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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
I listened to this book and the narrator earned this book the forth star. Hilderbrand is an author who turns out a decent story which translates well to an audio format.
The setting of Nantucket is what keeps bringing me back to her stories. Therese Plummer brings each of the characters to life making an otherwise run of the mill book into a delightful listening experience.
"Beautiful Day'' is reminiscent of Maggie Shipstead's "Seating Arrangements'', a wedding on a island with the book taking place over the course of the weekend. Jenna has been left "The Notebook" with her late mother's instructions for her wedding and the story is interwoven with this letter from mother to daughter.
In the hands of Plummer, a device that could come off manipulative or controlling is rendered a very sweet legacy from a loving mother. I will definitely look for other audiobooks read by Therese Plummer.
--Reviewed by Haley
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbeautiful%20day%20hilderbrand__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
The setting of Nantucket is what keeps bringing me back to her stories. Therese Plummer brings each of the characters to life making an otherwise run of the mill book into a delightful listening experience.
"Beautiful Day'' is reminiscent of Maggie Shipstead's "Seating Arrangements'', a wedding on a island with the book taking place over the course of the weekend. Jenna has been left "The Notebook" with her late mother's instructions for her wedding and the story is interwoven with this letter from mother to daughter.
In the hands of Plummer, a device that could come off manipulative or controlling is rendered a very sweet legacy from a loving mother. I will definitely look for other audiobooks read by Therese Plummer.
--Reviewed by Haley
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbeautiful%20day%20hilderbrand__Orightresult__U1?lang=eng&suite=pearl
Really sweet story.
Love the Nantucket details added into the wedding.
Love the Nantucket details added into the wedding.
2.5 stars
This novel is a lot like a wedding: breathless pace, lots of people you barely know, lots going on, drama, behavior that normally wouldn't be accepted. Hilderbrand is known for Nantucket stories, but this one could have been set anywhere. If you are looking for a novel where the island is a character, this isn't it. This is a family drama, and all of the stock wedding characters are in place.
This novel is a lot like a wedding: breathless pace, lots of people you barely know, lots going on, drama, behavior that normally wouldn't be accepted. Hilderbrand is known for Nantucket stories, but this one could have been set anywhere. If you are looking for a novel where the island is a character, this isn't it. This is a family drama, and all of the stock wedding characters are in place.
To be honest this book wasn't that great for me. I have never read a book by Elin Hilderbrand, so I thought I would give it a chance. I wasn't blown away by her writing style or the story of this book.
This book turned me off from the get-go. I didn't think this was a good execution of the premise. The book is supposed to be a dying mother writing advice to her daughter about her wetting. The mother completely dominated the wedding and it felt like the main character Jenna was forced into the wedding. I felt like this might be something she would regret later in life. I disliked that the readers are forced to feel things. We are supposed to feel sentimental and happy about the dying mother. We are supposed to love the wedding and think its adorable that she is planning her daughter's wedding from the grave. I just felt like the mother was very manipulative in the way she presented things. Her advice was supposed to be just suggestions but they were surrounded by a guilt trip.
I felt sorry for the character of Pauline. I don't think what she did was right but I didn't think that everyone's punishment was right. I think at least until the end I could see why she read the Notebook. I could understand why she felt left out, not that she should have been included but they could have shared more than her. I just felt like people didn't like her because she wasn't Beth the dead wife.
Another thing that bothered me was the gay representation. It was stereotypical and almost done as if the author just wanted her books to be diverse. The author kept describing Jethro as "Ryan's boyfriend" throughout the entire book. Not just a once like the other couples, it felt singled out and weird.
This book is extremely boring. I just kept thinking when will this book end? I think the drama got old for me around the halfway point. The drama just ended up being a let down after all the ridiculous build-up and hype. I just wish some of the drama was just downplayed a little.
Picked this up at the library on a whim. It was soul-less and boring and none of the characters were all that interesting. I'm surprised I finished it.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Every family is happy in their own fashion, and every family is unhappy in their own fashion. Every family is both functional and dysfunctional.”
As I have said before, summer isn’t summer without Elin Hilderbrand and every summer vacation starts with an Elin novel. This particular one had been sitting on my shelf for some time now. I usually love Elin’s novels but this one was tough. First of all, there were so many characters that their placement and relationships were hard to keep track of. Secondly, none of the main characters were particularly likable and the Nantucket privilege and elitism were hard to overlook in this novel. The idea of a dying mother leaving a notebook of ideas and suggestions for her daughter’s wedding seems sweet but in reality, was quite controlling (dysfunctional) until the very last sweet page that did bring tears to my eyes.
“I am grateful for all the blessings I have been given, especially my strong, bright, beautiful children. But my family begins and ends with your father who has sustained me for 35 years with his devotion and infinite kindness. He did two things for me every single day of our marriage: he made me laugh, and he was my friend. How lucky, how very lucky, I have been.”
As I write this review and reflect, the first quote really does sum the novel up pretty well- every family is happy and unhappy, functional and dysfunctional and when two families come together, chaos can ensue. Overall, this was not my favorite Elin novel but I will keep looking forward to her next!
As I have said before, summer isn’t summer without Elin Hilderbrand and every summer vacation starts with an Elin novel. This particular one had been sitting on my shelf for some time now. I usually love Elin’s novels but this one was tough. First of all, there were so many characters that their placement and relationships were hard to keep track of. Secondly, none of the main characters were particularly likable and the Nantucket privilege and elitism were hard to overlook in this novel. The idea of a dying mother leaving a notebook of ideas and suggestions for her daughter’s wedding seems sweet but in reality, was quite controlling (dysfunctional) until the very last sweet page that did bring tears to my eyes.
“I am grateful for all the blessings I have been given, especially my strong, bright, beautiful children. But my family begins and ends with your father who has sustained me for 35 years with his devotion and infinite kindness. He did two things for me every single day of our marriage: he made me laugh, and he was my friend. How lucky, how very lucky, I have been.”
As I write this review and reflect, the first quote really does sum the novel up pretty well- every family is happy and unhappy, functional and dysfunctional and when two families come together, chaos can ensue. Overall, this was not my favorite Elin novel but I will keep looking forward to her next!
Great fun, good character insights and an easy read. This was just what the doctor ordered for lazy summer days. It's my first book by Elin Hilderband but I look forward to reading more.
emotional
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced