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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Groundskeeping is a quiet story with a lot going on under the surface. Cole manages to capture internality so well. His characters say much more with their actions and silences than they do with their words. If you're looking for a plot heavy book this isn't it, but if you want something that makes you think about life and connection and what it is to be a person trying their best to try their best, this is that book. I will be reading more of Cole's writing in the future.
I’m a Hoosier, but I think Cole captured the nebulous angst so many of us have about our home places since 2016.
Also I’m so annoyed about the ending, even though I also knew that’s how it would go.
Also I’m so annoyed about the ending, even though I also knew that’s how it would go.
read if you like Dean more than Jess, men who wear Carhart, ambiguity, mud puddles
Groundskeeping is set in rural Kentucky with post-grads finding their way in the world and into each other’s lives. It is the exploration of coming to terms with upbringing and finding out where to take the next step. The characters of Owen and Alma are richly developed. The reader comes to love the characters and becomes invested in their choices.
The story is about a writer as he progresses down the academic path of writing. Sometimes I felt that the stories or vignettes were actual exercises from the author’s path. It has several mini-stories that follow a linear timeline. It works for the book, but I did get distracted by thinking these were class assignments and were tossed in to make the novel.
I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC.
The story is about a writer as he progresses down the academic path of writing. Sometimes I felt that the stories or vignettes were actual exercises from the author’s path. It has several mini-stories that follow a linear timeline. It works for the book, but I did get distracted by thinking these were class assignments and were tossed in to make the novel.
I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC.
Groundskeeping is a bit of a coming-of-age tale about Owen, who seems to be a bit of a fish out of water. He’s recently moved back to Louisville, KY, and though he has a fondness for the place, he also kinda hates it. Same goes for his family members and several of his work- and classmates (he’s an aspiring writer), whom he deems intellectually, culturally, and politically wanting. He falls in love with Bosnian-born Alma and makes some friends, all the while writing copious notes with detailed observations that become his manuscript. This part felt sort of meta to me, like I was reading the author describes how he’d written the very book I was reading by describing how the protagonist does the same. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot.
Boring and didn’t like the authors style. Maybe it was too many Appalachian stories right after one another.
I loved this debut novel! The writing style is very similar to Sally Rooney, who I adore. This book can be summed up aptly and beautifully from an excerpt of a conversation between Alma to Owen on page 186: There are a lot of great novels that just meander along and plot arises because the events are framed together. I mean, plot can just be time passing, you know?
Lee Cole knows.
Lee Cole knows.
sad
medium-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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Another beautifully written book that you NEED to add to your TBR pile. I should start by saying I picked this one up because it was highly acclaimed by my favorite living author, Ann Patchett and I will read anything she recommends because she has impeccable taste in books! This book was no exception!
This book had a Hemingway feel to it; you are thrown into the everyday life of a young man who is trying to find his way as a writer. Conflict arises due to family expectations and love interests. This story, however, adds in present day (2016) themes from today’s cultural differences to local/regional (South/Kentucky) politics.
I really do find it hard to believe that this is Lee Cole’s first book - it’s lovely!
READ IT!
This book had a Hemingway feel to it; you are thrown into the everyday life of a young man who is trying to find his way as a writer. Conflict arises due to family expectations and love interests. This story, however, adds in present day (2016) themes from today’s cultural differences to local/regional (South/Kentucky) politics.
I really do find it hard to believe that this is Lee Cole’s first book - it’s lovely!
READ IT!