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lucyllama's review against another edition
5.0
Patrick Gale writes fantastic characters. I finished reading the book today and, sad as it sounds, I think there are a few characters in the story that I will really miss. He writes with such tenderness. This is a tale with a few twists and turns and symmetry between the past and present. Beautiful. Highly recommend.
readingwithkt's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Dementia
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Car accident
Minor: Rape, Murder, Violence, and Death
innergrace's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kippax's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
catdad77a45's review
5.0
4.5, rounded up.
I initially had some trouble getting into this book, which I think was more due to personal crisis factors than any fault of the book itself, but once I hit the halfway mark, I couldn't put it down and read it literally non-stop till I finished. Even in this early book, Gale shows a mastery of prose style, complex plotting and deft characterization. The story alternates between two time periods set 32 years apart, and often in these types of novels (for example, in the recent - and excellent - 'The Great Believers'), one storyline will dominate and be of more interest than the other. Here though, both storylines are intriguing and one is never unclear where one is in the novel (it helps - and is very clever, that the protagonist is called by different names in each time frame). Although some of the revelations are not exactly bombshells, and have been foreshadowed long before they occur, everything fits beautifully. Gale has recently proved his skill as a screenwriter with the brilliant 'Man in the Orange Shirt', and this too would make an excellent film (which some would say is faint praise, but I mean it as a compliment.)
I initially had some trouble getting into this book, which I think was more due to personal crisis factors than any fault of the book itself, but once I hit the halfway mark, I couldn't put it down and read it literally non-stop till I finished. Even in this early book, Gale shows a mastery of prose style, complex plotting and deft characterization. The story alternates between two time periods set 32 years apart, and often in these types of novels (for example, in the recent - and excellent - 'The Great Believers'), one storyline will dominate and be of more interest than the other. Here though, both storylines are intriguing and one is never unclear where one is in the novel (it helps - and is very clever, that the protagonist is called by different names in each time frame). Although some of the revelations are not exactly bombshells, and have been foreshadowed long before they occur, everything fits beautifully. Gale has recently proved his skill as a screenwriter with the brilliant 'Man in the Orange Shirt', and this too would make an excellent film (which some would say is faint praise, but I mean it as a compliment.)
daschneider's review
4.0
Gale's story is about a son, his parents, a marriage--or two--and love of many types. Wonderful writing, exploring the emotions of the different characters with empathy and compassion. I will seek out more of his books.
vilhelmiina_h's review
4.0
So raw and heartbreaking and heartwarming. So good - so, Patrick Gale as usual.
nina1412's review
4.0
This book had so many layers and viewpoints that it took me a while to wrap my head around it. My first reaction was shock - that things didn't end the way I was absolutely sure they would. But even now, almost 7 weeks later, I would love to find out how things turned out for them. Are they happy? Did they make things work? And how did the parents cope? A great book!
wendleness's review
4.0
I think the thing i don’t like about Gale’s books is that they are character driven. There is no main plot or storyline, per se, but an exploration of the characters and their lives. I’m sure others would argue that the characters’ lives is the storyline, but i see it more as a series of events. Semantics, but there is a difference. Regardless, Gale is brilliant at what he does. He shaped these vivid and flawed and realistic characters, he made me sympathise and despise all of them in turn. Although i dislike the lack of a plot, characters can make or break a book for me. I don’t have to like them, but they have to be well-written, and these ones are.
I was gripped, basically. I knew the vague plot, and the major points of what had happened on the first holiday, while the drama that would be surrounding the second holiday is revealed very early on. These weren’t the things that made the story gripping. It was the details, the characters and their motivations.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel at Words.
I was gripped, basically. I knew the vague plot, and the major points of what had happened on the first holiday, while the drama that would be surrounding the second holiday is revealed very early on. These weren’t the things that made the story gripping. It was the details, the characters and their motivations.
A longer review can be read at my book blog: Marvel at Words.
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