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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
An intimate glimpse into a simple life of beauty, pain, and perseverance. I felt such a deep wisdom in the poetic prose, in the illustration of companionship with earth and the fragility of human existence. This is indeed a spiritual reading experience.
This book was so good. I didn't want it to end, but at the same time, part of what was lovely about it was how short it was. I felt like I got all the best parts possible reading it. And I really got to know this small and endearing cast of characters well, and the Indiana farms felt like a character in itself. If you are looking for a book that is quiet, beautifully observant, and ultimately life-affirming, I can't recommend this one enough.
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Some of the writing is beautiful, but the book overall didn't click for me. I wanted to love Zorrie as a character but just didn't feel like I could crack the nut. Might have just been me as a reader.
I picked this up because Chelsey Feder listed this as "5 books to read if you loved 'Tom Lake’” It was a perfect comp. This slim novel was quiet, introspective, and full of simple pleasures. It was a slice-of-life story about a very ordinary yet poignantly beautiful life.
This is a very well written book. It may be a bit too internal (from the POV of the main character for some), but has a quiet sweetness to the story.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"She had the flu one year, three colds the next, and then wasn't sick the following two" (79).
It seems so simple, but I love the various way the author passes time in this story. Additionally, and more importantly, his writing is poignant and beautiful - up there with the best of the melancholy. Initially, the writing felt sweet and simple, though not necessarily moving, but then chapter IV hits and his descriptions are breathtaking. How does writing from the same author in the same book make such a drastic shift?
Zorrie's vulnerability and strength are endearing, as is the way she cares about the people in her life, even her aunt who "had been wildly deficient as a maternal substitute" (136). It's a special thing to get to know a life story, even one that's fictional; it gives the reader an opportunity to contemplate his or her own life and the moments and people that matter.
I appreciate the inclusion of the Radium Girls as well. I love when an author takes a small, possibly not widely known, piece of history and weaves it through an entire story: "...the plant where they had sucked on candy and painted their clock faces and pointed their brushes and blown kisses at their future doom..." (90).
It seems so simple, but I love the various way the author passes time in this story. Additionally, and more importantly, his writing is poignant and beautiful - up there with the best of the melancholy. Initially, the writing felt sweet and simple, though not necessarily moving, but then chapter IV hits and his descriptions are breathtaking. How does writing from the same author in the same book make such a drastic shift?
Zorrie's vulnerability and strength are endearing, as is the way she cares about the people in her life, even her aunt who "had been wildly deficient as a maternal substitute" (136). It's a special thing to get to know a life story, even one that's fictional; it gives the reader an opportunity to contemplate his or her own life and the moments and people that matter.
I appreciate the inclusion of the Radium Girls as well. I love when an author takes a small, possibly not widely known, piece of history and weaves it through an entire story: "...the plant where they had sucked on candy and painted their clock faces and pointed their brushes and blown kisses at their future doom..." (90).
Zorrie’s life isn’t exciting. It isn’t particularly remarkable in any way. It was like most of our lives. Normal, marked with moments of grief, joy, frustration, and anger. A book like this, about a simple woman just living her imperfect life, always runs the risk of falling flat. But the author did such a beautiful job of telling her story. It flowed gently and pulled you right into Zorrie’s life. It was so utterly normal it could have been any of ours. And maybe that’s why it felt so profound to me. Because if Zorrie’s life was worth telling about, then aren’t all of ours?