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invisibleminger's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
DNF'ed en la página 200. Ya no puedo más con el, los personajes no me agradan y al leer tantos puntos de vista la verdad es que no ayuda mucho
janelleclare's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
this is a bad book that sucks. nothing happens and every character is annoying. and the author seems weirdly obsessed with breastfeeding? there are SO many descriptions of breasts and breastfeeding. took me forever to finish, reading this was a chore. the only vaguely interesting plot point ultimately goes nowhere. huge waste of time.
anniewill's review
2.0
1 1/2 stars
I had to look at the description several times to make sure I wasn't reading a satire. Every single character was such a ridiculous, over the top, extreme portrayal that that was the only logical explanation. Sadly, the author and some of the reviews I read online seem to actually take her portrayals seriously. I'm actually embarrassed for the author that she would create such caricatures and pass it off as "literary fiction". Um, no.
Does she actually know any "mommies"? And why, oh why did she insist on using that annoying term repeatedly throughout the novel. No mother I know, in my almost 22 years of parenting, has ever referred to herself as a "mommy"- or a playgroup as a "mommies group". Gag.
I see from the author's bio that she is indeed a parent, excuse me, mommy , I assume she must not know any other actual parents to draw some sort of comparison for her characters. I find it hard to enjoy a novel where there is not one single character that is likable in any way at all.
What a waste of time!
I had to look at the description several times to make sure I wasn't reading a satire. Every single character was such a ridiculous, over the top, extreme portrayal that that was the only logical explanation. Sadly, the author and some of the reviews I read online seem to actually take her portrayals seriously. I'm actually embarrassed for the author that she would create such caricatures and pass it off as "literary fiction". Um, no.
Does she actually know any "mommies"? And why, oh why did she insist on using that annoying term repeatedly throughout the novel. No mother I know, in my almost 22 years of parenting, has ever referred to herself as a "mommy"- or a playgroup as a "mommies group". Gag.
I see from the author's bio that she is indeed a parent, excuse me, mommy , I assume she must not know any other actual parents to draw some sort of comparison for her characters. I find it hard to enjoy a novel where there is not one single character that is likable in any way at all.
What a waste of time!
meredithmegan87's review
2.0
It took me a few chapters to get into this book. Any book with a ton of characters is tough for me to follow but I will say I like how the chapters were split up by character so it was a bit easier to follow. The book was definitely a good read I just felt like it didn't really get anywhere by the end of it. Sure some secrets were spilled and some juicy things happened but there wasn't really a "wow" moment. Trying to learn about so many different peoples' lives in one book, during one weekend, is tough. I did enjoy the book but it wasn't a favorite this year, hence the two stars.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
2.0
Julia Fierro’s Cutting Teeth is a tale of a group of thirty-something parents in New York City, linked by their children’s playgroup, for endless soap opera high-drama family dysfunction.
This group of adults (seemed more like spoiled children), are off to spend Labor Day Weekend at a beach house on Long Island. It was all I could do to finish with all the whining and complaining. I was feeling sorry for the kids-a little. In the beginning it was kind of funny and insightful, but then went downhill.
Can you image these miserable people in a house together? I would not want to be anywhere near this place. So you have five pre-school children, an infant, and a pregnant mother. After you read the below personalities – you cannot even imagine.
Nichole – parents own the home, a successful author and instructor, paralyzed by her phobias and fears and over protectiveness (completely wacked – in between smoking dope). She is obsessed with everything (especially the fixation on a rumor that a major attack will happen in New York City over the holiday weekend and what she does to prepare)—unbelievable!.
Rip— About the only one worth liking out of the bunch. The father in the playgroup. He likes to think he is one of them, but most men do not feel all that great in this type of situation (as typically the wife is all controlling). Grace is the breadwinner and refuses to consider having a second child, so Rip can continue being a stay-at-home dad. However, Hank is growing very sensitive and so needy.
Leigh – Seems together, (not) a former debutante, dealing with serious money problems and a secret that could ruin her. Leigh's son, Chase, is sweet but developmentally challenged, adding to the strain of her marriage. Without her nanny, she would lose it.
Allie and Susanna- Newlyweds, parents of twin boys. Susanna is pregnant with a third child and resents that she put her art career on hold for motherhood to allow Allie's career to continue to thrive, while Allie isn't sure she's cut out for motherhood or the domesticity of married life. (hello, grow up).
Tiffany- Mother with the only daughter in the playgroup. Again not a likable character, selfish, manipulative, gossips, plays them against one another, flirts with Rip, and believes in breastfeeding until they go off to school, pushes organics, and totally overbearing. (sounds like a person you want to stay clear of).
Of course when people get together in one house, drinks are poured, and true feeling come out, secrets are revealed, relationships are testing, and fears exposed, while one is crazy with worry the world is coming to an end. Total madness!
Not really sure how you would classify the genre, as this is one group of flawed and troubled parents; while people wonder why children behave so badly. I guess this novel may appeal to the younger generation, as possibly these fictional lives would be worse than theirs for a bit of twisted humor; however, I for one could barely make it through the book.
I would love the author write something different, in order to really see her writing style when it is not buried beneath all the drama, behaviors, and attitude of these annoying characters. Sorry, this debut fell flat for me and not my cup of tea. Cannot recommend.
This group of adults (seemed more like spoiled children), are off to spend Labor Day Weekend at a beach house on Long Island. It was all I could do to finish with all the whining and complaining. I was feeling sorry for the kids-a little. In the beginning it was kind of funny and insightful, but then went downhill.
Can you image these miserable people in a house together? I would not want to be anywhere near this place. So you have five pre-school children, an infant, and a pregnant mother. After you read the below personalities – you cannot even imagine.
Nichole – parents own the home, a successful author and instructor, paralyzed by her phobias and fears and over protectiveness (completely wacked – in between smoking dope). She is obsessed with everything (especially the fixation on a rumor that a major attack will happen in New York City over the holiday weekend and what she does to prepare)—unbelievable!.
Rip— About the only one worth liking out of the bunch. The father in the playgroup. He likes to think he is one of them, but most men do not feel all that great in this type of situation (as typically the wife is all controlling). Grace is the breadwinner and refuses to consider having a second child, so Rip can continue being a stay-at-home dad. However, Hank is growing very sensitive and so needy.
Leigh – Seems together, (not) a former debutante, dealing with serious money problems and a secret that could ruin her. Leigh's son, Chase, is sweet but developmentally challenged, adding to the strain of her marriage. Without her nanny, she would lose it.
Allie and Susanna- Newlyweds, parents of twin boys. Susanna is pregnant with a third child and resents that she put her art career on hold for motherhood to allow Allie's career to continue to thrive, while Allie isn't sure she's cut out for motherhood or the domesticity of married life. (hello, grow up).
Tiffany- Mother with the only daughter in the playgroup. Again not a likable character, selfish, manipulative, gossips, plays them against one another, flirts with Rip, and believes in breastfeeding until they go off to school, pushes organics, and totally overbearing. (sounds like a person you want to stay clear of).
Of course when people get together in one house, drinks are poured, and true feeling come out, secrets are revealed, relationships are testing, and fears exposed, while one is crazy with worry the world is coming to an end. Total madness!
Not really sure how you would classify the genre, as this is one group of flawed and troubled parents; while people wonder why children behave so badly. I guess this novel may appeal to the younger generation, as possibly these fictional lives would be worse than theirs for a bit of twisted humor; however, I for one could barely make it through the book.
I would love the author write something different, in order to really see her writing style when it is not buried beneath all the drama, behaviors, and attitude of these annoying characters. Sorry, this debut fell flat for me and not my cup of tea. Cannot recommend.
dsbressette's review against another edition
2.0
This one had a lot of scenes that rang true. But almost all of the characters were unlikable (including their kids), except Tenzin. This book was a bit crass at times. I am not sure that I would recommend it.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A playgroup takes a vacation and as personalities can probably handle each other for a few hours a week, a whole weekend is a lot! If you are a long time blog reader you may know that my kids are of the four legged variety, but I have some fantastic nieces and nephews and love to read books with the kid and parent antics - this book did not disappoint.
In the front of the book is a perfect chart of each of the families with the child or children they have. Each family has a four year old and most are boys! I loved that one of the couples was a lesbian and one involves the husband as the homemaker and of course one is with the mother has an overactive imagination for negative happenings. I absolutely adore reading books where there are group dynamics and reading about how they all affect each other and this one hit the mark. Not only did it have the dynamics of adults, but the kids had some peculiarities as well!
A playgroup takes a vacation and as personalities can probably handle each other for a few hours a week, a whole weekend is a lot! If you are a long time blog reader you may know that my kids are of the four legged variety, but I have some fantastic nieces and nephews and love to read books with the kid and parent antics - this book did not disappoint.
In the front of the book is a perfect chart of each of the families with the child or children they have. Each family has a four year old and most are boys! I loved that one of the couples was a lesbian and one involves the husband as the homemaker and of course one is with the mother has an overactive imagination for negative happenings. I absolutely adore reading books where there are group dynamics and reading about how they all affect each other and this one hit the mark. Not only did it have the dynamics of adults, but the kids had some peculiarities as well!
moviebuffkt's review against another edition
i checked this out because 1. needed something to listen to while cleaning the house and 2. xe sands could read me the phone book and i would be enthralled.
it was ok. not a story that i found very relate-able, and not many characters i found likable. a playgroup of mommy-friends, their kids and their spouses go away for Labor Day weekend. They are all terrible and terribly anxious people all in their own way. I had a hard time keeping characters straight the kids they were connected to, and there was just a sense of dread through the entire book. great tone, decent writing, just not a plot i was crazy about.
2 1/2 stars for the book, 4 stars for narration.
it was ok. not a story that i found very relate-able, and not many characters i found likable. a playgroup of mommy-friends, their kids and their spouses go away for Labor Day weekend. They are all terrible and terribly anxious people all in their own way. I had a hard time keeping characters straight the kids they were connected to, and there was just a sense of dread through the entire book. great tone, decent writing, just not a plot i was crazy about.
2 1/2 stars for the book, 4 stars for narration.
meganpalmer731's review against another edition
4.0
A good "beach read" about a group of crazy parents and kids spending the weekend at the beach! Doesn't make me want to run out and have kids though...
nixieknox's review against another edition
4.0
I thought the characters of this book were brilliantly written. Each backstory & dilemma was believable and not over the top. They were all just the right amount of sympathetic (as opposed to The Vacationers, which I recently finished.) Totally believable characters all. The story moved along quite nicely, and there was just enough redemption without being wrapped up with a bow.
This hit all my favorite notes of literary fiction and I look forward to more!
This hit all my favorite notes of literary fiction and I look forward to more!