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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
I loved reading this book. It was great reading a book where women are almost the entire focus. Each one has qualities that are relatable, qualities that are hatable, and qualities that are likable. The flaws of Alice, Kathleen, Anne Marie, and Maggie make them all the more realistic for me. Too often characters are completely one dimensional and I appreciate that none of these are.
The story line kept me interested the entire time. I was equally invested in Alice's experiences as a young girl as I was in Kathleen's life after alcoholism and Anne Marie's struggle to find her place. Flashbacks to summers in Maine make the cottage and the many years of experiences there palpable. Sullivan also does a great job of demonstrating what comes with being part of a family. The feeling of wanting to get away from while also having an unbreakable connection with the people you were born into is captured wonderfully. Because of this the shared joys and the heartaches of the Kelleher family are very real.
A final favorite point of the novel are the descriptions of Maine itself. I've never been but reading about the beaches and towns and lobster pounds certainly made me want to.
The story line kept me interested the entire time. I was equally invested in Alice's experiences as a young girl as I was in Kathleen's life after alcoholism and Anne Marie's struggle to find her place. Flashbacks to summers in Maine make the cottage and the many years of experiences there palpable. Sullivan also does a great job of demonstrating what comes with being part of a family. The feeling of wanting to get away from while also having an unbreakable connection with the people you were born into is captured wonderfully. Because of this the shared joys and the heartaches of the Kelleher family are very real.
A final favorite point of the novel are the descriptions of Maine itself. I've never been but reading about the beaches and towns and lobster pounds certainly made me want to.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lots of good family drama, interesting story lines. Ending was good, but anti-climatic.
Eye rolls. Many of them occurred during book. To be honest I started out liking it, getting to know my 4 main characters and then waiting for something to happen. I waited, and waited and waited and waited. Nothing. Nothing fricken happens! The book was way too long for nothing at all to happen. This story focuses on 4 women. Alice, the martriarch, Kathleen, her daughter, Maggie, Kathleen's daughter and Ann Marie, Alice's daughter in law. The men in this story are literally satelites and have virtually no voice. Neither does any other member of the family. Alice is a just an 82 year old mean ass bitch and was always that way. No, the tragedy in her life didn't cause her to be like this, she just is and Ioathe the woman. Kathleen is her daughter and the most likeable to me. She was the one person who recognized toxic people and how being around that can be harmful and create her to be toxic, so she simply stays away. I actually liked Kathleen when she was away from her family. She created a beautiful, successful life for herself and ended up with a beautiful man. Her daughter Maggie was simply a sap for the wrong men and at age 32 I though she was too old to be behaving the way she did. No identity unless the boyfriend validated her. I hate reading about women like that. Ann Marie was a woman whose life was so small, she ended up making doll housess for a hobby. Too bad she couldn't crawl inside one of them to live. Being a housewife and mother defined everything she did so when the kids were gone and life got a bit easier, more space, she had nothing left. She was a bore. Most of these women do not like each other. You hear each of their tales through their own voices alternatiing between chapters. However, that is not really a story. No movement until the end when they all end up in Maine at the summer beachhouse together which is where the story is leading to. Which after that happens, I feel like so what, big deal.
Can't really recommend this book. I gave it 2 stars for the writing, it was compelling enough to keep me going, yet no payoff in the end.
Seriously?? This book was way overhyped. The matriarch in this book was a falt out b*tch. why would I even care anything about her? She was selfish, mean and a horrible mother. I would skip this book.
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-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