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hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
4.0
Not much plot but great characters. The book is set in the early to mid eighties and the narrator is a poor, nerdy, smart girl in small town Kansas. I was the same age as the narrator at that time and I think the author did a great job of bringing that era to life again for me. The book is a quick read -- I finished it in about 2 days.
brooke_review's review against another edition
5.0
The Center of Everything is one of my favorite books – one of the rare 5-star novels. This is a powerful coming-of-age story about one strong little girl who goes through a personal transformation. The main character of Evelyn has such a true voice - I keep a journal of quotes from books that I have read – some of my favorite quotes have come from The Center of Everything.
Some of my favorite quotes from this novel include the following:
“I know that sometimes when you are really worried about something, it ends up not being nearly as bad as you think it will be, and you get to be relieved that you were just being silly, worrying so much over nothing. But sometimes it is just the opposite. It can happen that whatever you are worried about will be even worse than you could have possibly imagined, and you find that you were right to be worried, and even that, maybe, you weren't worried enough.”
“Someone needs to give the Pope thirteen babies. Just for a week or so. See how he likes no birth control then.”
“It's like swimming, underwater, this whole year. I just close my eyes. hold my breath, and keep kicking.”
Some of my favorite quotes from this novel include the following:
“I know that sometimes when you are really worried about something, it ends up not being nearly as bad as you think it will be, and you get to be relieved that you were just being silly, worrying so much over nothing. But sometimes it is just the opposite. It can happen that whatever you are worried about will be even worse than you could have possibly imagined, and you find that you were right to be worried, and even that, maybe, you weren't worried enough.”
“Someone needs to give the Pope thirteen babies. Just for a week or so. See how he likes no birth control then.”
“It's like swimming, underwater, this whole year. I just close my eyes. hold my breath, and keep kicking.”
debi_g's review against another edition
4.0
I fashioned found poems from lines I copied from various pages. It was more fun than writing a review.
55
I was out
on a bathroom pass once
and saw Travis Rowley
walking through the empty hallways,
his fingers running up and down
the locks of lockers,
like someone who plays piano
and doesn't need to look at the keys.
60
My mother says that
when Mrs. Rowley is mean,
which is generally the case,
it is really because she is just unhappy,
and who could blame her
with a husband like that,
and Travis always in so much trouble.
She says this is really
the only reason
people are ever mean--
they have something hurting inside of them,
a claw of unhappiness scratching at their hearts,
and it hurts them so much that sometimes
they have to push it right our of their mouths
to scratch someone else,
just to give themselves a rest,
a moment of relief.
101
I don't say anything,
but in my head,
things have changed.
I’ve drawn a line between us,
the difference between
her and me.
It’s like one of the
black lines between states on maps,
lines between different countries on the globe.
They don’t really exist.
You don’t really see
a long black line
when you cross…
But everyone knows where they are,
and they are important,
keeping one state
separate
from the other,
so you can always tell
which one you’re in.
161
[They] are still in love.
They have to be
holding hands
at all times,
as if one of them
is really a helium balloon
and will
float away
if the other
lets
go.
199
I know that sometimes
when you are really worried about something,
it ends up not being nearly as bad
as you think it will be,
and you get to be relieved
that you were just being silly,
worrying so much
over nothing.
But sometimes
it is just the opposite...
and maybe
you weren’t worried enough.
257
Spring comes, finally.
In April, the magnolia trees
in front of the school bloom
pink and white,
their honey scent carried
by the breeze.
On the first warm day, Mrs. Evans
opens the windows
so we can smell them
in sixth-period English.
“Breathe deeply, class,”
she says.
“Beauty is good for you.”
55
I was out
on a bathroom pass once
and saw Travis Rowley
walking through the empty hallways,
his fingers running up and down
the locks of lockers,
like someone who plays piano
and doesn't need to look at the keys.
60
My mother says that
when Mrs. Rowley is mean,
which is generally the case,
it is really because she is just unhappy,
and who could blame her
with a husband like that,
and Travis always in so much trouble.
She says this is really
the only reason
people are ever mean--
they have something hurting inside of them,
a claw of unhappiness scratching at their hearts,
and it hurts them so much that sometimes
they have to push it right our of their mouths
to scratch someone else,
just to give themselves a rest,
a moment of relief.
101
I don't say anything,
but in my head,
things have changed.
I’ve drawn a line between us,
the difference between
her and me.
It’s like one of the
black lines between states on maps,
lines between different countries on the globe.
They don’t really exist.
You don’t really see
a long black line
when you cross…
But everyone knows where they are,
and they are important,
keeping one state
separate
from the other,
so you can always tell
which one you’re in.
161
[They] are still in love.
They have to be
holding hands
at all times,
as if one of them
is really a helium balloon
and will
float away
if the other
lets
go.
199
I know that sometimes
when you are really worried about something,
it ends up not being nearly as bad
as you think it will be,
and you get to be relieved
that you were just being silly,
worrying so much
over nothing.
But sometimes
it is just the opposite...
and maybe
you weren’t worried enough.
257
Spring comes, finally.
In April, the magnolia trees
in front of the school bloom
pink and white,
their honey scent carried
by the breeze.
On the first warm day, Mrs. Evans
opens the windows
so we can smell them
in sixth-period English.
“Breathe deeply, class,”
she says.
“Beauty is good for you.”
brendaclay's review against another edition
4.0
Evelyn is the daughter of a single mom, growing up in a tiny Kansas town during the 80s. This quiet but well-written novel follows her from fourth grade to high school graduation, as she makes and loses friends, falls in love, wrestles with faith, and breaks out of the cycle of poverty and dysfunction that she's mired in. In lesser hands, this plot could have been either too soapy or too political, but Moriarty makes it feel natural and authentic. She really knows how to interpret disturbing events through young eyes. I liked Evelyn, and in the end, felt hopeful for her and the people she loves.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS
"A dazzling debut in the tradition of Jane Hamilton and Mona Simpson.
In Laura Moriarty's extraordinary first novel, a young girl tries to make sense of an unruly world spinning around her. Growing up with a single mother who is chronically out of work and dating a married man, 10-year old Evelyn Bucknow learns early how to fend for herself.
Offering an affecting portrayal of a troubled mother/daughter relationship, one in which the daughter is very often expected to play the role of the adult, the novel also gives readers a searing rendering of the claustrophobia of small town midwestern life, as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl. Evelyn must come to terms with the heartbreaking lesson of first love -- that not all loves are meant to be -- and determine who she is and who she wants to be. Stuck in the middle of Kansas, between best friends, and in the midst of her mother's love, Evelyn finds herself . . . in The Center of Everything." (From Amazon)
A new favourite author. Reminds me of Elizabeth Berg or Anna Quindlen - a great coming of age story
"A dazzling debut in the tradition of Jane Hamilton and Mona Simpson.
In Laura Moriarty's extraordinary first novel, a young girl tries to make sense of an unruly world spinning around her. Growing up with a single mother who is chronically out of work and dating a married man, 10-year old Evelyn Bucknow learns early how to fend for herself.
Offering an affecting portrayal of a troubled mother/daughter relationship, one in which the daughter is very often expected to play the role of the adult, the novel also gives readers a searing rendering of the claustrophobia of small town midwestern life, as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl. Evelyn must come to terms with the heartbreaking lesson of first love -- that not all loves are meant to be -- and determine who she is and who she wants to be. Stuck in the middle of Kansas, between best friends, and in the midst of her mother's love, Evelyn finds herself . . . in The Center of Everything." (From Amazon)
A new favourite author. Reminds me of Elizabeth Berg or Anna Quindlen - a great coming of age story
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This is a coming-of-age story that was especially appealing to me as a reader because the main character, Evelyn Bucknow, has to be just about my age. Trying to make sense of the Iran-Contra affair as a child particularly resonated with me. Evelyn is the daughter of a single mom who cut herself off from her Evangelical Christian parents when she became pregnant as a teenager. Evelyn grows up poor and smart in a small isolated Kansas town, and has to navigate the pressures of childhood and adolescence with very little stability or support. I enjoyed Evelyn's thoughtful responses to the world around her and was rooting for her success throughout. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
this is the story of evelyn bucknow, growing up with her single mother in 1980s kansas. they don't have enough money and evelyn's mom becomes pregnant again after sleeping with her married boss. evelyn's grandmother takes her to a conservative church, but she is still falling for the juvenile deliquent who lives in their apartment complex. over the years, evelyn painfully matures into a thoughtful young woman who is bound for better things.
the book could go in teen fiction as well (in fact we have it in teen at my library) but i didn't really see it that way while i was reading. even as she narrates in first person present tense, evelyn seems to be looking back on her life from a more mature perspective, whether she is 10 or 17. the story is a bit slow-moving and rather serious, but beautifully written, albeit without very much humor. because of this, although it captivated my attention on a plane, it's not bound for my favorites pile.
the book could go in teen fiction as well (in fact we have it in teen at my library) but i didn't really see it that way while i was reading. even as she narrates in first person present tense, evelyn seems to be looking back on her life from a more mature perspective, whether she is 10 or 17. the story is a bit slow-moving and rather serious, but beautifully written, albeit without very much humor. because of this, although it captivated my attention on a plane, it's not bound for my favorites pile.
mstjohn813's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
5.0
Entertaining, well-written coming-of-age book set in 1980's Kansas. Moriarty captures the essense of being a teenage girl. Funny and sad, it made me laugh out loud at parts.