Reviews

I love the idea of intergenerational stories, but they are so hard to execute. (or they are so hard for me to do in audiobook?) Right when things are getting good, you get shuttled off to another character in a completely different setting. And for me, for this book, (with multiple characters with the same name!) it was too disorienting.

bobby_cav's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

katehardy's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

mpoper's review against another edition

Go to review page

After reading Gardens of Kyoto and now this I have fallen in love this writer's literature. Can not wait to read her other novels.

mollyfischfriedman's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I really liked the concept of this book - tracing a family's history through the women in the family. I also appreciated the different voices that the author was able to create for each woman. However, because each chapter was a snapshot into the life of one of the characters, sometimes it felt as though there were details that I was missing to really understand what was going on. Also, each character was flawed in particular ways, which while interesting and perhaps true to life, was not necessarily what I anticipated when I picked up the book. That being said, the book picked up after about the halfway point, and I did enjoy reading it.

More...