Reviews

Mary and O'Neil: A Novel in Stories by Justin Cronin

khaliah's review

4.0

I was surprised to enjoy this book as much as I did. I picked it up on the recommendation of an employee at a small book store in Lake Forest, IL. What I appreciated most was the format--a novel in short stories. I plan on using at least one of these stories in the class I am teaching this Fall.

bellabaff's review

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

dobbydoo22's review

5.0

I'm glad I gave this a try despite my disappointment with 'The Passage.' Cronin's writing is so skilled and often downright beautiful, and his insights into family and relationship dynamics are very detailed and astute. Even though it doesn't have what you might call a very gripping plot, I really just didn't want the book to end.

readingnightandday's review

5.0

If I could give it 10 stars I would. It's a little story it's sad, it's happy, it's sad , and happy and sad and then hopeful at the end. I hope O'Neil heals. It's the story or stories of Mary and O'Neil that starts with O'Neil's parents. Then we meet O'Neil and his sister Kate and finally Mary. Each section is a story within a story a style of writing that is familiar to me from reading The Passage Trilogy.
It's more than just Mary and O'Neil; it's the story about how the past shapes the future.
I listened to the bock and the narrator was amazing.

lmstone1's review

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jamheck's review

5.0

beautifully written & poignant, as i knew it would be. vignettes & snippets of life. i love justin cronin's prose and storytelling, & after reading the passage triology i knew i needed to read more of him. loved every minute of this novel. i genuinely crave more of his writing.

iris_cadaver's review

4.0

Cronin sucked me in with his beautiful way of stringing words together ... then he made me cry. Dammit. A quick, pretty, and emotional read.

jlange64's review

4.0

This book was pretty good, though nothing to really go crazy over. The way the story was told was pretty cool though. It was basically 6 short stories that all went together somehow. Plus, I did like the characters quite a bit.

iamleahmarie's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dragontomes2000's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 Deeply profound, thought provoking, heart wrenching, beautifully written. Highly, highly recommend. 

Trigger Warnings include, death of loved ones, abortion, gambling addiction, adultery, grief/trauma, too name a few.