Reviews

This was a tough read for many reasons. The first was the content of the story. It was hard to imagine the way these 2 sisters became on their own. It was hard to imagine their living conditions. It was hard to imagine that they were able to do some of the things that they did.

The other thing that I struggled with was the language. I did not realize where the story was based until I did some searching around the author's website. I think that if I had known that the story was based in Scotland, I would not have been as confused by the slang and the overall flow of the book.

For these reasons I have given this one 3 out of 5 stars. Many thanks to Harper Collins Publishing and edelweiss for this Advance Readers Copy.

emilyegallagher's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rjdenney's review

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5.0

Easily one of my favorite books of 2013.
A book hasn't made me cry since TFIOS.
BOOK THOUGHTS TO COME.

celjla212's review

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5.0

Fifteen year old Marnie and twelve year old Nelly are sisters who've managed to get through life up to this point, even though the parental guidance they have had so far has been sorely lacking. One day, the girls come home to find their father dead, and their mother takes her own life after. The sisters know that if it is discovered they are orphans, they will be taken away and probably separated from each other...so they hide the bodies in their own backyard.

Somehow, the girls find an unlikely companion in elderly next door neighbor Lennie. His loneliness and their need to be cared for are a perfect match. But things can never just go smoothly. Between the girls' acting out and appearances from people they'd rather forget, the following year becomes tumultuous. Marnie and Nelly will discover that it's best for secrets, like bodies, to stay buried.

Whew...I had to take a moment after finishing this book to get my thoughts and my emotions together. And it wasn't the first time--while reading, I had to stop a few times because things were getting so intense. But I had to keep turning the pages to know what would happen to the girls.

This novel was rich with deeply flawed, but deeply human characters that you couldn't help but connect with. Marnie is the older sister, and vacillates between periods of hovering over Nelly to take care of her, and neglecting her for days at a time while out on drinking and drug binges. She confuses sex and love, and the way she treats herself is heart-wrenching. Nelly is younger, quieter; she tries to act like horrible things are not happening, and has protected herself with odd habits such as an affected manner of speech, eating the same thing for breakfast every day, and playing violin. Lennie is a gay man, a homebody who rarely leaves the house but has a past he's ashamed of. The story is told from all three characters' points of view.

The girls' parents were drunks and addicts who never cared for them, didn't worry if they had enough to eat, and emotionally, physically, and possibly sexually abused them. So needless to say, their presence was not missed at all in the household. I imagine the girls had a fleeting moment of freedom, then panic when they realized that even though they never really had parents, their physical proximity was necessary so the girls did not become wards of Scotland. I can't say I completely agree with the decision to bury the bodies in the backyard; but I understand Marnie's thought process. Besides, what else could a 15 year old who loves her sister do?

The story-writing itself took a little while for me to get into. All three characters have a particular way of speaking, so it wasn't hard to tell them apart. But the bulk of the novel is told by Marnie, and her parts tended to consist of long sentences, some of them constructing an entire paragraph. There are also a lot of Scottish (UK?) slang words that I came across and didn't understand. It wasn't that difficult to figure out most things from context, though.

The final 50 pages of this book moved so quickly and my heart was flying right along with them. I thought the ending was absolutely perfect, and I sincerely hope that Marnie and Nelly have stellar futures ahead of them. This novel was a superb break from my usual reading fare.

labunnywtf's review

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4.0

It took me far too long to finish this book.

I had serious issues with the slang. Being an ignorant American, I said originally it was British, when it's actually Scottish. Which explains completely why I was so confused. I have a slightly better understanding of British slang.

This book is a fucker. That is the best descriptor I can use. You think you see things coming, and then you get slapped from an entirely different direction. And it's painful.

I bounced from liking to disliking Nelly. I felt bad for her, then annoyed with her. I didn't like Marnie at all even one infinitesimal bit in the beginning, and then your heart just bleeds. Eventually, you find you are bleeding from your pores for the both of them.

And Lennie. God, I can't even talk about Lennie.

This is a real fucker of a book. And I just...I don't even know that I can recommend it. It's beautiful, and painful, and sharp edged. So worth the read, but so wrenching.

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Favorite librarian recommended this to me, by telling me the opening bit about "It's Christmas Eve." I got goosebumps like crazy, and promptly turned around to go find the book in the stacks.

Lots of British slang so far, hoping I can keep up.

wamz's review

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5.0

Second read was even better than the first. Dark and ridiculously funny. Beautiful and so engrossing. Will forever be a favorite.

kplovesstories's review

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4.0

Such a brilliantly quirky and bittersweet coming of age story! Loved all of the main characters.

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