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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
3 Stars
Overview
If you are looking for a thriller, this is not it.
This story does revolve around a kidnapping, and there's certainly an element of mystery. But it’s the opposite of a thriller. The plot slowwwwwlllyyyy creeps forward, spending time on languid daydreams and conjecture, and raising questions about life and family. In summary, it’s Literary Fiction first and foremost.
Literary Fiction Checklist:
[X] Middle-Aged Woman/Man in Unhappy Marriage
[X] Parents who struggle to understand their children
[X] Telling rather boring daily events in unusual ways
[X] History of recent trauma
[X] References to Classics (usually in an English class)
[X] The slowest of pacing
That doesn’t mean it’s bad. Just that the marketing is a little confusing.
Acclaimed Short-Fiction author, [a:Susan Perabo|164672|Susan Perabo|http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1447291787p2/164672.jpg]’s debut novel, this focuses on the consequences of a robbery turned kidnapping. Eighth-grader Meredith is present when her ‘arch-nemesis’ Lisa Bellow is kidnapped, and most of the story revolves around the fallout.
I received an ARC of this through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Simon & Shuster for this opportunity!
Pros:
The whole story is a fascinating examination of the aftermath of trauma. It compares both personal and witnessed without being insensitive or trite.
Throughout the story, there’s a really brilliant discussion of bullying and slut-shaming that’s incredibly nuanced and complex without being boring. I wish there had been more resolution for this discussion, but as is, it shows that being unpopular doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t a bully yourself. It really expanded upon ‘popularity’ and letting it define us.
Meredith’s mother was very interesting, though her struggles alone were not. We’ve all seen the middle-aged married woman contemplating if this is how she wanted to end up. But I haven’t seen a mother try and determine the difference between protecting your kids and looking for revenge.
Cons
None of the characters really stood out to me? In particular Meredith, who had interesting reactions to things, but just didn’t seem to have a personality. She often speculated, but rarely did anything.
There’s no resolution for absolutely anything. Without spoiling, I am not referring to the mystery itself, but rather everything else. Every character has different struggles and plots, but there’s no development for anyone. None of these things change at all, and somehow everyone seems to be where they were in the beginning.
The writing style didn’t click very well with me, and I felt it was overtly wordy in most places. Though it did paint some excellent metaphors (Like stepping on an Ice-Cream Cone. Ouch.)
In Conclusion
Don’t read this if you’re looking for a thriller, but read it if you’re looking for something that raises interesting questions about trauma and our perceptions of others--- just don’t expect any answers to those questions.
Overview
If you are looking for a thriller, this is not it.
This story does revolve around a kidnapping, and there's certainly an element of mystery. But it’s the opposite of a thriller. The plot slowwwwwlllyyyy creeps forward, spending time on languid daydreams and conjecture, and raising questions about life and family. In summary, it’s Literary Fiction first and foremost.
Literary Fiction Checklist:
[X] Middle-Aged Woman/Man in Unhappy Marriage
[X] Parents who struggle to understand their children
[X] Telling rather boring daily events in unusual ways
[X] History of recent trauma
[X] References to Classics (usually in an English class)
[X] The slowest of pacing
That doesn’t mean it’s bad. Just that the marketing is a little confusing.
Acclaimed Short-Fiction author, [a:Susan Perabo|164672|Susan Perabo|http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1447291787p2/164672.jpg]’s debut novel, this focuses on the consequences of a robbery turned kidnapping. Eighth-grader Meredith is present when her ‘arch-nemesis’ Lisa Bellow is kidnapped, and most of the story revolves around the fallout.
I received an ARC of this through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Simon & Shuster for this opportunity!
Pros:
The whole story is a fascinating examination of the aftermath of trauma. It compares both personal and witnessed without being insensitive or trite.
Throughout the story, there’s a really brilliant discussion of bullying and slut-shaming that’s incredibly nuanced and complex without being boring. I wish there had been more resolution for this discussion, but as is, it shows that being unpopular doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t a bully yourself. It really expanded upon ‘popularity’ and letting it define us.
Meredith’s mother was very interesting, though her struggles alone were not. We’ve all seen the middle-aged married woman contemplating if this is how she wanted to end up. But I haven’t seen a mother try and determine the difference between protecting your kids and looking for revenge.
Cons
None of the characters really stood out to me? In particular Meredith, who had interesting reactions to things, but just didn’t seem to have a personality. She often speculated, but rarely did anything.
There’s no resolution for absolutely anything. Without spoiling, I am not referring to the mystery itself, but rather everything else. Every character has different struggles and plots, but there’s no development for anyone. None of these things change at all, and somehow everyone seems to be where they were in the beginning.
The writing style didn’t click very well with me, and I felt it was overtly wordy in most places. Though it did paint some excellent metaphors (Like stepping on an Ice-Cream Cone. Ouch.)
In Conclusion
Don’t read this if you’re looking for a thriller, but read it if you’re looking for something that raises interesting questions about trauma and our perceptions of others--- just don’t expect any answers to those questions.
I found this book through a sort of "If You Liked That, Read This" thing from my library, I am guessing, and I'd like to smack whomever put it in there. Sadly, I can't even remember which book I read that would have generated this as something I should read. I just didn't get it. I thought it should be different, somehow. If the point was to concentrate on how the survivor is coping, then stop talking about Lisa Bellow. Don't name the book after her. It was just so odd. I didn't like the parents, I didn't like Meredith. I liked Evan, I wish the book had been about him.
The best examination of grotesque obsessive parental protection embedded in complete responsibility denial I have ever read.
I rounded up, for me, this was really more of a 2.5 star book. While this book does center around a kidnapping, it is not a mystery or a thriller. I enjoyed the writing, but I hated the unreliable narrator-the chapters where you weren't sure if what was being presented was actually happening in real life simply did not work for me at all. I enjoyed the first part of the book, but as I continued toward the end it seemed there was no resolution in sight (not just with the fallout from the kidnapping but also with regards to her brother's and parents storylines) - and then it just simply ended (and I hate an unresolved ambiguous ending).
challenging
dark
reflective
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
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
enjoyed the comparison of Meredith and Claire’s points of view. felt the ending was fitting.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really liked this. The way the narrative weaves in and out of versions of events that might not be / probably are not true just adds to the feelings of shock and dislocation that the main character Meredith feels. I loved the brother character, and really really hated the mother. Read most of this on a plane - and it was perfectly suited for that!
I chose #thefalloflisabellow by #susanperabo because it was the book of the month @cincylibrary back in May. Dark and twisty read, addresses #survivorsguilt, the angst of middle school, and the trials of parenthood. Read it quickly and enjoyed! (Has some interesting suggestions for a book club if anyone is looking for a book for theirs!) A quote: “‘We can hope.’ He could hope, that was the thing. Mark could always hope. It was a permanent condition, like freckles, or lupus.” #52booksin52weeks