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itsjustkiwi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
jlfsutcliffe's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Suicide
robyn1998's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
This was an interesting memoir but I don't really get why other reviews talk about how clever it is? Isn't it just a memoir with names changed and some photos included? Maybe listening to it as an audiobook took away some of the magic for me?
I did enjoy it, especially the relationship between the sisters, but it felt really detached at times. Reminded me a bit of The Idiot by Elif Batuman, and not in a good way.
I did enjoy it, especially the relationship between the sisters, but it felt really detached at times. Reminded me a bit of The Idiot by Elif Batuman, and not in a good way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Chronic illness, and Suicide attempt
gothicbirdhouse's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Self harm
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcoholism
hollyp20's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicide, and Vomit
katerina_l's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
jhartsoe's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Suicide, Self harm, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts
jouljet's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Suicide, and Mental illness
amyvl93's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Compared to other books I've read so far on the longlist, Homesick felt like a much quieter read, but I found a lot to like in here.
Homesick follows the relationship between two sisters - the older Amy and younger Zoe, the whose recurring illnesses means that the girls are home schooled. This is a novel with an interesting history, it has previously been published as a memoir of Jennifer's very real childhood - complete with photos; and has now been re-released as a novel. Having not read the memoir, I can't comment on how much has been fictionalised, but I found this look at growing up really affecting. Amy is naturally good at and interested in languages - creating a language to use to communicate with Zoe away from their parents, which Zoe is disinterested in. Through the means of ice skating, the girls become fascinated with Russia and Ukraine respectively, and their crushes on their language tutor Sasha is a turning point for their relationship.
As I said, a quieter more reflective entry on the Women's Prize longlist - I really liked this book which bought to mind previous reads like Educated. Would highlight that this book does feature self-harm and suicide which I hadn't seen mentioned elsewhere, and plays a pivotal role in the novel.
Homesick follows the relationship between two sisters - the older Amy and younger Zoe, the whose recurring illnesses means that the girls are home schooled. This is a novel with an interesting history, it has previously been published as a memoir of Jennifer's very real childhood - complete with photos; and has now been re-released as a novel. Having not read the memoir, I can't comment on how much has been fictionalised, but I found this look at growing up really affecting. Amy is naturally good at and interested in languages - creating a language to use to communicate with Zoe away from their parents, which Zoe is disinterested in. Through the means of ice skating, the girls become fascinated with Russia and Ukraine respectively, and their crushes on their language tutor Sasha is a turning point for their relationship.
As I said, a quieter more reflective entry on the Women's Prize longlist - I really liked this book which bought to mind previous reads like Educated. Would highlight that this book does feature self-harm and suicide which I hadn't seen mentioned elsewhere, and plays a pivotal role in the novel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Self harm
helen_t_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Sisters Amy and Zoe grow up in Oklahoma where they are homeschooled because Zoe has frequent seizures. Whilst Zoe’s childhood is dominated by medication, surgery and frequent hospital visits, Amy flourishes intellectually, and becomes an autodidact. Her flair for languages, a thirst for knowledge, and an inquisitiveness about the world offer her respite from her sister’s illness, and further distraction is provided when she develops unrequited feelings for Sasha, her Russian tutor. However, when Amy takes up a university place at only 15 her life changes drastically.
Amy’s passion is photography, and this novel is constructed like a series of snapshots or vignettes from her life: very short chapters with detailed headings reading like captions in a photo album. It is semi-autobiographical and interestingly the American edition contained a number of accompanying photos, which the English edition does not include (at the author’s request I believe?).
The length of this novel (219 pages) and its short chapters make this a very quick read.
It is a coming of age novel portraying both an intense sibling relationship, and Croft’s love of languages (she went on to forge a highly successful career as a translator). Given its title, there is also an interesting exploration of the nature and meaning of ‘homesick’ness: Zoe remains sick at home, whilst Amy goes off to University at a young age and clearly misses her home, and her sister, especially, descending into depression and self-harm.
There is an air of detachment about the narrative which dampens the possibility of a deep emotional connection, and its tone is quite childlike, but, as Amy ages, this fades. It has far more depth than its tone would initially suggest.
For me, part two, which comes quite late in the novel, was too rushed, but, overall it is a thought-provoking read - the kind that could well keep popping into your head once it is finished.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Mental illness and Self harm