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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love books about generations, which is exactly what this is. I could read about the Kellehers for ages.
I read this a while ago. Definitely recommend for the beach or summer etc. Lighter read with a story that doesn't really move mountains if you know what I mean...
Book on CD narrated by Ann Marie Lee
Three generations of Kelleher women descend on the family’s beach-front property one summer. The four women around whom the story revolves have little in common except that they are all part of this dysfunctional family. Their relationships are as rocky as the coast of Maine.
I finished this only because it is a book-club selection. Terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE. The characters are cardboard cutouts. Not a single one of them is anyone I would want to know – even casually – let alone spend significant time with. Matriarch Alice is a closet alcoholic with a huge burden of guilt. Angry at the world, and (with good reason) at herself, she lashes out at everyone in a classic passive-aggressive manner. Daughter-in-law Ann Marie is more concerned with appearances, and decorating her designer doll house, than she is with examining her own relationships and actually connecting with anyone in a meaningful way. Daughter Kathleen is a recovering alcoholic who has fled across the country to escape her crazy family, but obviously hasn’t set aside her anger; she seems intent on alienating and picking fights with everyone while demonstrating her “holier than thou” attitude. Granddaughter Maggie (Kathleen’s child) is a 32-year-old loser who is clinging to a complete jerk of a boyfriend; she needs to grow up and become an adult.
I didn’t like any of them. I wasn’t interested in their stories. I didn’t care what happened to any of them.
Ann Marie Lee does an adequate job performing the audio. Her talent as a voice artist is evident with four women who have to be differentiated.
Three generations of Kelleher women descend on the family’s beach-front property one summer. The four women around whom the story revolves have little in common except that they are all part of this dysfunctional family. Their relationships are as rocky as the coast of Maine.
I finished this only because it is a book-club selection. Terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE. The characters are cardboard cutouts. Not a single one of them is anyone I would want to know – even casually – let alone spend significant time with. Matriarch Alice is a closet alcoholic with a huge burden of guilt. Angry at the world, and (with good reason) at herself, she lashes out at everyone in a classic passive-aggressive manner. Daughter-in-law Ann Marie is more concerned with appearances, and decorating her designer doll house, than she is with examining her own relationships and actually connecting with anyone in a meaningful way. Daughter Kathleen is a recovering alcoholic who has fled across the country to escape her crazy family, but obviously hasn’t set aside her anger; she seems intent on alienating and picking fights with everyone while demonstrating her “holier than thou” attitude. Granddaughter Maggie (Kathleen’s child) is a 32-year-old loser who is clinging to a complete jerk of a boyfriend; she needs to grow up and become an adult.
I didn’t like any of them. I wasn’t interested in their stories. I didn’t care what happened to any of them.
Ann Marie Lee does an adequate job performing the audio. Her talent as a voice artist is evident with four women who have to be differentiated.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The pace drags a lot and the narrator didn’t do a good job of differentiating which character is narrating at any given point. Ending was the best part.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don't be fooled by the two-star reviews on Goodreads. This is a very absorbing, well-written family saga. Definitely more literary fiction than a light read, so maybe some weren't expecting that. Lots of dark family secrets and miscommunication. But I was taken with these characters.
I’m not usually a fan of family sagas, so it was no surprise this didn’t work for me. Too many characters to keep track of and all of them unlikeable.
I finished this book a few days ago and have been trying to decide how I feel about it, and how to convey that without spoilers. It’s rough sometimes, amirite?
Let’s start with the good. Characters! I’m swooning. Each of the protagonists was so well crafted. I found myself sympathetic to and frustrated with each one multiple times—there was no clear heroine or villain. Each one was so real. I found myself wanting to give them a good shake and good advice, or persuade them to go to therapy, or hug them, just like real people I know.
Another interesting thing was how well the author described the interpersonal ties, specifically how differently they all perceived each other versus how they perceived themselves (sideye Ann Marie and Kathleen/Maggie). It reminded me a lot of me and my own sister and some of the conflicts we’ve had over the years—it all stems from assuming intent behind action. This is family.
Alice, the matriarch, is probably the most frustrating character to me. For most of the book, I found myself wondering about fundamental aspects of her life. There’s a story there, and it teases you throughout the book, but not so much that you get overly frustrated—it’s not a cheap gimmick.
About the ending:
It took me a few days to process this book and be able to form opinions. I don’t know that I’d want to read it again soon, but maybe someday. I appreciate craft, and this book is well-written. It was a little long and heavy for a quick beach read, but maybe I’d take it on a week-long solo vacation.
Let’s start with the good. Characters! I’m swooning. Each of the protagonists was so well crafted. I found myself sympathetic to and frustrated with each one multiple times—there was no clear heroine or villain. Each one was so real. I found myself wanting to give them a good shake and good advice, or persuade them to go to therapy, or hug them, just like real people I know.
Another interesting thing was how well the author described the interpersonal ties, specifically how differently they all perceived each other versus how they perceived themselves (sideye Ann Marie and Kathleen/Maggie). It reminded me a lot of me and my own sister and some of the conflicts we’ve had over the years—it all stems from assuming intent behind action. This is family.
Alice, the matriarch, is probably the most frustrating character to me. For most of the book, I found myself wondering about fundamental aspects of her life
Spoiler
why did you even HAVE children, since you so clearly didn’t want themAbout the ending:
Spoiler
I wasn’t counting pages or anything, so I wasn’t prepared for any ending at all, and it caught me off guard and then kind of pissed me off. The whole thing seemed so unresolved. (Assuming she dies—it certainly seems that way, though I guess you can choose to believe that or something else.) But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed pretty realistic. These things don’t happen when we’re ready; they happen when they happen.It took me a few days to process this book and be able to form opinions. I don’t know that I’d want to read it again soon, but maybe someday. I appreciate craft, and this book is well-written. It was a little long and heavy for a quick beach read, but maybe I’d take it on a week-long solo vacation.