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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts
It is difficult to "like" this book. There is no happiness for any of the characters. No joy. Each child of Hattie's is left with a legacy of pain and disappointment...a yearning for something better. Hattie, herself, is little more than a conduit for the basic needs in life. She provides food, shelter and clothing, but neglects the basic needs of the soul. There is no love or nurturing in this household. However, each child holds memories of an angry and vengeful mother. Perhaps it would have been different if her first babies (the twins) had survived. The initial chapter of the book is the only section that gives us a loving and caring mother. The portion of Hattie that had existed prior to their deaths, seems to have died with them. In its place is a hard woman. A woman who has given all she has left to her children...a view of the world that is harsh and unforgiving.
Now, even with the heavy subject matter, the author has a gift for words. She builds each character with words that flow and interweave to create the stories of each child of Hattie's. We see Hattie through the eyes of her children. We feel their need, their bitterness and for some their eventual forgiveness.
This is not a book that I loved, but it is a book that I will think about for some time.
Now, even with the heavy subject matter, the author has a gift for words. She builds each character with words that flow and interweave to create the stories of each child of Hattie's. We see Hattie through the eyes of her children. We feel their need, their bitterness and for some their eventual forgiveness.
This is not a book that I loved, but it is a book that I will think about for some time.
I'm always a bit wary of the hype around "Oprah books" but this one was worth the hype for me... troubling and hard to listen to at times (the audiobook narrators were terrific!) but just a lovely book overall.
I noticed that other reviewers didn't like that the chapters about Hattie's children weren't necessarily connected, but I actually liked that about the book.
I noticed that other reviewers didn't like that the chapters about Hattie's children weren't necessarily connected, but I actually liked that about the book.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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
This book did not hold up as an Oprah pick for me. The characters were not developed and the story was not interesting. I did finish it because I wanted to see what the rave was about. This book just did not rate as a really good read for me.
Yup only read about 80 pages of this. I'm not surprised that I didn't finish.
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was selected for the Oprah's 2.0 book blub... I thought the book was OK. Each chapter was devoted to another character in the book and I didn't think they were well intertwined with each other.