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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Sometimes it felt like loosely related short stories, but each one filled in some family context and illuminated some pieces of other characters or situations that connected across stories. Many of the stories were hard or sad. Flawed people doing their best in trying circumstances and without great tools. Lovely writing.
Interesting, but not my type of book. I saw hints of greatness here, but since I wasn't really interested in sinking into this in depth I didn't read into it as much as I should. For a 1st novel I must say it was a superb job with the structure between generations and building on Hattie's character and development. Would I read it again? No. Would I read another book by this author? Possibly.
Great audio book. It was rather depressing, but I still liked it very much.
I loved this book. From the first page, I was so interested in Hattie's character and her life. The story begins with Hattie--who moves from Georgia to Philadelphia in the 1920s-- and each chapter thereafter focuses on one of her eleven children. It was fascinating to me to see how all of the children, despite being raised by the same two parents, were so incredibly different. My one complaint about the book is that I was so engrossed in each character's story, and I was sad to leave each one behind and move to the next chapter. This was ultimately a fairly sad book; Hattie struggled for her entire life--financially, romantically, and as a mother--and this story paints a picture of a very real family and its many intricacies.
Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
I loved this book, although I began with my own reservations. This book told the story of Hattie's children, and of Hattie dealing with it all. I recognized so many emotions in this book, that I did not expect. These experiences involved alot of pain and people growing into themselves or despite themselves.
The style of the novel was short stories about each of her children. But I think it worked well because we also got to learn things about Hattie throughout each of the stories. Loving someone despite the ugliness and bad behavior that they have, even sometime when it's yourself, is an experience that we will all go through.
I don't want to ruin people's experiencing by explaining the plot. But this is a story about the many different things that don't work out and how you have to keep going after. It is definitely worth your time, and energy.
I loved this book, although I began with my own reservations. This book told the story of Hattie's children, and of Hattie dealing with it all. I recognized so many emotions in this book, that I did not expect. These experiences involved alot of pain and people growing into themselves or despite themselves.
The style of the novel was short stories about each of her children. But I think it worked well because we also got to learn things about Hattie throughout each of the stories. Loving someone despite the ugliness and bad behavior that they have, even sometime when it's yourself, is an experience that we will all go through.
I don't want to ruin people's experiencing by explaining the plot. But this is a story about the many different things that don't work out and how you have to keep going after. It is definitely worth your time, and energy.
I rarely give books such a low rating, but I was really expecting this book to be better. While the stories of Hattie and her children were certainly woven together, it was in too loose a style for my personal taste. The writing was good, but the interspersing of the plots weren't enough to keep my attention. Honestly, I struggled just to get through to the end of the book. However, if separate short stories with a minimal thread holding them together is your thing, you'll love this book.
The story is strong and necessary; the writing didn't do it for me.
2.5/5. just o.k.. I understand that these are short stories, but I don't like the lack of character background given. The stories are snapshots. We're in and then we're out, just like that. I get why. I still dislike it. Also think at times the stories were too much, like checking items off a list: OK, so we've got a dead one (two), gay one, a sick one, a psychopath, a militaryman, a mentally ill one, an estranged one, etc... They couldn't just be... they couldn't just live in the page, the world... They had to be Someone with Something.
Excellent, excellent, excellent. Heartbreaking and stunning. I closed the book and wanted to start all over again at the beginning. With echoes of Toni Morrison and "The Poisonwood Bible" but so entirely unique. Can't bear to put this one on the donation pile. Highly recommended.
I didn't mind the shifts from person to person. It was a unique way to tell the story. It gave more intimacy than an omniscient narrator could have. Many readers compared it to short stories. I think a strong central narrative ran throughout making it more than a short story collection.
An enjoyable, sobering read. It inspires me to learn more about the migration of African Americans.
The first and last chapters are wrenching. Both depict unwavering love for children in peril and the pain of not knowing the right way to help them. As a newish mom those passages really struck a a chord. Most days I face the confusion of what the right choice is for my daughter & keep hoping that loving her the best way I know will be enough. That seems to be Hattie's way of coping too.
An enjoyable, sobering read. It inspires me to learn more about the migration of African Americans.
The first and last chapters are wrenching. Both depict unwavering love for children in peril and the pain of not knowing the right way to help them. As a newish mom those passages really struck a a chord. Most days I face the confusion of what the right choice is for my daughter & keep hoping that loving her the best way I know will be enough. That seems to be Hattie's way of coping too.