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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
This book is a hard one for me to rate. I can appreciate the book is well written, but I did not like it. The entire premise of the book is also one I find hard to believe, having worked with children for my entire career, I find the main event implausible to say the least.
I don’t understand the purpose of writing a book where every single character is broken and I didn’t find the ending to leave me with an exceptional amount of hope…though there was some. Plus there were several scenes that I just found out of place..the dog.. not sure if I’ll read anything more by this author. If you don’t mind being depressed for 3947393 pages, go for it. As for me, I’m going to find something lighter to read next to remind me not everything in the world is so bleak.
I don’t understand the purpose of writing a book where every single character is broken and I didn’t find the ending to leave me with an exceptional amount of hope…though there was some. Plus there were several scenes that I just found out of place..the dog.. not sure if I’ll read anything more by this author. If you don’t mind being depressed for 3947393 pages, go for it. As for me, I’m going to find something lighter to read next to remind me not everything in the world is so bleak.
My choice for book club this month - I had been wanting to read another story set in the pnw, and this was what we went for. I won't say I loved this book in particular, but I found it to be an easy listen on audiobook. I was able to visualize Chimacum, Port Angeles, Bremerton...all of it, which was fun. Definitely a story about human connection.
interesting concept but was so boring i couldn’t keep up with reading it
Just when you think you’ve “heard it all before” with a novel like this one, it cuts a little deeper and takes the discussion to a deeper and more genuine - more human - level. What an appealing debut. This would be a fascinating one to discuss with a group, because it asks a lot of questions. While mystery is at its core, this is quite the unforgettable story of loss and anger; but hope, courage, and forgiveness too. This carries many intimate, quiet, and/or reflective scenes that never lose their strength as well.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m just struggling with library books lately, I would try reading this book again in the future.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
This book tore me to shreds. Reviewers who gave it a low rating are boring and heartless.
Ok, the book - so I really enjoyed the story. You have two boys dead, a pregnant girl and one of those boys is probably the baby daddy. Some mystery, some drama, some hearts finding their way to love and forgiveness. Sounds like a recipe for success right? So why didn't I give it 5 stars? Because at the very end of the book (and I was fine with the ending...) the author puts this epilogue that made absolutely no sense to me. For me that epilogue was pointless and really took away from the book. In fact, it frustrated me so badly I actually threw my book off the bed. (Yes you can call me childish, but it ticked me off) You have this great story and then just kill the readers high I was on. I would still recommend this book, just leave off the epilogue.
For all the tenderness and grace that fills this finely drawn family drama, I can’t help but feel I’ve read this story before. Plainsong by Kent Haruf? Plus one of the many fictional explorations of violence among young men, like We Need to Talk about Kevin? Perhaps a worthy entry into the literary fiction shelf of the library, but it wasn’t necessary reading for me.