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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Perley’s chapters are excellent. The rest, not so much.
This was 10/10 storytelling. I love when a book rotates through points-of-view of all the characters. It adds a level of intimacy and understanding both of the characters and the plot that you wouldn’t get otherwise. I haven’t read such a well told and well developed story in a while so I really appreciated this. It’s hard, loving, sad, and powerful.
I liked the setting -- Appalachia. I liked the plot -- complicated, yet simple. Or simple, yet complicated. And I loved the characters! Especially Perley and Helen, so carefully considered. Highly recommended!
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Enjoyed but I wanted more of an ending, felt very abrupt
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, Lesbophobia
This was impossible to listen to.
- the pov shifts so far between 3 characters, and the first one, who is from seattle, starts out ok and then becomes the most annoying know it all savior self styled wilderness expert as soon as the POV shifts to the other two (lesbian couple who grew up in appalachia). while that was part of the point/plot I could not stand it
- when you shift to the 2 queer women the prose suddenly changes to '"blah blah blah" helen said. "such and such" Karen said. "well what about this" I said.' Rinse and repeat. Back and forth over the above mentioned extremely irritating topics of conversation. Kind of confused why the book reverts to 3rd grade style prose, are you trying to make a point about the two appalachian women? I kinda am annoyed on their behalf?
- so you know when a like perfectly well off person decides to live off the grid and acts like it gives them a moral superiority edge? that is exactly whats going on with the first mc, helen. there's literally a scene where she admits to having money and savings, but insists they do not go to the grocery store to buy food, despite the begging and pleading of THE PREGNANT WOMAN, who is starving and sneaks away to chug cooking oil. its not romantic. its not cute. i really feel like this book misses that. IF YOU HAVE MONEY, BUY THE PREGNANT WOMAN FOOD.
- Maybe thats like, addressed. maybe theres character development from Helen (though Karen, partner of pregnant woman, is also slavering over the idea of making her eat roadkill instead of buying groceries, which again, they had money for). This is literally a book about a 31 year old woman doing poverty tourism and dragging two actually poor lesbians and their child along bc she can dangle the carrot of "I have land you can live on for free" over them. I dont know man it just REALLY irks me.
This book is gritty and magical and devastating. It gave me so much to think about. And the prose is like nothing I’ve encountered before. Everyone should read this book
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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