Reviews

Sølvstjernen by Jeannette Walls

kuziambored's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

plauler's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

cathiedalziel's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. The ending left a lot to be desired, but I guess the girls, like the emus, feel secure with the ropes (in the girl's case, of a community, no matter how strange) that help lead the way as opposed to the confusion of freedom and not knowing where to be.

Walls did a good job with Maddox, the villian (and a horrible human being he is) of this story, although it is fairly easy to make an onlooker (the reader) hate someone when they have no redeeming qualities at all.

The family ties and the small town hospitality of accepting one's kin were the only things that made this book enjoyable to read.

smallafterall's review against another edition

3.0

A quick read, which is mostly what I need these days. Enjoyed the story, even if some of it seemed contrived and more superficial than I would have expected from this writer. Worth reading.

laura1564's review against another edition

4.0

Well written story about two young sisters trying to make their way in the world when the adults in their lives are either imperfect or not present at all. Set in the 1970'sm when their mother abandons them, two young girls have to find their way to an uncle across the country. In the small town where their family was from they start to build a life for themselves, but also suffer when one of the girls is the victim of assault. It's a story about survival, about the effort of trying to weave together a support system from a group of people who have love but limitations, and about the art of learning how to rely on yourself when there is no other choice. It's a quick read, but a poignantly written one.

juliardye's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this quick read. It was a little fluffy, but that was OK with me. And yes, there could have been MORE character development or MORE about how the sisters ended up, but there wasn't. Some of the other reviews seem incensed by this, but isn't this the author's choice? It is HER book after all.

I was on an emotional roller coaster throughout - from outrage at the neglectful mother to apprehension and dread about what was going to happen with Maddox (you knew it couldn't be good), then back to outrage at the townsfolk for being so mean to the girls and especially when

Spoiler

Maddox was found innocent of the attempted rape charges!

, then surprise when

Spoiler

the uncle shoots Maddox ("thought it was a bear") and no one bats an eye?!?

.

I particularly enjoyed Liz's rhymes. Those were funny and clever.

basicmeb_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

Not sure how I feel about the ending, but I'm sure over time as I reflect this book will be more of a 5 star for me. I am a little biased for Jeanette Walls, but her writing always seems to speak to me so well. I love her characters and the strong theme of resiliency she instills in her books. Bean and Liz deal with a mom struggling from past trauma and mental illness and have no father figures in their life. They take life into their own hands and have an undeniable sibling bond. Powerful story, as short as it is.

dalyn84's review against another edition

3.0

What an abrupt ending. Unfinished.

connie_d's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

bmpicc's review against another edition

4.0

I don't think anything Walls writes will ever compare to 'The Glass Castle'. That being said I still enjoyed this book. I found it to be a quick read which is always great for summer. There were a few characters that I really liked and I wish they had been in the book a bit more.