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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The conversations in this book were so emotional and authentic. It's a good reflection of the constant struggles of poverty and the lower class. I found myself feeling exhausted just reading about how hard Lynette had to work and all she had to sacrifice. There was one part where it felt like an entire scene was completely missing, and a few grammar mistakes though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Blood, Abortion
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m giving this book a five-star rating because it touches on the things I tend to resonate with a lot in literature: desire, struggle, limits, frustration, terrifying choices, regret. I’ve also never read a book on this topic, so I was very fond of the setting, characters and overall message.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-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
A new Willy Vlautin book is always cause for celebration in my corner of the house. He returns with a story bringing us another damaged character still clinging to hope of something better despite all the world throws at them.
Lynette has been saving for years in order to save enough, so that she, her mother and her developmentally disabled brother can purchase the house they have been renting for decades. On the eve of the deal, she returns to find her mum has purchased a new car and doesn't want to go through with the sale. Lynette, who has overcome so much in terms of her psyche, is sent spinning into the darkness of her past and deep into the Portland night.
This is Vlautin's most noir book yet with things becoming decidedly crime ridden as we discover more and more about Lynette's life. Chapter 16 gives us some classic Vlautin storytelling and it is another masterclass at the type of tale Vlautin has built his career on.
The book doesn't just jibe against capitalism, but asks if the people with the money know something we "losers" don't. It's classic Vlautin, but very much of the times too as the naked greed becomes clearer for all to see and people are asking themselves important questions about the things they really need from life following the most turbulent time we have faced in many of our lifetimes.
This will be read again as all Vlautin books eventually are and there is plenty here to chew on.
Lynette has been saving for years in order to save enough, so that she, her mother and her developmentally disabled brother can purchase the house they have been renting for decades. On the eve of the deal, she returns to find her mum has purchased a new car and doesn't want to go through with the sale. Lynette, who has overcome so much in terms of her psyche, is sent spinning into the darkness of her past and deep into the Portland night.
This is Vlautin's most noir book yet with things becoming decidedly crime ridden as we discover more and more about Lynette's life. Chapter 16 gives us some classic Vlautin storytelling and it is another masterclass at the type of tale Vlautin has built his career on.
The book doesn't just jibe against capitalism, but asks if the people with the money know something we "losers" don't. It's classic Vlautin, but very much of the times too as the naked greed becomes clearer for all to see and people are asking themselves important questions about the things they really need from life following the most turbulent time we have faced in many of our lifetimes.
This will be read again as all Vlautin books eventually are and there is plenty here to chew on.
Once again Willy Vlautin tells the story of ordinary people struggling in the world, looking for happiness in such a way that you root for them and want them to find peace.
Favorite line from the book
‘Sometimes all you can do in life is have another bowl of ice cream. Sometimes that’s the only move you can make to keep yourself from going completely nuts.’
Favorite line from the book
‘Sometimes all you can do in life is have another bowl of ice cream. Sometimes that’s the only move you can make to keep yourself from going completely nuts.’
Lynette works two legal job and one questionable enterprise to come up with money for a down payment. Lynette, her mother, and developmentally delayed brother are being squeezed out of their home and neighborhood in a gentrifying Portland. Their absent landlord has agreed to sell them their run down house, and this is the dark, depressing story of how Lynette tries to come up with the money needed for the down payment.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail