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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
This book reminded me of A Man Called Ove in that a grumpy old man was grieving the death of his wife, although the two stories did end quite differently. I enjoyed the look back on his life and the way it all went back to his relationships. I liked the book a lot but there was a feeling of melancholy that followed the character throughout the book.
Trying to be more generous with the stars this year and it's nice that my first book for 2021 made that easy. This is a book I will recommend to family and friends.
Beautifully written chronicle of a life and a place. I wish I could have shared a stout with Maurice myself.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one really resonated with me. Not so much the specifics of the story, but the “feel”….
Five people. Five toasts. The end. Reminiscent of The Five People you meet in Heaven. Maurice spends time with those who have meant the most to him in his life recalling the times when and why, they loved him. Cute looks into these relationships but none that made me feel the love it appreciation.
This book was a little boring for me. Not my typical read, more like a biography. Each chapter is about one person in the narrators life, five in total. I didn’t really feel connected to any of the characters.
I would give it a 5, but my heart is broken! Well written, nice construction, not a surprise ending, but sad.
This was a very poignant novel set in Ireland that focuses on the themes of pain, grief, regret, and to a degree reconciliation. Griffin writes powerfully and beautifully. I loved how she captured the emotional significance of ordinary moments with such precision, grace, and profundity. Of course, there were many consequential events as well and they all centered around an older crotchety gentleman named Maurice. There were many lessons to be gained through this central character, but for me, it was most notably to have compassion for everyone. There often are circumstances or issues that reveal a bigger story than what one can see on the surface.
At times, it was difficult to take in all the novel's heaviness, but the impassioned authenticity of it all kept me going. I truly enjoyed the full life retrospective with its reflections on notable decisions, nostalgic memories, and pivotal people. With that said, I struggled with the ending. I understand it but desperately wanted it to be different. I suppose there was some beauty contained within it, but I wanted one of a different variety. After all the hard-won remembrances, contemplations, and insights, I was disappointed there was not more redemption and healing at the end. Nevertheless, this was a powerful read and my difficulty with the ending is evidence of its impact.
At times, it was difficult to take in all the novel's heaviness, but the impassioned authenticity of it all kept me going. I truly enjoyed the full life retrospective with its reflections on notable decisions, nostalgic memories, and pivotal people. With that said, I struggled with the ending. I understand it but desperately wanted it to be different. I suppose there was some beauty contained within it, but I wanted one of a different variety. After all the hard-won remembrances, contemplations, and insights, I was disappointed there was not more redemption and healing at the end. Nevertheless, this was a powerful read and my difficulty with the ending is evidence of its impact.