
This novel is a combination of two storylines. One, a story of two teenagers – Sasha and Ray – who share half-sisters and a vacation home – yet who have never met. Each has a vision of the other, and in that which they share, they form a completely unspoken relationship. The book starts with that being the strongest storyline – and it was once that prompted me to choose the book – but did not hold my interest. It was clearly trying to lead from a “what if two people so connected had never met” to a “what if two people who had never met fell in love” – but there was far too much going on for me to keep track. With the two sides of a family sharing the same house, but at different times and with the characters not really finding clear, separate voices until much farther info the book – I honestly couldn’t keep track of who was where and which sister was which.
But gradually the book transitions to focus more on WHY Ray and Sasha haven’t met (the hatred between the divorced parents) and the possibility that they might finally do so – under the most extreme circumstances (the warring parents being in the same place again after decades of silence).
“And what about their parents? Would they stand in the same room? Would they listen to each other’s voices? Would they shake hands? Would the world allow for that?”
I remember many years after the divorce – sitting in the same room with my parents and feeling that same thing. That this was simply not possible – these two people just couldn’t be existing in the same place at the same time – that my worlds were colliding.
And in the end, the book becomes about love after all. About love, and regret and grief. About some small, miraculous joy that comes from heart wrenching sadness. About learning far too late the consequences of one’s words and actions, but trying to find a way forward that makes those sacrifices worthwhile.
“These were the days she would later be sorry not to have appreciated. She tried to induce appreciation, mentally getting it firing like an outboard motor. It was a hard thing to will. Was it even possible to see beauty in the present at it came at you? Or did it require a dose of time and loss and maybe a little pain?”
“The Whole Thing Together” ended up being a very moving and very relatable book and the words and feelings of those children impacted by their parents’ divorce will stay with me.