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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
I must say it is my first time reading such a book. It is unique, emotional, and captivating.
I finished it in one sitting. It is very artistic writing that makes you live and feel the emotional turbulence of the characters.
I finished it in one sitting. It is very artistic writing that makes you live and feel the emotional turbulence of the characters.
reflective
fast-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
A heartbreaking tale of trauma and the inevitability of old age, interspersed with sweet moments. A beautiful novel.
Wow! Sarah Crossan is one to watch.
This book explores so many difficult themes, including loss, identity, homelessness, domestic violence, dementia and elder neglect, and it does so beautifully. The stories and struggles of three very different women, Allison, Marla and Kelly-Anne, are intricately interwowen. The male characters in the book, such as Allison's cruel and violent father and Donal, Marla's seemingly heartless son, sabotage the happiness and wellbeing of our three heroines. Interstingly, the more minor female characters are flawed from the condescending carer, Peggy, to the entitled and ungrateful teenager, Lucy. So while I felt incredible compassion towards Allison, Marla and Kelly-Anne the book was balanced by the more flawed minor female characters, than if it had been a 50 / 50 split of wonderful women being stymied by hateful men.
Marla brings incredible humour, while Allison's intelligence and empathy in caring for Marla conveys a wisdom far beyond her years. This book is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The strength that Allison garners from both Marla and Kelly-Anne is inspiring.
I didn't love the ending but I didn't hate it either. I perhaps wanted slightly more from the ending but sometimes perhaps authors need to not end things too neatly to make things too easy on us readers. Life isn't easy, particularly not for our heroines, and this story reflects that, but hope, love and strength live on.
The audio performance of this book, by Sophie Roberts, was excellent. My only minor quibble was her pronunciation of 'Donal', Marla's son. It sounded to me as though Sophie was saying Donald without the d, rather than Donal, accentuating the "o" as an Irish person would, so that was a tiny bit annoying and I'm not sure why it wasn't corrected.
This book explores so many difficult themes, including loss, identity, homelessness, domestic violence, dementia and elder neglect, and it does so beautifully. The stories and struggles of three very different women, Allison, Marla and Kelly-Anne, are intricately interwowen. The male characters in the book, such as Allison's cruel and violent father and Donal, Marla's seemingly heartless son, sabotage the happiness and wellbeing of our three heroines. Interstingly, the more minor female characters are flawed from the condescending carer, Peggy, to the entitled and ungrateful teenager, Lucy. So while I felt incredible compassion towards Allison, Marla and Kelly-Anne the book was balanced by the more flawed minor female characters, than if it had been a 50 / 50 split of wonderful women being stymied by hateful men.
Marla brings incredible humour, while Allison's intelligence and empathy in caring for Marla conveys a wisdom far beyond her years. This book is both heartbreaking and uplifting. The strength that Allison garners from both Marla and Kelly-Anne is inspiring.
I didn't love the ending but I didn't hate it either. I perhaps wanted slightly more from the ending but sometimes perhaps authors need to not end things too neatly to make things too easy on us readers. Life isn't easy, particularly not for our heroines, and this story reflects that, but hope, love and strength live on.
The audio performance of this book, by Sophie Roberts, was excellent. My only minor quibble was her pronunciation of 'Donal', Marla's son. It sounded to me as though Sophie was saying Donald without the d, rather than Donal, accentuating the "o" as an Irish person would, so that was a tiny bit annoying and I'm not sure why it wasn't corrected.
Läs min recension på bloggen: https://www.fiktiviteter.se/2020/07/02/toffe-av-sarah-crossan
An incredible novel. Really moving and exquisitely written. This one is going to be with me for a while.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Story of abuse, alone yet together, finding a new family.
This is not an easy read. It focuses on Allison, a young girl who runs away from her father after suffering abuse. She goes to Bude, Devon, and ends up in the house of Marla, who herself is suffering from dementia. She, too, has a story to tell.
Themes of loss, domestic violence, friendship and loneliness are lightened, if that were possible, by Sarah Crossan’s raw, emotional poetry, showing the reflective side of Allison as she grows, and portraying a beautiful but unusual relationship.
Themes of loss, domestic violence, friendship and loneliness are lightened, if that were possible, by Sarah Crossan’s raw, emotional poetry, showing the reflective side of Allison as she grows, and portraying a beautiful but unusual relationship.
I NEED THIS BOOK. I know I just finished reading an ARC, but I need to go out and get a copy of this, right now. And so do you! This is such a powerful novel in verse. The writing is solid both from the poetic standpoint as well as narrative—not an easy balance to achieve. How the characters relate to each other is so authentic. I had a grandmother with dementia, and connected so much with Marla, and “Toffee.” Their stories unravel so naturally, creating a great sense of suspense and investment. I also love that the ending is hopeful while still being authentic. “Toffee” takes steps to get help in her situation. She finds community. What a great message that even if you are in a difficult situation, you are not alone. There are others who are struggling as well, and there’s help. You don’t need to keep running.
Here are some of my favorite quotes and poems:
Fireworks
Banging and cracking.
Darkness filled with
the dust of gunpowder.
Marla hides beneath her
duvet like a kitten.
Who knows what lurks
in the minds of others—
the grief they have gobbled up
and stashed away?
People
what is it they want anyway?
“Kelly-Anne starts to cry.
I’m so alone, she says.
We all are, I say.
But now we’re alone together.”
If you are looking for a novel in verse to read, this is my top recommendation.
Here are some of my favorite quotes and poems:
Fireworks
Banging and cracking.
Darkness filled with
the dust of gunpowder.
Marla hides beneath her
duvet like a kitten.
Who knows what lurks
in the minds of others—
the grief they have gobbled up
and stashed away?
People
what is it they want anyway?
“Kelly-Anne starts to cry.
I’m so alone, she says.
We all are, I say.
But now we’re alone together.”
If you are looking for a novel in verse to read, this is my top recommendation.
One of my workmates is a major fan of this author, but this is the first I’ve read of her. I’m still not sure what I think of the style - story in free verse is a brilliant idea and I think it’s really well done with the past gradually unfolding as the present day stumbles along - but I finished it feeling unfulfilled. I guess it’s because I want my time in the reading experience to take longer.