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jedman's review against another edition
3.0
Loved the writing style of this author and can’t wait to read any future books of hers. As far as the story goes, it was a unique and interesting plot with a ton of potential, but fell flat at the end. It left me with too many questions about every character and idea.
julibug86's review
3.0
Suggested this book for my book club due to reading some favorable reviews. Not a big fan of books that make the entire story a metaphor, which is the case here. There were many unanswered questions and I would've liked to have a discussion guide. Overall, I'd be interested to read what this author puts out next, but am hopeful that more care is taken than was with this book. There were also a few glaring grammar/spelling errors so it would be great if they ran this through an editor again.
pikasqueaks's review
I felt very weird after reading this. It's one that's probably going to upset you, but it turns it to you to figure out why.
leniece94's review
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is different than what I thought it would be- I saw a lot of reviews say that. And it’s true for me too. Even after I started reading it, and the decay of this family became more and more imminent, I predicted shouting, blowing up at each other, accusations and hurt. I didn’t anticipate each person crumbling in on themselves; more isolated, more lonely, more misunderstood. It was an interesting read, it felt like Charlie was secondary to the things that plagued this family, and I guess that was the intention. I’m walking away with an eerie feeling, like I just watched a family have a very obvious and very tense argument in hushed tones as in their car before they all got out and walked into a chain restaurant to sit down for a quiet dinner
corganrowan's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tbabyc's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
rglossner's review
3.0
For the first hundred or so pages, I could not put this down. Then the inexplicable reaction of Laurel, the mother, to Charlie, the chimp, began to be a problem for me. Her attachment to Charlie is one of the engines that drive this story, and if you don't believe that she uprooted her family, ignores her daughters, and becomes estranged from her husband in order to become a surrogate mother to a chimpanzee, then the family story stops working. I did think that the flashback to Nymphadora in 1929 was well done, and helps the reader understand the not-so-subtle racism inherent in the experiments at the Toneybee. And the tragedy of Callie, the younger daughter whose life is stunted by her mother's withdrawal, is haunting. I want to read more from this author.