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shimmery's review against another edition
3.0
I just do not get on with Strout’s writing style — or at least with the voice of the character Lucy Barton who is the first person narrator of this book and the only other Strout I’ve read. This seemed to me a string of catty comments and observations that I found dull, with a writing style that seemed unnecessarily repetitive — while others might find this kind of paragraph ‘lyrical’ it felt to me annoying and like it was trying to fill a word count:
‘I feel invisible, is what I mean. But I mean it in the deepest way. It is very hard to explain. And I cannot explain it except to say—oh, I don’t know what to say! Truly, it is as if I do not exist, I guess is the closest thing I can say. I mean I do not exist in the world. It could be as simple as the fact that we had no mirrors in our house when I was growing up except for a very small one high above the bathroom sink. I really do not know what I mean, except to say that on some very fundamental level, I feel invisible in the world.’
There were countless examples of that kind of repetition. The second half of the book, when there is less of Lucy bitching about everyone she comes into contact with and more of a plot as she accompanies her ex-husband on a trip to discover more about his family history, I found to be better. There were some interesting reflections on the ways people behave and the extent to which we can or cannot control our nature, and how our choices are influenced by our pasts. But overall not my cup of tea.
‘I feel invisible, is what I mean. But I mean it in the deepest way. It is very hard to explain. And I cannot explain it except to say—oh, I don’t know what to say! Truly, it is as if I do not exist, I guess is the closest thing I can say. I mean I do not exist in the world. It could be as simple as the fact that we had no mirrors in our house when I was growing up except for a very small one high above the bathroom sink. I really do not know what I mean, except to say that on some very fundamental level, I feel invisible in the world.’
There were countless examples of that kind of repetition. The second half of the book, when there is less of Lucy bitching about everyone she comes into contact with and more of a plot as she accompanies her ex-husband on a trip to discover more about his family history, I found to be better. There were some interesting reflections on the ways people behave and the extent to which we can or cannot control our nature, and how our choices are influenced by our pasts. But overall not my cup of tea.
bethoconnell33's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tdk's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
michig's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
Perhaps this would have more of an impact if I'd read the previous books. It stands alone fine as a novel on its own, but once I was aware there were two more before it, I think it would have given my read more depth. It's very light, to the point of being nearly insubtantial at times. Lines are repeated for effect, but a little wearing. I think I was frustrated by the narrator. I was finding her a bit of a wet blanket despite all her poignant and intimate longings and humanity. Because she is very human, and sweet and clearly insightful... but somehow it never reached the giddy heights of truth as described on the dust jacket.
hildasofia's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
dhall58's review against another edition
reflective
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
3.0