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moinc's review against another edition
I did not finish this book. It was well written but I was not in the mood to read something so serious. The book starts with the thoughts of a radical antiabortion Christian and his view of the world.
It was too depressing for a summer beach read, which was what I was looking for. May pick it up another time as I have enjoyed other books from Joyce Carol Oates.
It was too depressing for a summer beach read, which was what I was looking for. May pick it up another time as I have enjoyed other books from Joyce Carol Oates.
rebec659's review against another edition
2.0
Stopped reading. A not-so thinly veiled gratuitous, politically infused, poorly edited, poorly structured attempt to see inside the minds of those impacted by and the perpetrator of the crazy, upside down logic of a mindset that chooses to murder abortion providers. Worthy topic so poorly handled that I couldn’t make it through (and I’ve made it thru more JCO than most).
merst412's review against another edition
5.0
I don't really have words to express what an amazing read this was. Oates has written a masterpiece about two completely opposite belief systems with such parallel post-tragedy lives. The characters in this are so real, the families of both sides irreversibly changed by each of their fathers' actions, 'forces' outside their control, you can't help but feel for both of them, regardless of your political and religious views.
bahramo's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up.
This book is an example of how fiction can provide empathy towards people you will never meet or disagree with. The story centers around abortion, and those who disagree with it. a thoughtful, powerful book. Well worth the time.
This book is an example of how fiction can provide empathy towards people you will never meet or disagree with. The story centers around abortion, and those who disagree with it. a thoughtful, powerful book. Well worth the time.
thingtwo's review against another edition
3.0
This is an ARC review.
The book is ambitious, and long, but I don't think she entirely pulls off the dual empathic look at both sides of an issue that was promised. What she does well is show the devastation each family suffered after the actions of one man who, hyped up by his community, shoots two others outside an abortion clinic. But after that it's a long rambling storyline of minor events in various members of each family.
The book is ambitious, and long, but I don't think she entirely pulls off the dual empathic look at both sides of an issue that was promised. What she does well is show the devastation each family suffered after the actions of one man who, hyped up by his community, shoots two others outside an abortion clinic. But after that it's a long rambling storyline of minor events in various members of each family.
sillydoughnut's review against another edition
5.0
Ce roman une fresque complexe, riche et originale (de mon point de vue) ; beaucoup de passages sont prenants et c'est avec émotion que je repose ce livre dans ma bibliothèque.
'Dans l'échec de sa vie, elle n'était pas malheureuse. Des ruines au milieu desquelles elle trébuchait elle sauverait quelque chose de précieux, elle en était sûre.'
'Elle filmait ce qu'elle pouvait (...) dans l'espoir (désespéré, chimérique) que de ces images éparses, filmées au hasard, elle parviendrait un jour futur à extraire un sens qui pour l'instant lui échappait.'
'Pourtant, il y avait matière à espérer, jusqu'à un certain point.'
'Dans l'échec de sa vie, elle n'était pas malheureuse. Des ruines au milieu desquelles elle trébuchait elle sauverait quelque chose de précieux, elle en était sûre.'
'Elle filmait ce qu'elle pouvait (...) dans l'espoir (désespéré, chimérique) que de ces images éparses, filmées au hasard, elle parviendrait un jour futur à extraire un sens qui pour l'instant lui échappait.'
'Pourtant, il y avait matière à espérer, jusqu'à un certain point.'
jade_flynn's review against another edition
4.0
Review to come. Read as part of my own July tome topple readathon.