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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
This was an interesting book, but dry in some places and some of the characters were flat for me.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If Marilynne Robinson and Toni Morrison had a daughter, she would grow up to be Ayana Mathis.
As individual stories, each chapter of this book is well told. The characters are well-rounded and the plot lines for each of them is engaging. That being said, I didn't feel like this novel had much cohesiveness. There really isn't an over-arching storyline that pulls them all together. Yes, they have Hattie as a common factor, but I didn't feel like it was enough to pull them all together. Perhaps that was the point. Maybe it's meant to emphasize the disjointed family life they all shared. If that was the intent, Ayana Mathis nailed it. It didn't win me over though. I think I would have enjoyed this more if it had been marketed as a short story collection. I went into it expecting a novel, but feel like it came up short in that regard.
I really wanted to love this book, but really, I just merely liked it. Sorry Oprah!
Thank goodness. I strongly disliked this book and thought I was completely missing something, but upon looking at the goodreads ratings I have learned two things. A: I am not alone in thinking that this was awful and b: I am never trusting the Oprah Book Club again. Where to begin, this book reminds me of Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Heale Hurston, but lacked originality and seemed to piggyback off of that book and its themes. Hattie moves from Georgia with her mother and sisters to escape the South. She marries and meets August, who becomes a good for nothing husband, and raises twelve children; her first two children die of pneumonia while her husband is off doing who knows what and she struggles to take care of them. After this opening, we follow various perspectives of Hattie's children, whose lives fall apart at the seams.
I am confused by the organization and structure of this novel, as well as, Mathis' characterization of Hattie. In the first chapter, we meet a young mother, who does not know how to help her children, she cries, begs and walks through the cold to find medicine but despite her efforts, her twins die anyways. The Hattie in the first chapter is completely different than how her children perceive her. In the course of the book, she becomes heartless, strict and frowns most of the time. Her children don't remember her warmly but instead lament her seeming lack of compassion for them. It would seem as we follow various perspectives that this lack of love follows Hattie's children and taints their choices in life. However, the author often describes Hattie as someone who worked tirelessly to give her children a better life. So, it's hard to tell if we should sympathize with Hattie or her children. Is this a story of a neglectful parent, who did everything but hug their children or a tale about ungrateful children?
The reason it is hard to discern the answer lies within the organization of this book. We flit from one child's perspective to another, leaving them as they make grave decisions, remember their mother and ultimately are never seen again. Sure, there are snatches of conversations and other descriptions but nothing substantial to really construct a coherent narrative or individual characters. I didn't even know Alice and Billup existed until they appeared in a weird co-dependent relationship. And then after their chapter, nothing was ever said about them again. What was the point?? And furthermore, what ever happened to Ella? If we wanted to really think about Hattie and how her choices affected her children, wouldn't Ella be the perfect child to explore? Nope, instead, we have strange chapters like Bell refusing to seek medical treatment and a reflection on her affair with her mother's old lover, and Cassie, who slowly sinks into a breakdown. Unlike Homegoing, it does not masterfully spin individual stories that are semi self-contained and relate to an overall arching story of how two sisters and their families have been separated, abused and eventually overcome the ugly effects of colonialism.
I am confused by the organization and structure of this novel, as well as, Mathis' characterization of Hattie. In the first chapter, we meet a young mother, who does not know how to help her children, she cries, begs and walks through the cold to find medicine but despite her efforts, her twins die anyways. The Hattie in the first chapter is completely different than how her children perceive her. In the course of the book, she becomes heartless, strict and frowns most of the time. Her children don't remember her warmly but instead lament her seeming lack of compassion for them. It would seem as we follow various perspectives that this lack of love follows Hattie's children and taints their choices in life. However, the author often describes Hattie as someone who worked tirelessly to give her children a better life. So, it's hard to tell if we should sympathize with Hattie or her children. Is this a story of a neglectful parent, who did everything but hug their children or a tale about ungrateful children?
The reason it is hard to discern the answer lies within the organization of this book. We flit from one child's perspective to another, leaving them as they make grave decisions, remember their mother and ultimately are never seen again. Sure, there are snatches of conversations and other descriptions but nothing substantial to really construct a coherent narrative or individual characters. I didn't even know Alice and Billup existed until they appeared in a weird co-dependent relationship. And then after their chapter, nothing was ever said about them again. What was the point?? And furthermore, what ever happened to Ella? If we wanted to really think about Hattie and how her choices affected her children, wouldn't Ella be the perfect child to explore? Nope, instead, we have strange chapters like Bell refusing to seek medical treatment and a reflection on her affair with her mother's old lover, and Cassie, who slowly sinks into a breakdown. Unlike Homegoing, it does not masterfully spin individual stories that are semi self-contained and relate to an overall arching story of how two sisters and their families have been separated, abused and eventually overcome the ugly effects of colonialism.
If half-stars were possible, this book would get 2.5, because half of it was okay and the other half I disliked on many levels. I appreciate that Mathis wanted to capture the effect of the Great Migration on three generations of one family, but many pieces of the book were poorly executed and overly contrived.
The two chapters in first person (Franklin's and Cassie's) were barely readable. Their voices rang hollow and inorganic; their emotions and responses were almost comical due to their poorly written portions. Cassie's chapter in particular should have never made it past the first edit in its published condition. On a more positive note, I really liked Hattie. She was believable. She was real. She had a reason to be the way she was. The rest of the family receives little sympathy from me.
One aspect of the novel I particularly enjoyed was Mathis's masterful use of scents and smells as emotional triggers for her characters. Her descriptions of these sensations were particularly well crafted and served as a creative unifying motif.
Overall: I like the premise, I like the main character, I dislike the execution. The book maintains its three stars because of Hattie, Mathis's idea and effort, and three of the chapters being very well done (the twins', Ruthie's, and Ella's).
The two chapters in first person (Franklin's and Cassie's) were barely readable. Their voices rang hollow and inorganic; their emotions and responses were almost comical due to their poorly written portions. Cassie's chapter in particular should have never made it past the first edit in its published condition. On a more positive note, I really liked Hattie. She was believable. She was real. She had a reason to be the way she was. The rest of the family receives little sympathy from me.
One aspect of the novel I particularly enjoyed was Mathis's masterful use of scents and smells as emotional triggers for her characters. Her descriptions of these sensations were particularly well crafted and served as a creative unifying motif.
Overall: I like the premise, I like the main character, I dislike the execution. The book maintains its three stars because of Hattie, Mathis's idea and effort, and three of the chapters being very well done (the twins', Ruthie's, and Ella's).
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I would have loved this book if I had read it in print form, but the audio book version (I'm listening to a LOT of audio books on my commute) includes the voice acting of Bahni Turpin, Adenrele Ojo, and Adam Lazarre-White --all of whom are mind-blowingly talented -- and they made me love it even more!
