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pixieauthoress's review against another edition
5.0
Lovely book, enjoyed it a lot more than The Girls, although I have noticed that Lori likes lots of traumatic things to happen to her characters. Addy's life was just a stream of misfortune...but it was still a really enjoyable read, despite this!
amyrhoda's review
4.0
Rush Home Road is the story of an old woman and a little girl, and of love and home and belonging.
I liked this book. The characters are beautifully drawn and likeable (except when they're bad guys). Lansens has a great sense of time and place and creates vivid settings. I can see why the movie option for this book sold so quickly: it's very cinematic. (What are you waiting for, Whoopi Goldberg?) Indeed, Lansens was a screenwriter before she wrote this, her first novel.
The plot is melodramatic in retrospect, but events are not so improbable as to pull you out of the book. As always with Lansens' books, everything comes together in a tidy and satisfying manner at the end.
I'm not sure why Lansens, a white woman, writes so often about black and mixed-race people. I can't personally speak to whether she handled black experience in Southern Ontario well in Rush Home Road. However, this review by [a:George Elliot Clarke|367678|George Elliot Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] suggests it was well done.
I liked this book. The characters are beautifully drawn and likeable (except when they're bad guys). Lansens has a great sense of time and place and creates vivid settings. I can see why the movie option for this book sold so quickly: it's very cinematic. (What are you waiting for, Whoopi Goldberg?) Indeed, Lansens was a screenwriter before she wrote this, her first novel.
The plot is melodramatic in retrospect, but events are not so improbable as to pull you out of the book. As always with Lansens' books, everything comes together in a tidy and satisfying manner at the end.
I'm not sure why Lansens, a white woman, writes so often about black and mixed-race people. I can't personally speak to whether she handled black experience in Southern Ontario well in Rush Home Road. However, this review by [a:George Elliot Clarke|367678|George Elliot Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] suggests it was well done.
alegriafury's review against another edition
5.0
That was one of the best books I've ever read. I could not put it down. I cannot wait to read everything else she has written. Wow.
btut's review against another edition
4.0
An old black woman agrees to take care of a child in the trailer park and from there the story grows. She looks back on the trials of her life and shares her experience and love with that of the child.
This book is so completely different than "The Girls" - both are so well written. I would read this author again.
This book is so completely different than "The Girls" - both are so well written. I would read this author again.
h_andreanne's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.5
booksonthemoon's review against another edition
5.0
Another great read By Lori. I read this as a young adult and again as a Mother and its even more emotive. It’s hard reading about Sharla’s neglected upbringing but its so worth it to learn about Addy’s life. The unforeseen relationship between the young and old is beautifully written here. One of my favourite reads.
simsarah79's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those novels that just reads and reads and reads. It reminded me of Jane Eyre but easier. I thought it would be more about the girl, Sharla but it was truly about Adalaide "Addy" Shadd.
Sharla's mom is trash. She decides she doesn't want her 6 year old anymore so she goes around the trailer park seeing who will take her for the summer since her boyfriend gets annoyed when she's around.
Addy says yes and then bit by bit (each chapter is an alternating POV between Sharla and Addy) we find out Addy's tale of growing up. And much like Jane Eyre Addy is goes off at a young age (but Jane wasn't raped) and by coincidence, or by God Addy meets people who are unlikely helpers.
The story takes place in Canada and US in the early 1900's and late 1970's.
I was totally enthralled. I haven't read a book this engaging in a long time. And the coolest part for me is that i hadn't heard of the author and she has a couple more books.
This is a book about love- for Addy had a first love and a real love. it's about family- Sharla wants her mother but loves "mum addy" too. About regretting the past and forgiving your parents and even though the author throws in some typical situations (rape, pregnancy, seeming infidelity etc) it isn't forced or corny.
Sharla's mom is trash. She decides she doesn't want her 6 year old anymore so she goes around the trailer park seeing who will take her for the summer since her boyfriend gets annoyed when she's around.
Addy says yes and then bit by bit (each chapter is an alternating POV between Sharla and Addy) we find out Addy's tale of growing up. And much like Jane Eyre Addy is goes off at a young age (but Jane wasn't raped) and by coincidence, or by God Addy meets people who are unlikely helpers.
The story takes place in Canada and US in the early 1900's and late 1970's.
I was totally enthralled. I haven't read a book this engaging in a long time. And the coolest part for me is that i hadn't heard of the author and she has a couple more books.
This is a book about love- for Addy had a first love and a real love. it's about family- Sharla wants her mother but loves "mum addy" too. About regretting the past and forgiving your parents and even though the author throws in some typical situations (rape, pregnancy, seeming infidelity etc) it isn't forced or corny.
bplache's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0