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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
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?
The unremarkable life of Zorrie Underwood. Even though Zorrie was exposed to radium as a young woman, and suffered consequences afterwards, this story treats it like it's just one of the many ordinary things that happened to her. Nothing matters and time marches on.
an unfortunate low 3. I wanted so much to like this but nothing really stuck with me. I don't mind a story with little to no plot, but either the characters or the writing have to make up for and this did neither. :(
This book was well-written, but I just wasn't a fan of the storyline itself. The climactic part of the book ended up being kind of anti-climactic, and the whole book was paced a bit slow. Upon completion, I just don't feel like I am left with much more than I had at the start of a book (e.g., perspective, knowledge, etc.). I don't think I would recommend, nor would I read it again. I didn't hate the book - it just wasn't for me.
emotional
reflective
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
Oh Zorrie! There are a few books that you connect on every level with and then there are books that are just there to tell an ordinary story of a girl in a small town. Yet these ordinary story take your breath away. You love them, cry for them, get frustrated with them. This masterpiece an epitome for the later. I didn’t relate to Zorrie or Harold or Noah or any character yet they carved out a place in my heart. This book felt so short and long at the same time. I wanted more of Zorrie and Noah and was frustrated with the pacing just as life.
Someone said, “you think you know love and then you read white night” and I wanna raise them to you think you know love then you come across Zorrie and Noah.
Someone said, “you think you know love and then you read white night” and I wanna raise them to you think you know love then you come across Zorrie and Noah.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am a bit conflicted about rating this book. It is a very slow paced look at an individual’s life. If you think about Marilyn Robinson’s work or Stoner, you might get an idea. This, and the lack of incident, will drive some readers mad. So, this book has to be very much driven by character or setting. I can’t say I really felt Zorrie Underwood had much - she was ‘nice’ but not remarkable, nor were her achievements or connections anything much at all. I found the balance between the time and attention given to incidents out of kilter. The time Zorrie spent working with Janie and Marie as Ghost Girls and radium poisoning was given short attention, while the hospital visit was disproportionately detailed in its description. I also found the timeline hard to establish. Was the paragraph break signifying later in the day, year or decades later?
So why does this book merit a place on the bookshelf? Zorrie has her own charm and, I guess, we’ve all met women like her. They don’t seem to have much excitement in their lives, nor do they seek it. They are nice, kind people who make communties work by sharing what they have, being there for lonely neighbours and minding their own businesses. Zorrie is beautifully written. It’s relatively short at under 200 pages but leaves a sound footprint. I can understand why it’s an award winner. The prose is absolutely breathtaking at times.
I must admit, for probably the least attractive cover design I’ve seen, it’s not a book I’d have been drawn to, but if you liked Olive Kitteridge, there’s a chance you’ll enjoy Zorrie.
So why does this book merit a place on the bookshelf? Zorrie has her own charm and, I guess, we’ve all met women like her. They don’t seem to have much excitement in their lives, nor do they seek it. They are nice, kind people who make communties work by sharing what they have, being there for lonely neighbours and minding their own businesses. Zorrie is beautifully written. It’s relatively short at under 200 pages but leaves a sound footprint. I can understand why it’s an award winner. The prose is absolutely breathtaking at times.
I must admit, for probably the least attractive cover design I’ve seen, it’s not a book I’d have been drawn to, but if you liked Olive Kitteridge, there’s a chance you’ll enjoy Zorrie.