Scan barcode
auroraboringallofus's review against another edition
2.0
This book just never took off for me. For a short book, it was a slog, and the characters and stories just seemed distantly and casually told. I'm sure it deserves its awards and I could see all the mechanics of meaning and metaphor, but I was frustratingly unmoved.
titrateinconvenience's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
racheyra's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story about families, and how those connections shape us, and how we aren't always our best selves when we're with our families. The novel tells the story of Anne Quick, an elderly woman who will have to soon move from her sheltered accommodation into a nursing home, despite the efforts of the residence's warden and a neighbor who keeps a close and caring eye on her, fascinated by Anne's career as a professional photographer in New York. It's a far different life than that of retired women living in a small seaside town near Glasgow. But the novel is also about Maureen, a woman who is caring and diligent when she's with Anne, but despite her best intentions, difficult and tense around her own children and grandchildren. And it's about Luke Campbell, Anne's grandson, who is serving in the military in Afghanistan and watching his commanding officer fall apart. As the threads of the relationships draw them together, Luke wants to take Anne on one final trip to her beloved Blackpool, to see the famous illuminations one last time.
This is one of those deceptively quiet novels, revolving as it does around the memories of an elderly woman, but that stillness hides a powerful story of war and how we shape our stories. The Illuminations very much deserves its place on the Booker longlist. The writing and the intricate shape of the story are both very fine.
This is one of those deceptively quiet novels, revolving as it does around the memories of an elderly woman, but that stillness hides a powerful story of war and how we shape our stories. The Illuminations very much deserves its place on the Booker longlist. The writing and the intricate shape of the story are both very fine.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
This audiobook intrigued me more than I thought it would as at the moment often just have brain power to focus on lighter, exciting or sexier read but sometimes a story comes along that surprise me. I can't pint pont exactly what I enjoyed with this one but the writing was compelling
bookherd's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this novel about an elderly woman whose journey into dementia allows her daughter, scarred from a difficult childhood, and grandson, recovering from a harrowing experience as a soldier in the Iraq War, to gain some understanding about their family history. This isn't a story with a neatly tied in a bow redemption ending or cozy, feel-good cliches about forgiveness and healing. All the main characters have had terrible difficulties to deal with, and the problems they now face are so recognizable as problems that ordinary people have to manage. The story manages to show the movement of a small amount of grace into the life of this struggling family, and the sense of wonder that can come with it.
That's pretty vague, but I don't want to give anything away by providing detail. Suffice it to say, I appreciated this author's attention to the details of conversation in contexts from the retirement home to the battlefield. Descriptions of the crowds at a Blackpool festival and of the details of armoured vehicles were equally well attended to. This book is worth reading.
That's pretty vague, but I don't want to give anything away by providing detail. Suffice it to say, I appreciated this author's attention to the details of conversation in contexts from the retirement home to the battlefield. Descriptions of the crowds at a Blackpool festival and of the details of armoured vehicles were equally well attended to. This book is worth reading.
pearloz's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. It was a bit sentimental and, frankly, after reading Redeployment by Phil Klay, the war/battle sections of the novel left something to be desired. Still, a sweet novel, and unexpectedly touching at times.
jennahazzard's review against another edition
3.0
The true rating is 3.5 stars.
This book examined a really interesting family dynamic, that was altered by Alzheimer's. I really enjoyed that part of the book, and I thought the ending came together quite beautifully. However, the middle did lag a little bit, and I personally wasn't as interested in the military sections, which is why this book gets 3.5 stars.
This book examined a really interesting family dynamic, that was altered by Alzheimer's. I really enjoyed that part of the book, and I thought the ending came together quite beautifully. However, the middle did lag a little bit, and I personally wasn't as interested in the military sections, which is why this book gets 3.5 stars.
sedge's review against another edition
3.0
The first 150 pages very very mid. The last 150 pages made up for the midness of the first 150 pages.
gorecki's review against another edition
3.0
A nice, straightforward book without fireworks or any twists and surprises. A nice book to pass the time, but I'm not sure what one of the central characters' story had to add to the whole thing.