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lisettemarie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
danyabichsel's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Pregnancy
amybartoli29's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, and Grief
Minor: Abortion, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Cancer
marymwest's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Beautiful storytelling by Ann Patchett & exceptional narration by Meryl Streep
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion
lynnegweeny's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- 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
My first Patchett! Oh, to read fiction purely for leisure - it’s been a while. I’d fallen to the pits of the belief that fiction was frivolous and it was only something I was going to indulge in if it had some sort of pay-off. (Like reading romance to understand its bestselling appeal.) Though, to be honest, I picked up this book because I had started a two-person book club with a friend, so I still needed that external motivation.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurebound7's review
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion, Cancer, and Injury/Injury detail
graceandrepeat's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Abortion, and Mental illness
moond4ncer's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
seastheday's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was much better than Dutch House. I thought the story was intriguing enough to follow and want to keep listening to. It’s definitely had its dark moments, but that’s just part of life- nothing the author did was weird or out of the blue for the story. It was a rhythmic read, and I enjoyed hearing the POV’s reflection on her life and choices as well as her daughter’s input/thoughts. It was enjoyable but nothing super special, which is why it’s a 3.5 to me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Abortion, and Forced institutionalization
staceen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Sobbed through the last 50 pages. So sweet and thoughtful, Ann Patchett really is such a queen. Listening to Meryl Streep do the audio was such a treat, but if I’m honest, her cadence got stale about 3/4 through and I switched to the text.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion