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marilynsaul's review against another edition
1.0
The book blurb paints Clara as "memorable" and struggling for "independence". I'm going to guess that whoever wrote that blurb did not mean "memorable" in a good way. As for struggling for "independence" (by being dependent on men), well, that's just fanciful. Manipulative? yes. Phony?
yes. Grasping? yes. Contemptuous of her child? yes. Loving to Revere, or at least liking him, or at least maybe liking him? Your guess is as good as mine, as she is mercurial in her relationships with anyone but herself. Vindictive? well, just check out her opinion when Revere's wife finally dies. I had to take many 1-2 day breaks from this book because I could not find a single character in it that I liked - not a single one. I had to force myself to finish this book, but I'm sorry I wasted my time.
yes. Grasping? yes. Contemptuous of her child? yes. Loving to Revere, or at least liking him, or at least maybe liking him? Your guess is as good as mine, as she is mercurial in her relationships with anyone but herself. Vindictive? well, just check out her opinion when Revere's wife finally dies. I had to take many 1-2 day breaks from this book because I could not find a single character in it that I liked - not a single one. I had to force myself to finish this book, but I'm sorry I wasted my time.
purduerx's review against another edition
3.0
Started out as a mini "Grapes of Wrath" but didn't live up to Steinbeck.
alixiroflife's review against another edition
4.0
- went back and forth about whether to give this four or five stars but ultimately decided on four since i think the tone could be a bit uneven but overall this was excellent. totally fully realized, vividly imagined characters, really great prose with some fantastic glimmers, and fairly well paced
-i think that JCO does such a good job of showing (not telling) the story of intergenerational trauma/memory without hitting you over the head the way that modern writers do, and the gaps between an upwardly mobile family
-clara was such a well-written character and the move away from her POV was so sad and apt
-i think that JCO does such a good job of showing (not telling) the story of intergenerational trauma/memory without hitting you over the head the way that modern writers do, and the gaps between an upwardly mobile family
-clara was such a well-written character and the move away from her POV was so sad and apt
timbo001's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ireadb00ks's review
3.0
well written, drawn out fodder. ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels but the pleasure doesn’t feel so guilty. big fan of lila and clara. “i can pick fuckin lettuce—“
oates using the same stuff in the sixties as her nineties novels. suicide, coming of age, incest, alcoholism, new york, economic disparity. harsh characters in rough settings. works for me.
she’s gotten better at it. You Must Remember This is of no more significance, but stays stronger throughout its too many pages. A Garden of Earthly Delights wanes quickly once clara is penned.
3 stars
oates using the same stuff in the sixties as her nineties novels. suicide, coming of age, incest, alcoholism, new york, economic disparity. harsh characters in rough settings. works for me.
she’s gotten better at it. You Must Remember This is of no more significance, but stays stronger throughout its too many pages. A Garden of Earthly Delights wanes quickly once clara is penned.
3 stars
elisaphant81's review against another edition
1.0
Heartrending drivel with no sense of plot. If this wasn't dressed up as social commentary, it certainly wouldn't be worth a read. I won't be reading a title from this author again.
tcannon's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5