Reviews

I like a scrappy protagonist. And that's what Jeannette Walls offers up in Sallie Kincaid.

She's smart. But when the novel opens, she's just a girl unwanted by her stepmother. Which costs her her treasured place by her father's side, her comfortable life, her understanding of who she is as a Kincaid.

Sallie spends the remainder of the novel trying to re-discover who she is, what matters to her, and how to hold onto it. She is mouthy and opinionated, not at all held in place by convention. She is determined to matter just as much as any man in a world that constantly questions her worth. But she's also cognizant that being a woman doesn't exempt her from the corruption that power can unleash.

There's so much in this novel that feels empowering. Sallie is damaged and afraid. But she's constantly trying to be a better person, trying to right wrongs inflicted by her family, trying to create a new way forward.

So why didn't I love Hang the Moon?

There was always something holding me back from fully embracing Sallie Kincaid. Time after time, she was treated unfairly, ignored, cast off, questioned. And I wanted to unabashedly cheer on her success.

But I just wasn't fully invested.

I think, when a character is powerful, vulnerable, and flawed, I need to see more of their emotional vulnerability. I need to know what drives them. What they find beautiful and real in the world. Ultimately, I felt like I never really knew Sallie Kincaid. And that kept me from fully embracing her character and, ultimately, the novel.

brc29's review against another edition

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adventurous dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

alagree's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

genannj's review against another edition

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3.0

I’m really disappointed because people just really talked this book up. I thought it was mediocre and was very bored for parts of the book. I like Walls’ writing style. I felt her book was kind of dry and my mind while reading it. Maybe because I heard such good things, I had really high expectations for the book and they just were not met.

kreiley's review against another edition

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

andrea2384's review against another edition

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adventurous

4.25

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