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fschulenberg's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Very sweet, thoughtful dialogue and characters. It felt refreshing to read from a child’s perspective - with all the limitations on how that implicates the story and it’s process. I am curious to read more by this author.
knuckledown's review against another edition
5.0
It's interesting to read Elizabeth Berg's novels after consulting her book on "the art of writing true" so many times. Berg certainly knows how to do that. I think what I admire most about her, in fact, is the way she can take the most ordinary, realistic aspects of life and make them beautiful with words. Her metaphors are perfect: subtle, a little odd, but perfect once you think about them.
This is actually the first of the three books about Katie, but I actually read the second and third before Durable Goods. The other books are incredible, but this little book is a gem. It shows where the character of Katie comes from in such a way that it probably would have enhanced my enjoyment of the others to have read it first.
Like The Art of Mending, this book deals with an abusive parent, in this case Katie's father. There is never a long, descriptive passage about him hitting Katie or her sister, but it makes no difference. You feel the fear and also the complex love and pity that they have for their father. That is the power of Berg's writing.
This is actually the first of the three books about Katie, but I actually read the second and third before Durable Goods. The other books are incredible, but this little book is a gem. It shows where the character of Katie comes from in such a way that it probably would have enhanced my enjoyment of the others to have read it first.
Like The Art of Mending, this book deals with an abusive parent, in this case Katie's father. There is never a long, descriptive passage about him hitting Katie or her sister, but it makes no difference. You feel the fear and also the complex love and pity that they have for their father. That is the power of Berg's writing.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Twelve-year-old Katie lives in a small house next to a Texas Army base parade field. Her mother has died. Her 18-year-old sister Diane doesn’t want to be bothered. Her Army colonel father is increasingly distant and demanding. She frequently takes refuge at her best friend Cherylanne’s home next door. Katie watches and compares her family and Cherylanne’s, and she waits – for breasts, for a boyfriend, for an end to math homework, for her father to stop beating her.
This was Berg’s debut novel and was named the 1993 American Library Association Best Book of the Year. The family has several serious issues and each member is left alone to process the grief over the loss of their mother / wife; Katie crawls under her bed to have conversations with her mother. Secretly she hopes this has all been a misunderstanding and that someday her mother will walk back into their lives. All is not grim, however; there is still joy and love in Katie’s life. Her relationship with 14-year-old Cherylanne rings true and reminded me of myself at that age – marveling at the intricate rituals that “ladies” followed when getting ready to go out, eager to try on the mantle of womanhood, nervous that I wouldn’t ever be as pretty or confident as my friend, secretly practicing how I’d talk to that boy who was so cute. I was Katie’s age during the 1960s timeframe of the novel (and growing up in a Texas city with a major Army base), and I’m sure that contributed to my connecting with her, but her coming-of-age story should still resonate with most readers. I fell in love with Katie; she is a keen observer of life, appropriately introspective for her age, sensitive, resilient and courageous. Through her Berg explores the pain of grief, the struggle of growing up, and the power of forgiveness.
Berg is a popular author of women’s contemporary fiction. Most of her works are stand-alone novels, but there are two other novels following Katie into the future: Joy School and True to Form. I read the former several years ago, not realizing it was part of a series until I read TtF a couple of months ago. They are enjoyable even if read out of order, but I do think it would be best to read them in order so as to see Katie’s progress more clearly. She’s a wonderful character, and I would follow her story in yet another novel.
This was Berg’s debut novel and was named the 1993 American Library Association Best Book of the Year. The family has several serious issues and each member is left alone to process the grief over the loss of their mother / wife; Katie crawls under her bed to have conversations with her mother. Secretly she hopes this has all been a misunderstanding and that someday her mother will walk back into their lives. All is not grim, however; there is still joy and love in Katie’s life. Her relationship with 14-year-old Cherylanne rings true and reminded me of myself at that age – marveling at the intricate rituals that “ladies” followed when getting ready to go out, eager to try on the mantle of womanhood, nervous that I wouldn’t ever be as pretty or confident as my friend, secretly practicing how I’d talk to that boy who was so cute. I was Katie’s age during the 1960s timeframe of the novel (and growing up in a Texas city with a major Army base), and I’m sure that contributed to my connecting with her, but her coming-of-age story should still resonate with most readers. I fell in love with Katie; she is a keen observer of life, appropriately introspective for her age, sensitive, resilient and courageous. Through her Berg explores the pain of grief, the struggle of growing up, and the power of forgiveness.
Berg is a popular author of women’s contemporary fiction. Most of her works are stand-alone novels, but there are two other novels following Katie into the future: Joy School and True to Form. I read the former several years ago, not realizing it was part of a series until I read TtF a couple of months ago. They are enjoyable even if read out of order, but I do think it would be best to read them in order so as to see Katie’s progress more clearly. She’s a wonderful character, and I would follow her story in yet another novel.
msarendt's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. The subject matter isn't something that usually appeals to me--a tween and her older sister living on an army base with their abusive father, hoping for a way out--but the writing sucked me in and helped me bond with the characters. To me, that is a mark of a solid writer, when you can enjoy a book outside of the usual realm/genre you like largely because of their skill. I grew to care about Katie, and root for her to run away with her sister and find a better life. I will be reading more from this author!
ilaurin's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Short, little story about coming a young teenage girl who lost her mother and whose father is in the military so moving around. The book was OK but I do not feel compelled to know what happens to Katie so in no hurry to buy the follow up book in the serie.
Short, little story about coming a young teenage girl who lost her mother and whose father is in the military so moving around. The book was OK but I do not feel compelled to know what happens to Katie so in no hurry to buy the follow up book in the serie.
margaretmechinus's review against another edition
4.0
I'm glad I read School of Joy first even those it is the sequel to this novella. It helped to know there is help and hope on the horizon for Katie. I enjoyed both books and the depiction of being an motherless adolescent girl in the 1960s. I could relate.
tracyk22's review against another edition
5.0
Elizabeth Berg writes with an authenticity often unrivaled in her contemporaries. Love her.
meghan111's review against another edition
4.0
One of those books I've carried around since I was 14, hadn't read it in at least a dozen years.