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timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
4.0
So good. The writing was fantastic and the snapshot of the weekend felt utterly real. The arc from the past to that weekend felt less convincing to me. And, Lisa, Michael, Thad, and Jake were so well described that I found myself wanting to understand that level of detail about Diane and Richard! Definitely recommend.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
The Starlings are retiring and moving to Florida, but first there's a last week a the lake house they've just sold. Joined by their adult children and their partners, they have high hopes of a perfect week to cap off the years' of vacations spent there. Their first afternoon out in their boat, a catastrophe strikes, setting the mood for the rest of their time together. Each couple is at a stress point in their relationship, and simmering tensions are not calmed by proximity to one another.
This is not a vacation novel. You're not going to fall in love with any of the characters, or want to join them on future gatherings. Instead, this is a compassionate look as some very flawed characters who often behave badly and fail to communicate with the people they love the most. It's exhausting at times, just being with them. The writing is beautiful and never gets in the way of the story. I liked Lake Life, but I do like flawed, difficult characters, of which this book has an abundance.
This is not a vacation novel. You're not going to fall in love with any of the characters, or want to join them on future gatherings. Instead, this is a compassionate look as some very flawed characters who often behave badly and fail to communicate with the people they love the most. It's exhausting at times, just being with them. The writing is beautiful and never gets in the way of the story. I liked Lake Life, but I do like flawed, difficult characters, of which this book has an abundance.
shelf_1ndulgence's review against another edition
5.0
On Saturday I purchased a novel that had been recommend to me by my book club. The premise did not initially jump out at me but I decided to give it a chance. After 48 hours of stealing moments to read and staying up way too late all I can say is ...Wow.
Lake Life by David James Poissant (@djpoissant), is a modern masterpiece. I don’t believe that I posses the words to describe how much I loved this novel. Everything from the writing, to the setting, to characters was absolute perfection.
The novel follows the Starling family as they spend a finally weekend together at the family's lake house in North Carolina before the sale on the houses closes. During this weekend the family witnesses a tragedy that shakes them to their core and makes them reevaluate their lives. I want to start by noting that all of the characters in this story are difficult to like and yet you find yourself rooting for them to be better, to learn from their mistakes, to truly commit to the changes they know they must make. Poissant does an excellent job of showing us the effects of trauma and how these can lead to mental health issues, as well as addiction. Additionally the novel tackles religion and the current political climate in a tasteful yet emotionally raw and gut-wrenching way. Ultimately, I believe that this novel does a phenomenal job of showing us the thin lines that families walk between keeping too many things unsaid that should be shared, and saying too much that can’t be unspoken.
In a time period where so many of us are experiencing fractures in our relationships because of crucial topics (i.e., civil rights, racism, politics, war, climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, addiction, poverty, etc.), Lake Life shows us why these conversations have become so difficult and why so many choose to stay quiet. However, it also shows us why it is important to do more listening in our path towards healing.
If you are looking for a beautifully written novel that is hard to put down, consider Lake Life.
Added bonus, the author is a professor at my alma mater, the University of Central Florida, so I highly encourage any fellow knights (@ucfalumni) to check it out.
Lake Life by David James Poissant (@djpoissant), is a modern masterpiece. I don’t believe that I posses the words to describe how much I loved this novel. Everything from the writing, to the setting, to characters was absolute perfection.
The novel follows the Starling family as they spend a finally weekend together at the family's lake house in North Carolina before the sale on the houses closes. During this weekend the family witnesses a tragedy that shakes them to their core and makes them reevaluate their lives. I want to start by noting that all of the characters in this story are difficult to like and yet you find yourself rooting for them to be better, to learn from their mistakes, to truly commit to the changes they know they must make. Poissant does an excellent job of showing us the effects of trauma and how these can lead to mental health issues, as well as addiction. Additionally the novel tackles religion and the current political climate in a tasteful yet emotionally raw and gut-wrenching way. Ultimately, I believe that this novel does a phenomenal job of showing us the thin lines that families walk between keeping too many things unsaid that should be shared, and saying too much that can’t be unspoken.
In a time period where so many of us are experiencing fractures in our relationships because of crucial topics (i.e., civil rights, racism, politics, war, climate change, LGBTQ+ rights, addiction, poverty, etc.), Lake Life shows us why these conversations have become so difficult and why so many choose to stay quiet. However, it also shows us why it is important to do more listening in our path towards healing.
If you are looking for a beautifully written novel that is hard to put down, consider Lake Life.
Added bonus, the author is a professor at my alma mater, the University of Central Florida, so I highly encourage any fellow knights (@ucfalumni) to check it out.
hippiechick56's review against another edition
2.0
The story had potential but when you have unlikable characters, politics, religion and overly explicit sexual content with no connection to the plot, you lose whatever potential that was there.
pino_sabatelli's review against another edition
3.0
Richard e Lisa Starling, alle soglie della pensione, vogliono vendere la casa in cui per anni hanno passato le vacanze con tutta la famiglia. Decidono perciò di passare un ultimo fine settimana in quel luogo così pieno di ricordi assieme ai due figli, Michael e Thad, alla moglie del primo, Diane, e al compagno del secondo, Jake. Questa, in estrema sintesi, la trama del primo romanzo di Poissant che, come già nella pregevole opera d’esordio, Il paradiso degli animali, racconta le metamorfosi cui vanno incontro vite e relazioni quando devono affrontare una crisi.
La recensione completa su: https://www.ifioridelpeggio.com/la-casa-sul-lago-di-david-james-poissant/
La recensione completa su: https://www.ifioridelpeggio.com/la-casa-sul-lago-di-david-james-poissant/
clarbineds's review against another edition
5.0
Family secrets, memories and relationships. This was a good story and had a satisfying ending.
va1entina's review against another edition
2.0
Come era successo anche l'anno scorso, questo non è il periodo più proficuo per la lettura, anzi.
Sicuramente il libro sbagliato al momento sbagliato.
La prima parte del libro è molto lenta, quasi estenuante, e non si capisce l'intento dell'autore. Bisogna superare circa metà libro per comprenderne la trama, i nodi che legano i personaggi tra di loro e per calarsi nell'emotività descritta da Poissant.
Il libro presenta pochi punti di forza (ad esempio la caratterizzazione dei personaggi, anche se spesso stereotipata) e lo stile narrativo è ciò che ha appesantito di più la lettura per me, decisamente non il mio preferito.
Un romanzo interessante, che non ho gradito e non penso di aver compreso fino in fondo.
Sicuramente il libro sbagliato al momento sbagliato.
La prima parte del libro è molto lenta, quasi estenuante, e non si capisce l'intento dell'autore. Bisogna superare circa metà libro per comprenderne la trama, i nodi che legano i personaggi tra di loro e per calarsi nell'emotività descritta da Poissant.
Il libro presenta pochi punti di forza (ad esempio la caratterizzazione dei personaggi, anche se spesso stereotipata) e lo stile narrativo è ciò che ha appesantito di più la lettura per me, decisamente non il mio preferito.
Un romanzo interessante, che non ho gradito e non penso di aver compreso fino in fondo.
shibbyy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ferliegram's review against another edition
4.0
Dinamiche familiari comuni, problemi di dipendenze, episodi del passato che segnano profondamente e non si superano mai del tutto, scelte di vita che celano insoddisfazione.
Un romanzo molto moderno che affronta temi di tremenda attualità. Consigliato!
Un romanzo molto moderno che affronta temi di tremenda attualità. Consigliato!
lawyergobblesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
2.5. There’s moments of good writing, but... the characters are kind of thin and mostly unlikable. Actually only the women were likable. I felt pummeled over the head by some of the plot. It could’ve worked if he hadn’t gone for broke on each storyline and wrapped it up too neatly.