357 reviews for:

Groundskeeping

Lee Cole

3.67 AVERAGE

blaesgreen's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thebookishtriangle's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

From the first sentence of Groundskeeping I was hooked on the lyrical language Lee Cole uses to convey the thoughts and observations of the protagonist Owen. The novel is a first person perspective lament exploring love, loss, family, ambition and comfort set predominantly at a University in Kentucky where Owen works on the grounds in order to take a class and Alma is perusing a writer in residence program. Kentucky is as much a character as they are and Cole writes beautiful observations of the surroundings while the story meanders through various meta conversations about art and life. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a love of language, and critical thinking, who enjoys calm slow novels. It is a passage of time novel that examines the minutia of the everyday and the people Owen chooses to prioritize within that time. All in all I enjoyed reading it mostly to wind down in the evenings.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Racism, Self harm, Alcohol, War, Classism

laurensydney's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

penguin555's review against another edition

3.5

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

meganryczek's review against another edition

3.75

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

bootsmom3's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny reflective relaxing sad slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Cursing, Death, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Classism

Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, Religious bigotry

kcassano's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

laneyvonhall's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective 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

rbartlemay's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

andrea2428's review against another edition

4.5

reflective tense medium-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