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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
Kind of sad. Deep. Have not done a full review on my blog yet.
DNF'd @ p. 50
I've never read this author and I probably won't read more from her in the future. This just wasn't for me.
I've never read this author and I probably won't read more from her in the future. This just wasn't for me.
Read BEFORE The Weight of Water. Same characters, but it will be spoiled if you know the ending of the story. Still interesting to read even if you know, just because Shreve is very good at making you wish for one outcome when a very different one is what will happen.
one of the most tediously long and drawn out books I have read; too much lengthy description of their surroundings which I found myself scanning over...however the last 2 pages, I have to admit, made me sit up and repeat, "are you kidding, what the hell?"
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was the third book in a row that threw me for a loop in the final pages (or in this case, the final paragraph). Therefore, I was again left at the end of the book contemplating whether I liked it or not.
Overall, I thought it was relatively well-written though I never felt that I fully understood the characters, so additional depth in that regard would have helped.
It was unique that the story was laid out backwards in three different phases of their lives (52, 28, and 17). Unfortunately, that contributed to my challenge in understanding who the characters really were. I felt as though in each time frame the author was about to reveal more of the character to the reader but then decides to change the time frame again. By the time you get to the end, you think you will more fully understand them but you are still left wanting more. I also could not determine whether I liked the characters or not and I found many of their actions to be unbelievable (really, after Africa and everything that happens with Thomas, Linda quickly moves on to date and ultimately marry someone else and they live happily ever after??)
I don't think I can recommend this book - the abrupt twist at the end combined with poor character development (and characters you can't decide whether or not you like) leave a lot to be desired.
Overall, I thought it was relatively well-written though I never felt that I fully understood the characters, so additional depth in that regard would have helped.
It was unique that the story was laid out backwards in three different phases of their lives (52, 28, and 17). Unfortunately, that contributed to my challenge in understanding who the characters really were. I felt as though in each time frame the author was about to reveal more of the character to the reader but then decides to change the time frame again. By the time you get to the end, you think you will more fully understand them but you are still left wanting more. I also could not determine whether I liked the characters or not and I found many of their actions to be unbelievable (really, after Africa and everything that happens with Thomas, Linda quickly moves on to date and ultimately marry someone else and they live happily ever after??)
I don't think I can recommend this book - the abrupt twist at the end combined with poor character development (and characters you can't decide whether or not you like) leave a lot to be desired.
So I was left a little speechless with this book. It's not often that I am left completely shocked at the end of a book but here I was. I won't give it away but you have to keep reading to the last page. Each section got more interesting and the weaving of time starting with the future and working backwards was very interesting and well done. For me, the book did drag at times so it took me a little while to get through but I'm glad I managed to finish. The book touched on a lot of different topics, love, growing up, first loves, adultery, Africa, politics, poetry and yet it didn't feel scattered. It managed to feel very cohesive and somehow came together so beautifully and poignantly.
Told in three different chunks of time backwards. That could have been okay, maybe, but I just felt like I was supposed to know things I didn’t and never felt the characters really developed. Also, what the heck with that ending???
I loved this book all the way up to the ending, which really dropped my star rating. Although it is written backwards in time, so you see the beginning of the relationship at the end, that didn't phase me. However I found the ending clumsy, unbelievable, and didn't even ring true to the narrative, so it spoilt the whole of the rest of the excellent book for me. It's not like Shreve to be so clumsy - I usually love her delicately nuanced books but this was a bad misstep in my opinion.