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anoveldestination's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Starting the new year off strong by finding a new favorite book and author. I've already recommended this book to anybody who made the mistake of asking me what I was reading while I was reading this book. The writing in this book is absolutely gorgeous. I think I had more highlights in this book than any other book I've ever read. I almost cried when I got to the end of the book, not because it was particularly sad, but it was just so beautiful how it was all tied together. This is one of those books that has touched me, and whose lessons I foresee sticking with me for some time.
Beyond the stunning prose, I think one of the novel's main strengths is its cast of characters. From the three different narrators down to the most minor characters, each character was painted so realistically, you couldn't help connecting with them. I also think the choice of telling three different stories from three different perspectives over three different years worked incredibly well. It kept me engaged, and I loved how each section's themes built on top of each other to make the message of the ending feel more universal. This is a book whose themes I think were both clear and unclear. There was room for the reader to make interpretations, but there were also some clear messages in the novel that I found very moving.
I also love the way history was intertwined throughout the novel, from our first narrator Paul being a WWII veteran to Fenno's account of the AIDS crisis in New York City. Speaking of New York, setting is another strength of this novel. The novel jumps around from Scotland to Greece to New York to France, and I found the descriptions lovely and immersive. Despite the grand settings of the novel, which have enough interest themselves, the setting always complemented, rather than distracted from the characters.
As someone who is usually opposed to historical fiction, family stories, male protagonists, and almost everything this novel utilized; I think, even if you have no interest in this book, you need to read it. It's an example of novel that does "too much" well. It's a lesson on how to juggle multiple characters, settings, and stories. And the combination of all these components in the novel creates a story that is bigger and more meaningful than the words used to create it. The highest compliment I can give a book is when I feel the need to hold it close to my heart after finishing the book. This was one of those books I had to sit with for a moment after turning the last page, and I already know I will be rereading and recommending this book for years to come.
Beyond the stunning prose, I think one of the novel's main strengths is its cast of characters. From the three different narrators down to the most minor characters, each character was painted so realistically, you couldn't help connecting with them. I also think the choice of telling three different stories from three different perspectives over three different years worked incredibly well. It kept me engaged, and I loved how each section's themes built on top of each other to make the message of the ending feel more universal. This is a book whose themes I think were both clear and unclear. There was room for the reader to make interpretations, but there were also some clear messages in the novel that I found very moving.
I also love the way history was intertwined throughout the novel, from our first narrator Paul being a WWII veteran to Fenno's account of the AIDS crisis in New York City. Speaking of New York, setting is another strength of this novel. The novel jumps around from Scotland to Greece to New York to France, and I found the descriptions lovely and immersive. Despite the grand settings of the novel, which have enough interest themselves, the setting always complemented, rather than distracted from the characters.
As someone who is usually opposed to historical fiction, family stories, male protagonists, and almost everything this novel utilized; I think, even if you have no interest in this book, you need to read it. It's an example of novel that does "too much" well. It's a lesson on how to juggle multiple characters, settings, and stories. And the combination of all these components in the novel creates a story that is bigger and more meaningful than the words used to create it. The highest compliment I can give a book is when I feel the need to hold it close to my heart after finishing the book. This was one of those books I had to sit with for a moment after turning the last page, and I already know I will be rereading and recommending this book for years to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Grief, Infertility, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, and Cancer
Minor: Pregnancy, Animal death, and Sexual content
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