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myrtevh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
henrydefencesquad's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rovingreader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
amibotha's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hickey_mt's review against another edition
2.0
Opened with enormous promise, but it was not fulfilled.
Tedious. Endless descriptions of domestic life. Neurotic protagonist hard to like. I cheered at the scene with the specialist doctor in the middle of the book, who basically tells Dad to stop wasting his time.
Tedious. Endless descriptions of domestic life. Neurotic protagonist hard to like. I cheered at the scene with the specialist doctor in the middle of the book, who basically tells Dad to stop wasting his time.
mimi8school's review against another edition
5.0
This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year.
Impeccable writing, absolutely a well-crafted story that runs smoothly and filled with palpable emotions. The story follows Adam, a stay-at-home dad and how his world fractures after his daughter collapsed and stopped breathing. The daughter survived, yet the family now has to learn how to rebuild their family and their ideas about life.
This is a book about what it means to be alive, to live with fear and uncertainty, and how fragile life can be. It is also about parental love and protection, rebuild family after tragedies, about hope and human perseverance.
And there is more. We learn from Adam what is like to be a stay-at-home dad. From Adam's experiences, we see gender roles and sexism in workplace and daily lives from a male's perspective.
From Adam's cathedral research and Adam's father's narration, we also learn what is heritage, and how our past, current, and future is all connected. Through Miriam and others, Moss also touches on current topics such terrorism, feminism, the healthcare system, etc.
If I have to pick one thing out about this book that makes it such a rememberable reading experience, I would go for the stream of consciousness writing. It captures so well the emotions running through Adam's head when terrible things such as this happen to his child. The emotions are so real that it feels like they leak through the pages. For this powerful writing alone, I'd like to read more of Moss's work.
This is another great literary fiction that teaches me about empathy. For those who has ever considered this book, pick it up and read it.
Impeccable writing, absolutely a well-crafted story that runs smoothly and filled with palpable emotions. The story follows Adam, a stay-at-home dad and how his world fractures after his daughter collapsed and stopped breathing. The daughter survived, yet the family now has to learn how to rebuild their family and their ideas about life.
This is a book about what it means to be alive, to live with fear and uncertainty, and how fragile life can be. It is also about parental love and protection, rebuild family after tragedies, about hope and human perseverance.
And there is more. We learn from Adam what is like to be a stay-at-home dad. From Adam's experiences, we see gender roles and sexism in workplace and daily lives from a male's perspective.
From Adam's cathedral research and Adam's father's narration, we also learn what is heritage, and how our past, current, and future is all connected. Through Miriam and others, Moss also touches on current topics such terrorism, feminism, the healthcare system, etc.
If I have to pick one thing out about this book that makes it such a rememberable reading experience, I would go for the stream of consciousness writing. It captures so well the emotions running through Adam's head when terrible things such as this happen to his child. The emotions are so real that it feels like they leak through the pages. For this powerful writing alone, I'd like to read more of Moss's work.
This is another great literary fiction that teaches me about empathy. For those who has ever considered this book, pick it up and read it.
sadiaz's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed the parental anxiety, mundane life chores and navigating the health system bits. Lightly touched on gender roles and immigration. Not enough to knock my socks off though. Did not enjoy the inane descriptions of Adam's research of Coventry Cathedral. Couldn't be more boring. Also a side note, Adam has got to have some kind of diagnosable anxiety issues. Reading about his thoughts spiral out of control was very triggering.
emmajanereads's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25