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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-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
I loved this book. I re-read almost immediately after finishing it. Like a House on Fire is a story of new identity, new love and new beginnings. We follow Merit as she comes to terms with the fact that she's unfulfilled in her marriage and has found in her new boss, a person who fills the emptiness in her life left by her husband. Through Merit's eyes we also examine her colleague and love interest, Jane, as a work relationship that always had blurred boundaries morphs into a torrid love affair. I really would have loved to read this story from Jane's POV.
I enjoyed the relationship between Merit and Jane despite the cheating aspect involved in their relationship. Merit's husband was not a bad guy and I believe that stories like these call us to examine the circumstances under which a long term relationship might break up and deal with the complexities of human behaviour and human relationships.
It was a genuine pleasure to watch Merit find her voice and her heart as she navigated her work relationship with Jane. I also enjoyed the epilogue and I believe that given how Merit had carried on during the affair, the ending was the only sensible outcome.
Likely the best work of women's fiction I've read so far this year. A solid 5-star read.
I enjoyed the relationship between Merit and Jane despite the cheating aspect involved in their relationship. Merit's husband was not a bad guy and I believe that stories like these call us to examine the circumstances under which a long term relationship might break up and deal with the complexities of human behaviour and human relationships.
It was a genuine pleasure to watch Merit find her voice and her heart as she navigated her work relationship with Jane. I also enjoyed the epilogue and I believe that given how Merit had carried on during the affair, the ending was the only sensible outcome.
Likely the best work of women's fiction I've read so far this year. A solid 5-star read.
Did this book frustrate me in the best and worst possible ways? Yes. Yes, it did.
Did I consider giving it a 4-star rating because of what McBrayer did to my nerves in chapter 19 and the epilogue? Yes, Yes I did.
Did I immediately realize that I am actually a literary sadist and that this was the literary pain I've been needing to feel for a while? Yes. Yes I did.
Ps. I am not a huge fan of Merit and her metaphors, but I still love (and resent) the story.
Did I consider giving it a 4-star rating because of what McBrayer did to my nerves in chapter 19 and the epilogue? Yes, Yes I did.
Did I immediately realize that I am actually a literary sadist and that this was the literary pain I've been needing to feel for a while? Yes. Yes I did.
Ps. I am not a huge fan of Merit and her metaphors, but I still love (and resent) the story.
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes