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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-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
Well written. This book is challenging as it accurately paints a picture of Appalachia, and the weight that all folks who have resided here hold. It's heavy. But the author does a good job at fleshing out folks who exist in this spot in Kentucky, their joys and sorrows, their aspirations and faults. A lot is felt and expressed in these pages.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure if I'll give the most unbiased review on this book. I grew up in the same region as the author, and it's a region he writes about at length in this book. He definitely nails how life is in western Kentucky, and the simultaneous love and revulsion its residents can have for the area.
The novel itself felt somewhat slow to me. The main character was relatable if not particularly likeable at times. The struggle to feel care and love towards family members whose political alignments are diametrically opposed was familiar to me.
Overall, I would recommend this. I love reading how other people from my neck of the woods write about a place I know intimately. I'm generally rooting for anyone from Kentucky to succeed. I would probably also let people know that the story is slow going and not terribly eventful.
The novel itself felt somewhat slow to me. The main character was relatable if not particularly likeable at times. The struggle to feel care and love towards family members whose political alignments are diametrically opposed was familiar to me.
Overall, I would recommend this. I love reading how other people from my neck of the woods write about a place I know intimately. I'm generally rooting for anyone from Kentucky to succeed. I would probably also let people know that the story is slow going and not terribly eventful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use
Minor: Xenophobia
It’s very similar in themes to a book I’ve just finished! A me problem, not this books problem.. maybe will come back to it in the future
A real stunner, Groundskeeping is a favorite book this year. If there is anything less than pitch perfect here, it’s the so-so title, which could be the name of a southern regional literary quarterly. Maybe that’s the point? I rather think the name Hillbilly Elegy would do just fine, but heard that the name was already taken.
All joking aside, the author weaves together the fragility of love, the power of place, and the anxieties surrounding vocation into an altogether beautiful, undulating tale.
All joking aside, the author weaves together the fragility of love, the power of place, and the anxieties surrounding vocation into an altogether beautiful, undulating tale.
This is a very memoir styled fiction book set in Kentucky. It's about relationships and family and class struggle all set in a serious-ish sometimes funny about trying to understand all of life's crossroads. While its very much a character study, it has funny and sweet moments and very short on action. I liked the writer's voice and will look forward to his next book.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes