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librarianlk's review
5.0
A subtle, fascinating year in the life of an aging man. Fascinating, and yet not much really happens plot-wise. Hiss focus on his tasks, dedication to doing thing right, and his stoic facade all reflect a generation that is has almost passed. Having known men of his age and generation, I can attest that O'Nan's portrait is spot on.
meghanboyer's review
3.0
Having not read this author before, I struggled finishing this. It was slooow and seemingly plotless. But that was the point. Telling Henry’s story and really getting into developing and understand him. I hung on because it was incredibly well written.
lumpyspaceprincess99's review
1.0
I enjoyed this books simple descriptions of Henry going about his daily life, but only for the first 200 or so pages. There was really no reason that this book, which had no real plot of character development, needed to go on for an entire 369 pages. I found myself skimming chapters towards the end so that I could finish it sooner.
This book was a nice break from heavier books, but I didn't learn anything from this book. Even the descriptions of Henry's relationship with Emily or his fears of aging lacked substance.
I gave this book 2 stars because it was just fine.
This book was a nice break from heavier books, but I didn't learn anything from this book. Even the descriptions of Henry's relationship with Emily or his fears of aging lacked substance.
I gave this book 2 stars because it was just fine.
buckeyegal81267's review
5.0
My favorite kind of book—the minutia of life and relationships, a good-hearted character, and Pittsburgh ❤️.
kah296's review
4.0
This book was super sweet and meditative. I was a bit bored starting out but by the end, the emotion in the writing made it easy to feel connected to the characters.
caroline_hutchison's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
eileen9311's review
5.0
A treasure! This series of vignettes really resonated with me! I learned that it is part of a series, and realized that I had actually read an earlier one in this group, Emily Alone. That was years ago, and I was not enthused, although the books appear to be similar, and Stewart O’Nan’s writing sings. Perhaps because age wise I’m in Henry’s bracket now, so much rang true. The book is a delightful mix of ruminations and memories and regrets. Parts brought tears to my eyes I laughed so hard!
How well he evokes a sense of place, and the joy of recurring rituals throughout part of a life time! This passage refers to the family’s yearly retreat to a summer cottage.
‘Though there was no real schedule, their days assumed the same shape – chores in the morning, swimming in the afternoon. Lunch was sandwiches and leftovers on paper plates, dinner something on the grill. It was why they came, year after year, the comfort of the familiar, why they told the old stories as they sat on the screen porch while the sun set, recalling long-gone-great-aunts –and uncles and their crazy dogs. Even the errands they ran were to favorites like the Lighthouse or the Cheese Barn, destinations tinged with nostalgia. They had to have fresh corn and peaches and tomatoes from one farm stand in Maple Springs, and pies from Haff Acres, fetched home still molten.’
I could identify with the childhood anguish of learning to lose! (One might note that there are many adults in the present day who have yet to learn that lesson….) Henry’s older sister repeatedly delighted in trouncing him at all competitions.
‘……soon when anyone suggested a game, his mother would tell him he couldn’t play if he was going to get upset. He promised, under duress, thinking maybe this time it would be different, only to be overwhelmed at the end, fleeing hot-faced and seething with shame, blinking back tears as he climbed the stairs to his room, vowing vengeance on them all.’
Easily five stars! Surely I should give Emily, Alone another chance!
How well he evokes a sense of place, and the joy of recurring rituals throughout part of a life time! This passage refers to the family’s yearly retreat to a summer cottage.
‘Though there was no real schedule, their days assumed the same shape – chores in the morning, swimming in the afternoon. Lunch was sandwiches and leftovers on paper plates, dinner something on the grill. It was why they came, year after year, the comfort of the familiar, why they told the old stories as they sat on the screen porch while the sun set, recalling long-gone-great-aunts –and uncles and their crazy dogs. Even the errands they ran were to favorites like the Lighthouse or the Cheese Barn, destinations tinged with nostalgia. They had to have fresh corn and peaches and tomatoes from one farm stand in Maple Springs, and pies from Haff Acres, fetched home still molten.’
I could identify with the childhood anguish of learning to lose! (One might note that there are many adults in the present day who have yet to learn that lesson….) Henry’s older sister repeatedly delighted in trouncing him at all competitions.
‘……soon when anyone suggested a game, his mother would tell him he couldn’t play if he was going to get upset. He promised, under duress, thinking maybe this time it would be different, only to be overwhelmed at the end, fleeing hot-faced and seething with shame, blinking back tears as he climbed the stairs to his room, vowing vengeance on them all.’
Easily five stars! Surely I should give Emily, Alone another chance!
thebookofnicole's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3.75 (?)
An incredible story about ordinary people. Henry and his family are all extremely normal people — but that is what is so interesting about this. Henry is a grandfather, just turning 75, and his story is about the repetitiveness and fear of being older and a veteran and an all around extremely selfless man. The third person narrator goes through the life of Henry and his family in an incredible charming way, and there was hardly a minute that I was not into reading this.
I was worried I would not enjoy such a blatant character study type of book. I am usually a plot driven kind of gal, but Stewart O'Nan had a way of making every page memorable, of every scene palpable, and every character so realistic. It felt as if I was reading my grandparent's own thoughts, to the point that I will definitely see them differently from here out.
I would definitely recommend this book! It's sweet and heartwarming, and reading it made me feel as though I was walking next to Henry and Emily, a grandparent in my own right. Though I did not mind it entirely and understood the message that it was meant to sent, the repetitiveness of him explaining his tools did get a bit droll at times, and the lack of plot (though justified) pulled me from the story a bit!
An incredible story about ordinary people. Henry and his family are all extremely normal people — but that is what is so interesting about this. Henry is a grandfather, just turning 75, and his story is about the repetitiveness and fear of being older and a veteran and an all around extremely selfless man. The third person narrator goes through the life of Henry and his family in an incredible charming way, and there was hardly a minute that I was not into reading this.
I was worried I would not enjoy such a blatant character study type of book. I am usually a plot driven kind of gal, but Stewart O'Nan had a way of making every page memorable, of every scene palpable, and every character so realistic. It felt as if I was reading my grandparent's own thoughts, to the point that I will definitely see them differently from here out.
I would definitely recommend this book! It's sweet and heartwarming, and reading it made me feel as though I was walking next to Henry and Emily, a grandparent in my own right. Though I did not mind it entirely and understood the message that it was meant to sent, the repetitiveness of him explaining his tools did get a bit droll at times, and the lack of plot (though justified) pulled me from the story a bit!
lisagray68's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
stevenk's review against another edition
4.0
A prequel to two other books about Emily Maxwell (Which at this point I haven't read), this book is about Henry Maxwell, a 75 year old retired engineer living in Pittsburgh with his wife Emily and his dog Rufus. This is a book that is really about nothing, or likely about events referenced in the two Emily books, just Henry living life and reflecting on past events, but the writing style and attention to detail bring Henry and his family and the locations in Pittsburgh and Lake Chautauqua to life in a way that made them very relatable and drew me into the story. I would rate this book 3.5 stars if Goodreads allowed half stars. I received a free ARC of this book through Goodreads First Reads Giveaways.