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danyabichsel's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pregnancy
lynnegweeny's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I’d already been a big fan of Ann Patchett for years now through her short stories but this was my first novel of hers. And I LOVED IT. And I’m always in awe of how she tells a story - one that is simple and bare, but with all of the expressions and language carrying the weight of all of untold emotions. The surprise is less in the plot but in the casual unfolding of the story itself because of the very measured reveal. It had always been her style and it’s so effortless - it was just so wonderful to revel in it.
The plot of this book is simple, but there was also so much beneath the surface. How does she make us care? Anyway, it's about a mother telling her three daughters a story of who she was before she became their mother. Mostly about her brief stint as an actress, and romantic dalliance with a larger-than-life movie star. And how that led her to meeting thier father.
It would be pat to reduce this to a ‘love triangle’ because it is not, but there’s a contrast between the types of love you receive from a partner who loves you quietly and earnestly to a partner who loves you with all of the roaring and intense emotions.
That’s all I want to say about the plot because I think the book is so worth experiencing on your own as Patchett takes you on the journey. There’s something so safe and glorious in her masterful unveiling. It’s funny that I’m writing this on Mother’s Day as well because the main character’s role as a mother is also captured so well in this with her relationship with her three daughters. I would say that it's the main theme of this book, plot and mystery and twist aside.
Although Ann Patchett does not have children of her own, I felt like the relationship she has with her readers is one borne out of parental love: ‘Let me show you all the ugly and beautiful parts of life while I stand here solidly reminding you that it is OK to not know, to be confused, and that it’ll hurt but it will all also be solidly OK.’
Isn’t that what being a parent is? I wouldn’t know. But I’d imagine it’s something like this: solid love.
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
moond4ncer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Abortion, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Mental illness
pam_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Misogyny
elenival's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Abortion, and Adult/minor relationship
bella_cavicchi's review
- 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
+1 for showcasing summer stock theatre, what I lovingly call the “wild west” of the theatre industry. My heart! With it always.
Graphic: Infidelity, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Grief, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Medical content
Moderate: Terminal illness, Pregnancy, and Cancer
Minor: Child death and Abortion
thecandiegirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Child death, Vomit, Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Sexual content
marioosa517's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity
Moderate: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Pandemic/Epidemic, Toxic friendship, and Blood
Minor: Abortion, Suicide, Sexism, Racism, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Self harm, Death, Death of parent, Cancer, Excrement, Violence, War, and Sexual content
ressicajicks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Cancer, and Vomit
Moderate: Child death, Alcohol, Terminal illness, Addiction, Drug abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Drug use, Racism, Pregnancy, and Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Abortion
deltadam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, and Drug use