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carlyesue's review against another edition
3.0
Quite enjoyed this. Pretty intense at times and had me in tears. I've always liked Black and Blue by same author so this was a great follow up read of hers.
stephaniesteen73's review against another edition
4.0
Thankful that I finished this book so I don't have to sob any more...absolutely heartbreaking.
off to hug my family!
off to hug my family!
hewittfam5's review against another edition
2.0
This was just an okay book to me. I thought the beginning was slow but then the story got better but after the climax I thought it was slow again. I don't think I had a good connection with the main character.
missyjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
Re-read this without realizing it... does that mean i am getting senile or that absolutely nothing stuck with me from the first reading? I did like a sentence at the very end of the book
Maybe crazy is just the word we use for feelings that will not be contained
Maybe crazy is just the word we use for feelings that will not be contained
novabird's review against another edition
1.0
Does grief trump all responsibility?
Quindlen set up the first half of, “Every Last One,” with the use of a banal tone to paint a picture of normalcy in contrast to the sudden tragedy. To me this was so much a rather obvious structure, that I was forgiving of the author for boring me with the minutia of everyday life and I expected ELO to come to life in writing the after effects of such trauma.
Despite its focus on the mother, Mary Beth, I never get a real sense that she changes or grows as a character. As a matter of fact, she seems to deliberately turn a blind eye on her role
Does grief trump all responsibility? This may have been the underlying question that Quindlen sought to bring to light, but she totally disallows this questioned from being answered. This could have been a much better book had this question been addressed. ELO was a predictable, boring and dissatisfying read. Only because of what Quindlen omits and my seeking to understand why this was the case, gave this book any redeeming features 1
Quindlen set up the first half of, “Every Last One,” with the use of a banal tone to paint a picture of normalcy in contrast to the sudden tragedy. To me this was so much a rather obvious structure, that I was forgiving of the author for boring me with the minutia of everyday life and I expected ELO to come to life in writing the after effects of such trauma.
Despite its focus on the mother, Mary Beth, I never get a real sense that she changes or grows as a character. As a matter of fact, she seems to deliberately turn a blind eye on her role
Spoiler
and impact on Kiernan’s family with her infidelity with Kiernan’s father and her twice refusal to help the Kiernan family; once asked by Kiernan’s mother and the other asked by Kiernan himself. Not to mention, her blindness to seeing the danger to her daughter.Does grief trump all responsibility? This may have been the underlying question that Quindlen sought to bring to light, but she totally disallows this questioned from being answered. This could have been a much better book had this question been addressed. ELO was a predictable, boring and dissatisfying read. Only because of what Quindlen omits and my seeking to understand why this was the case, gave this book any redeeming features 1
bookish_aries337's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lastpaige111's review against another edition
4.0
Depressing. Great characterization. Too much foreshadowing.