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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
2.5 rounded up because I am nice.
I need to let it be known before I start this unreasonably long review that I am a sappy little romantic. I see beauty in really mundane things. I marvel at the light and how it hits the floor or whatever. I think herons are good luck and assume I will have a good day when I see one on my way to work. I get mushy about serendipitous things like how I was at the store once and almost bought a hand towel with cute cats on it, but got a new toaster instead and then came home to see my fiance had already bought the same hand towel and had it draped over the oven door handle, and when he came home he mentioned he was glad I got a new toaster because he was about to do the same thing when he was at the store earlier. I also really like run-on sentences, so I guess I am not the best person to judge a book's technical merit.
All of that being said (and partly ignored), this book is beautiful only in how the words are strung together. It is well written. It's wordy sometimes and can drag on about love and beauty (endlessly, even for me), but it's nice to read the words on the page. I didn't find it clunky or awkward.
But the characters. Ohhhh, the Padavanos. Ohhhhh, William.
The characters are terrible. Everyone in this book is selfish. And one-dimensional. They all know only one or two things and that is how they are characterized even over the course of decades. And they are very, very bad at communication. You know how near the end of (usually romance) books and movies, there is often an instance of the "two people come to a great misunderstanding that could be solved instantly with reasonable communication but they instead take weeks or months or even years to finally reconvene long enough to realize that they were both in the wrong and didn't actually have to have such a big fight in the first place" trope? In this book, that trope lasts for 400 pages. If any of these characters would sit down and talk about their feelings or voice their opinions with each other, it would be maybe 20 pages long and span 1 year instead of, what, almost 30? Instead, readers are forced over and over again to listen to these characters struggle with thoughts of, "Well I don't like that, but if I said anything, it would upset my sibling, who I am unhealthily dependent on for better or worse. Better not say a word and instead cut off contact with them for 25 years. It's the right thing to do."
Getting vaguely spoilery below.
Julia (only knows to be bossy and over achieve) has a domineering attitude that doomed the family from the start, but no one had the guts to tell her to reel it in even after decades had passed.
Sylvie (only knows love and manic pixie dream girl), Emeline (only knows babies), and Cecelia (only knows paint) had some promise that was very quickly squashed, Sylvie especially. How disappointing and typical to see a bright and spunky character's light dimmed by a mediocre man.
William (only knows basketball and to not speak up for himself) was a sad sack to begin with and even though he had a bit of a redemption arc, that, too, was quickly snuffed out by a few terrible decisions and complete lack of a spine.
Rose (only knows to run away and be a hypocrite) seemed at first to be a strong maternal figure but ended up being just as cowardly as the rest of them. Unsurprising that someone like her preferred Julia to any of her other children.
Charlie (only knows alcohol and poems)... wasn't even described as likable until he was dead. And as someone who considers her father her best friend, yeah, I cried a lot when they mentioned their fond memories of Charlie and how much they missed him when he was gone. But could you have at least made me like him when you had the chance? He had the most potential out of anyone and is the reason for the book's title, but what did he contribute?
Don't get me started on Alice (only knows to float through life and do nothing about her feelings). Apparently missing a backbone is hereditary. How can you complain about not knowing anything about your family and then simply go an entire portion of your life without even trying to look any of them up? Having a controlling liar for a mother is one thing. Doing your own research is another. And forgiveness in this case is not something I would grant someone as manipulative as Julia. It's absurd to think she ends up just peachy after what she has been through.
I am glad I read this book. I am just disappointed that everyone in it sucked.
I need to let it be known before I start this unreasonably long review that I am a sappy little romantic. I see beauty in really mundane things. I marvel at the light and how it hits the floor or whatever. I think herons are good luck and assume I will have a good day when I see one on my way to work. I get mushy about serendipitous things like how I was at the store once and almost bought a hand towel with cute cats on it, but got a new toaster instead and then came home to see my fiance had already bought the same hand towel and had it draped over the oven door handle, and when he came home he mentioned he was glad I got a new toaster because he was about to do the same thing when he was at the store earlier. I also really like run-on sentences, so I guess I am not the best person to judge a book's technical merit.
All of that being said (and partly ignored), this book is beautiful only in how the words are strung together. It is well written. It's wordy sometimes and can drag on about love and beauty (endlessly, even for me), but it's nice to read the words on the page. I didn't find it clunky or awkward.
But the characters. Ohhhh, the Padavanos. Ohhhhh, William.
The characters are terrible. Everyone in this book is selfish. And one-dimensional. They all know only one or two things and that is how they are characterized even over the course of decades. And they are very, very bad at communication. You know how near the end of (usually romance) books and movies, there is often an instance of the "two people come to a great misunderstanding that could be solved instantly with reasonable communication but they instead take weeks or months or even years to finally reconvene long enough to realize that they were both in the wrong and didn't actually have to have such a big fight in the first place" trope? In this book, that trope lasts for 400 pages. If any of these characters would sit down and talk about their feelings or voice their opinions with each other, it would be maybe 20 pages long and span 1 year instead of, what, almost 30? Instead, readers are forced over and over again to listen to these characters struggle with thoughts of, "Well I don't like that, but if I said anything, it would upset my sibling, who I am unhealthily dependent on for better or worse. Better not say a word and instead cut off contact with them for 25 years. It's the right thing to do."
Getting vaguely spoilery below.
Julia (only knows to be bossy and over achieve) has a domineering attitude that doomed the family from the start, but no one had the guts to tell her to reel it in even after decades had passed.
Sylvie (only knows love and manic pixie dream girl), Emeline (only knows babies), and Cecelia (only knows paint) had some promise that was very quickly squashed, Sylvie especially. How disappointing and typical to see a bright and spunky character's light dimmed by a mediocre man.
William (only knows basketball and to not speak up for himself) was a sad sack to begin with and even though he had a bit of a redemption arc, that, too, was quickly snuffed out by a few terrible decisions and complete lack of a spine.
Rose (only knows to run away and be a hypocrite) seemed at first to be a strong maternal figure but ended up being just as cowardly as the rest of them. Unsurprising that someone like her preferred Julia to any of her other children.
Charlie (only knows alcohol and poems)... wasn't even described as likable until he was dead. And as someone who considers her father her best friend, yeah, I cried a lot when they mentioned their fond memories of Charlie and how much they missed him when he was gone. But could you have at least made me like him when you had the chance? He had the most potential out of anyone and is the reason for the book's title, but what did he contribute?
Don't get me started on Alice (only knows to float through life and do nothing about her feelings). Apparently missing a backbone is hereditary. How can you complain about not knowing anything about your family and then simply go an entire portion of your life without even trying to look any of them up? Having a controlling liar for a mother is one thing. Doing your own research is another. And forgiveness in this case is not something I would grant someone as manipulative as Julia. It's absurd to think she ends up just peachy after what she has been through.
I am glad I read this book. I am just disappointed that everyone in it sucked.
4.5 stars - I really liked this book and the relationships it so delicately but strongly created. I do wish the sister's names had been a little more unique to each other. Because I was listening on audiobook, Sylvie and Cecelia sounded very similar. Only note though because it was written beautifully!
yh the plot is maybe a bit overplayed and cringe but this book made me cry in public multiple times and i really enjoyed reading it. 4.5
medium-paced
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
emotional
reflective
fast-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
Little long but lovely read. Would have liked some later chapters from the perspectives of the other sisters.
I love this retelling of Little Women! This is the type of book that is written for the sake of art and beauty, and not necessarily plot. It makes me want to reread the original. Or call my sisters. Or both!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced