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heddywheddy's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Decent read for background noise but this book doesn’t have much a plot or climax. It’s more of take of man’s inner monologue on his daily tasks as a retired and aging patriarch
jenna_cross's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a dear, sweet story. The retirement that Henry and his wife, Emily, are living is my absolute dream retirement. A comfortable home, holidays with family, a simple summer lake house to escape to, and a schedule all their own. I loved following along with the comings and goings of the family members. The different ways they each interacted with Henry and Emily, either on the phone or in person, was so true to life. Truly wonderful portrayal of a family from the aging parent’s viewpoint.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.0
Not knowing this is the third in a series (although it's a very loose series, not sure why I'm saying that because I've only read this one), I enjoyed this novel.
1. It has an Olive Kitteridge, vignette vibe. I really like Olive Kitteridge and am super excited for the second book to come out. It's a compliment!
2. I'm loving books about older people. Is it because I'm "old" myself now? I hope not. I just enjoy the pace and reflection of novels with older characters. Henry lives with his wife Emily, and they have two children Margaret and Kenny who now have their own families. Not much in the way of plot happens in this novel, so if you are motivated by plot, you'll want to skip this.
3. I'm from Pittsburgh. But there's not a whole lot about Pittsburgh that I identified with beyond the Giant Eagle grocery chain and that fancy restaurant you have to take a cable car to. Perhaps my family lived a much different (poorer) life. It was hard to get a sense of the socioeconomic level of these characters. They had a second home, but on the other hand they fretted about $100 repair bills. I understand some of that is generational based on when they were younger.
4. I believe the other two novels in the series are from Emily's perspective. It will be interesting to obtain her perspective. I found it interesting that Henry's perspective involved an ex-girlfriend named Sloan. Will be interested to see if Emily has such tales from her past.
1. It has an Olive Kitteridge, vignette vibe. I really like Olive Kitteridge and am super excited for the second book to come out. It's a compliment!
2. I'm loving books about older people. Is it because I'm "old" myself now? I hope not. I just enjoy the pace and reflection of novels with older characters. Henry lives with his wife Emily, and they have two children Margaret and Kenny who now have their own families. Not much in the way of plot happens in this novel, so if you are motivated by plot, you'll want to skip this.
3. I'm from Pittsburgh. But there's not a whole lot about Pittsburgh that I identified with beyond the Giant Eagle grocery chain and that fancy restaurant you have to take a cable car to. Perhaps my family lived a much different (poorer) life. It was hard to get a sense of the socioeconomic level of these characters. They had a second home, but on the other hand they fretted about $100 repair bills. I understand some of that is generational based on when they were younger.
4. I believe the other two novels in the series are from Emily's perspective. It will be interesting to obtain her perspective. I found it interesting that Henry's perspective involved an ex-girlfriend named Sloan. Will be interested to see if Emily has such tales from her past.
runkefer's review against another edition
3.0
Male Anne Tyler meets geriatric Karl Ove Knausgaard.
I was honestly a bit mystified by this book. I’ve liked O’Nan’s work for quite a while, and then the most recent books have gotten quite quiet, meaning not much happens and they’re very interior. This isn’t necessarily bad, but a 12-hour audio book inside the head of a 75-year-old white guy from Pittsburgh isn’t riveting. There didn’t seem to be any greater purpose to the minutely detailed descriptions of golf, old-guy workbench fiddling, etc. Even Anne Tyler doesn’t have her characters ruminate over each ingredient and step of a recipe while they’re cooking. Did I miss something profound here?
I was honestly a bit mystified by this book. I’ve liked O’Nan’s work for quite a while, and then the most recent books have gotten quite quiet, meaning not much happens and they’re very interior. This isn’t necessarily bad, but a 12-hour audio book inside the head of a 75-year-old white guy from Pittsburgh isn’t riveting. There didn’t seem to be any greater purpose to the minutely detailed descriptions of golf, old-guy workbench fiddling, etc. Even Anne Tyler doesn’t have her characters ruminate over each ingredient and step of a recipe while they’re cooking. Did I miss something profound here?
thebookofnicole's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: 3.75 (?)
An incredible story about ordinary people. Henry and his family are all extremely normal people — but that is what is so interesting about this. Henry is a grandfather, just turning 75, and his story is about the repetitiveness and fear of being older and a veteran and an all around extremely selfless man. The third person narrator goes through the life of Henry and his family in an incredible charming way, and there was hardly a minute that I was not into reading this.
I was worried I would not enjoy such a blatant character study type of book. I am usually a plot driven kind of gal, but Stewart O'Nan had a way of making every page memorable, of every scene palpable, and every character so realistic. It felt as if I was reading my grandparent's own thoughts, to the point that I will definitely see them differently from here out.
I would definitely recommend this book! It's sweet and heartwarming, and reading it made me feel as though I was walking next to Henry and Emily, a grandparent in my own right. Though I did not mind it entirely and understood the message that it was meant to sent, the repetitiveness of him explaining his tools did get a bit droll at times, and the lack of plot (though justified) pulled me from the story a bit!
An incredible story about ordinary people. Henry and his family are all extremely normal people — but that is what is so interesting about this. Henry is a grandfather, just turning 75, and his story is about the repetitiveness and fear of being older and a veteran and an all around extremely selfless man. The third person narrator goes through the life of Henry and his family in an incredible charming way, and there was hardly a minute that I was not into reading this.
I was worried I would not enjoy such a blatant character study type of book. I am usually a plot driven kind of gal, but Stewart O'Nan had a way of making every page memorable, of every scene palpable, and every character so realistic. It felt as if I was reading my grandparent's own thoughts, to the point that I will definitely see them differently from here out.
I would definitely recommend this book! It's sweet and heartwarming, and reading it made me feel as though I was walking next to Henry and Emily, a grandparent in my own right. Though I did not mind it entirely and understood the message that it was meant to sent, the repetitiveness of him explaining his tools did get a bit droll at times, and the lack of plot (though justified) pulled me from the story a bit!
tbrigham's review against another edition
4.0
I had originally rated this book a 3 star, but had to go back to change it to a 4 star. Since finishing it months ago, I have found myself circling back to the story, specifically to Henry’s character. I feel like I knew him and have been wanting to read through it again to revisit the character.
katie_killebrew's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe it’s because I’m a 93 year old at heart, but I just love books about old(er) people and nothing/everything. This book just plods along, an aging man living his life, reflecting on things big and small, and I enjoyed every page.
lump's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
cwparrish's review against another edition
3.0
Slow start (maybe I should say just a slow read all the way through), but a pleasant read with likable characters. A few chuckles throughout.