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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
4.5 stars. Do not read this book unless you are prepared to devour it in one sitting. I could not put it down. Like many of her other books, in this one, Moriarty begins the novel by telling us something Very Bad has happened, but the big reveal doesn’t come until about 2/3 of the way through the book. The complex cast of characters each brings their own complicity to the Very Bad Thing, and we get to see it through many perspectives. Sure, there are a lot of predictable tropes in this book, but they all make for a really entertaining and enjoyable read.
I really love Moriarty but 200 hundred pages would have been quite enough!
Wederom een ontzettend knap in elkaar vervlochten boek waaraan ik me na 200 pagina's bijna ging ergeren zo graag wilde ik snappen hoe het in elkaar zat!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Grief
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
I think this is an unfortunate title for the novel--it suggests dramatic personae (perhaps theater folk), it suggests a murder mystery--in fact, it suggests dinner theater. Having never read a Liane Moriarty book, I didn't have any point of reference other than the blurbs and the title, so I found it difficult to settle on a reading expectation--I was trying to pick out little clues at the beginning, reading much more into personalities than I needed to.
The book is set up to indicate a disaster, and the time frame switches from before to after the disaster, which is revealed about halfway through. Even when revealed, the depth of its repercussions are not clear for another long stretch. So the suspense is well-played.
However, I found that as I passed the point at which I knew what had happened and what the major implications were, I was finally able to care about the characters, and to believe in them as they were presented. The last 1/4 of the book was more satisfying to me than the rest for this reason.
So what is this book really about? It's about the repercussions of one's childhood on one's adult personality; it's about the way that a marriage can be tested; it's about how resentment breeds guilt, and what guilt breeds; it's about how kindness breeds gratitude, and what gratitude breeds (sometimes resentment).
This is a medium-weight book, leaning a little to the lightweight.
The book is set up to indicate a disaster, and the time frame switches from before to after the disaster, which is revealed about halfway through. Even when revealed, the depth of its repercussions are not clear for another long stretch. So the suspense is well-played.
However, I found that as I passed the point at which I knew what had happened and what the major implications were, I was finally able to care about the characters, and to believe in them as they were presented. The last 1/4 of the book was more satisfying to me than the rest for this reason.
So what is this book really about? It's about the repercussions of one's childhood on one's adult personality; it's about the way that a marriage can be tested; it's about how resentment breeds guilt, and what guilt breeds; it's about how kindness breeds gratitude, and what gratitude breeds (sometimes resentment).
This is a medium-weight book, leaning a little to the lightweight.
Usually her characters are flawed but likeable. There were no characters that I wanted to spend time with.
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley.
I've heard so many positive reviews about Liane Moriarty's previous two books, but haven't picked one up. The style of revealing tidbits of information through different times and perspectives intrigued me, but I found it slow and sometimes didn't realise we were back in the present day until several paragraphs in.
I enjoyed getting to the detail of what happened, and the personal fighting desire to skip to the 'day of the barbecue' chapter instead of reading it as it was meant to be read, I thought the story was compelling & interesting but not unputdownable.
I've heard so many positive reviews about Liane Moriarty's previous two books, but haven't picked one up. The style of revealing tidbits of information through different times and perspectives intrigued me, but I found it slow and sometimes didn't realise we were back in the present day until several paragraphs in.
I enjoyed getting to the detail of what happened, and the personal fighting desire to skip to the 'day of the barbecue' chapter instead of reading it as it was meant to be read, I thought the story was compelling & interesting but not unputdownable.