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madamstassica's review against another edition
3.0
Talented author. The way she tells the story is quite impressive. She does a fantastic job of sprinkling themes throughout the book for readers to consider and contemplate. A major criticism is the fact that in the "meet the author" pages in the back, the author explicitly says Ken Kimble's character is not a sociopath. If that was her intention, she failed at developing his character. There was nothing about his character that suggested he was anything but.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
5.0
I've read a couple of Haigh's works now, and this one did not disappoint! Jennifer Haigh is one of my favorite writers now!
I love the details that went into the main characters--the three women who became Mrs. Kimble as well as son Charlie. While they are different women, you can see the fragility and insecurity that Mr. Kimble took advantage of. Ken Kimble, had he not been such a cornerstone of their lives, how would the lives of these women turned out? Probably very similar because there is always a different Ken Kimble right around the corner.
Be warned, if you're a plot person, this one may be sluggish for you. It's an excellent character study, though, which makes up for the sluggishness.
You leave the book feeling that the young male characters will not repeat the mistakes of Mr. Kimble because they are choosing different role models. While this novel isn't the classic version of "heartwarming," it does have a few elements.
Excellent!
I love the details that went into the main characters--the three women who became Mrs. Kimble as well as son Charlie. While they are different women, you can see the fragility and insecurity that Mr. Kimble took advantage of. Ken Kimble, had he not been such a cornerstone of their lives, how would the lives of these women turned out? Probably very similar because there is always a different Ken Kimble right around the corner.
Be warned, if you're a plot person, this one may be sluggish for you. It's an excellent character study, though, which makes up for the sluggishness.
You leave the book feeling that the young male characters will not repeat the mistakes of Mr. Kimble because they are choosing different role models. While this novel isn't the classic version of "heartwarming," it does have a few elements.
Excellent!
daybreak1012's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know how I felt about this book. On one hand, it was a fast read. The words flowed, the story didn't lag, the pages turned with ease. But on the other, it was so sad. Not that there's anything that prevents a sad book from being really good. It wasn't that the characters were unlikable, though I didn't ever feel any sort of connection to any of them. I think it was that this book held no redemption. Even the ending, which I think may have tried to shine a little hope in their direction, still felt haunted. I also wish there had been more of an explanation of Ken Kimble. Why he was how he was, and not just a broken trail in his wake, littered with the people whose lives he had used up and discarded. Those two pieces left the book lacking for me, hollow like the inside of Ken Kimble.
mareecrozier's review against another edition
An interesting read - characters keep you drawn into the story.
bookishcat23's review against another edition
3.0
I'd read Haigh's newest book, The Condition, earlier this year. It was an improvement on Mrs. Kimble. Don't get me wrong, this book was good, but in some ways it's hard to like the book because Ken Kimble was such a complete ass. He nearly succeeded in ruining the lives of three women. Of the Mrs. Kimble's, Dinah was my favorite but she still loses some points because she fell for Kimble just like the others. Really, I fail to see the appeal.
marijaskoog's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
weebee27's review against another edition
2.0
What I need to know is the ENDING. REALLY, leave us hanging. I hated the ending. No answers. Read this book waiting for the result/ending never got it. So disappointed. Up until the last page. Would say 3.5 but once I hit the end I would say maybe a 2! Really???? Why!!!!
sbl661's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0