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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Blood, Lesbophobia
new year new me here is my first ever book review. this might have been a 2.5, but I can't finish a book and not give it at least a 3... I audiobooked this because I didn't think I would like it enough to physically read it, and I was probably right, but that also meant 13 hours of inconsistent bad Appalachian accents. honestly my main qualm with this book was that each character was so unlikable right up to the very end, and I was never sure what I was supposed to be rooting for or taking away from it. the premise was interesting in theory, the book of it all was underwhelming in practice
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel explores the lives of three women living in Appalachia. We are introduced to the region through an outsider's perspective as one of the women, Helen, moves from Seattle to purchase a 20-acre plot of land in rural Ohio. Helen has her B.A. from attending a liberal arts college and is incredibly eager to learn the "best" practices for living off the land, much to the frustration of those who have lived there for generations. The other two women, Karen and Lily, are a couple living on a women's land trust, until they become pregnant with a son and move onto Helen's property. Together the three women begin living a life of their own choosing, building a house and limiting grocery store visits. We watch as this chosen family raises a son together, while in constant battle with one another. Karen and Helen are equally strong-willed, yet their backgrounds continually put them at odds with one another. The reader grows accustomed to their way of life with limited amenities that when CPS takes their son away, we understand a living situation that we, as outsiders, would have deemed as unacceptable before knowing how and why they got here. Our stereotypes of rural Appalachia are continually subverted throughout the novel, as some of the most seemingly ignorant characters prove to have a deeper understanding of power and equality than our college-educated protagonist. Amongst the hardships the characters face, they fight for what is right in humorous ways - such as illegally planting fruit trees in suburban yards late at night. The characters are rough around the edges as we all are, but we learn to love them as those around them have done.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Asparagus, snakes, white oak, acorns and pills, elves and wolves. Family, motherhood, sisterhood, womanhood, the rotting penises of manhood. This book makes sense in a way that doesn't entirely make sense. You kind of just have to go with it, to ride it out and either end up loving it or end up not loving it. I loved it. I thought it was a slurry of vagueness/depth, apathy/emotion, humbleness/pride. I seethed and cried and laughed with the characters, and yearned for more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Grief, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail
Unfortunately, I constructed my own idea of what this book would be before I even read it and then was disappointed when I realized it wasn’t my made-up perfect fantasy book. Queer women in rural Appalachia intentionally living together and building community? Sounds like a dream. While this book was some of this, it was also much more. There was much more tension and strife, which makes sense, and not as many revelations or nuggets of wisdom as I’d have liked.
Overall, I did wind up enjoying this book and appreciating what I had to offer me, but I don’t think it changed my life on any way. Writing was also decent but nothing special.
3.5/5
Overall, I did wind up enjoying this book and appreciating what I had to offer me, but I don’t think it changed my life on any way. Writing was also decent but nothing special.
3.5/5
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I haven’t hate-loved or love-hated a book this hard for a long time. I have no idea how to rate it.
It took me a few chapters to really get into this… the characters are not likable in the least but I slowly started to fall in love with them. Once I got hooked I couldn’t put it down. The writing is amazing!! Makes you think about family, obligation, childhood, safety, survival… great book!