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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Gritty and real. Set in a small mountain town in BC during Avalanche season. Tackles the toll living with mental health issues can have on a family,especially during stressful life events. Some topics explored may not be to everyone's liking, but they enhance the story and make it incredibly realistic. The story alternates between Ruby's point of view, an 8 year old with selective mutism, and her mother's, a woman who struggles with self care and staying on her medication for bi-polar disorder.
It's broken down into three main parts. Before, where we get to know the family and they're closest family friends. During, which starts just a few hours before the Avalanche and covers the Avalanche itself. Followed by After, dealing with the grief and heartache of such staggering loss in a small community. I absolutely recommend this novel, and am looking forward to reading more by Carrie Mac.
It's broken down into three main parts. Before, where we get to know the family and they're closest family friends. During, which starts just a few hours before the Avalanche and covers the Avalanche itself. Followed by After, dealing with the grief and heartache of such staggering loss in a small community. I absolutely recommend this novel, and am looking forward to reading more by Carrie Mac.
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Last Winter is the story of the build up and aftermath of a tragedy that occurs in a small town just outside of Whistler, British Columbia. Told from the perspectives of Ruby, an eight year old girl who is selectively mute and her mother Fiona, a British ex-pat who struggles with Bipolar Disorder, the story delves deep into their shared story through time jumps, flashbacks, and sometimes unreliable narration.
This book was not an easy read both from the perspective of the non-linear timeline, the unreliable adult protagonist, as well as the traumatic and potentially triggering content. A feel-good, light romp this is not. Having said that, I found myself glued to the page and anxious to know what happened next, and whether the two female leads would find the stability that so eluded them.
But the eventual outcome was not the only aspect that kept me reading. I found that the immersion into the thoughts and mind of someone struggling with BPD, written by an author with firsthand knowledge of that struggle, was thoroughly compelling and beautifully crafted. As much as I feel compassion for Ruby, the daughter who needs love and stability, I can also see that Fiona was ill-equipped to provide either to her. I've never thought to wonder how profound a struggling with mental health can be, and now that I am more enlightened by this story, I feel compassion brought on by this unlikeable main character. If you can make it through this literary narrative, the broadened perspective on how different minds work is well worth the harrowing journey.
This book was not an easy read both from the perspective of the non-linear timeline, the unreliable adult protagonist, as well as the traumatic and potentially triggering content. A feel-good, light romp this is not. Having said that, I found myself glued to the page and anxious to know what happened next, and whether the two female leads would find the stability that so eluded them.
But the eventual outcome was not the only aspect that kept me reading. I found that the immersion into the thoughts and mind of someone struggling with BPD, written by an author with firsthand knowledge of that struggle, was thoroughly compelling and beautifully crafted. As much as I feel compassion for Ruby, the daughter who needs love and stability, I can also see that Fiona was ill-equipped to provide either to her. I've never thought to wonder how profound a struggling with mental health can be, and now that I am more enlightened by this story, I feel compassion brought on by this unlikeable main character. If you can make it through this literary narrative, the broadened perspective on how different minds work is well worth the harrowing journey.
I'm conflicted. This book was twisted but compelling.
It mentioned a lot of gross bodily fluid descriptions, and nudity with children and adults the same.
However, the writing was great. Ruby was authentic and well written. Her perspective made sense. Her thoughts were invasive and came through in the text.
As I read the last chapter, I still had hope he'd come through in the end. But those last two sentences took me out... solid 3 stars I think... not entirely sure how I feel. I think I'm in shock. Or it's just 2:30am and should be asleep
It mentioned a lot of gross bodily fluid descriptions, and nudity with children and adults the same.
However, the writing was great. Ruby was authentic and well written. Her perspective made sense. Her thoughts were invasive and came through in the text.
As I read the last chapter, I still had hope he'd come through in the end. But those last two sentences took me out... solid 3 stars I think... not entirely sure how I feel. I think I'm in shock. Or it's just 2:30am and should be asleep
Three stars is a stretch. The concept for a compelling story is there, but the execution wasn’t quite there. Not terrible but not the best.
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 Stars
This was the January read for the bookclub I am in but I didn't read it until now (I missed that bookclub meeting ahha). So I initially just thought that this was a survival book which I was all about and was excited to read. That was not what this was at all. This was more of a “the reader watching from the outside” of a completely dysfunctional family and their friends. And then some of them go hiking/ camping and tragically die in an avalanche. I’m still mad we don’t find out what happened to Gus. I feel like the no closure ending wasn’t great. I maybe thought we would find out that he had made it out but Fiona had done something to him. Which would have been an awesome ending in my books ahha. But alas, it did not so it was just kind of like the “safe/ good” ending. They are quite a few trigger warnings but I feel like I skim over some of those parts if I don’t care to read them.
I’m not sure if I would recommend this book or to who I would recommend it to.
This was the January read for the bookclub I am in but I didn't read it until now (I missed that bookclub meeting ahha). So I initially just thought that this was a survival book which I was all about and was excited to read. That was not what this was at all. This was more of a “the reader watching from the outside” of a completely dysfunctional family and their friends. And then some of them go hiking/ camping and tragically die in an avalanche. I’m still mad we don’t find out what happened to Gus. I feel like the no closure ending wasn’t great. I maybe thought we would find out that he had made it out but Fiona had done something to him. Which would have been an awesome ending in my books ahha. But alas, it did not so it was just kind of like the “safe/ good” ending. They are quite a few trigger warnings but I feel like I skim over some of those parts if I don’t care to read them.
I’m not sure if I would recommend this book or to who I would recommend it to.
Fabulous. I had a hard time reading it. I think it must have been hard to write.