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smderitis's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this up because I was such a fan of Sebold's The Lovely Bones, but this book just fell short somewhere for me. I would most likely attribute my dislike for it to the fact that I never connected to Helen. Her character didn't leap off of the page for me in a way that made me want to feel sympathetic for her.
bindisoma's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book up on a whim. Sebold holds true to her previous stories in that you will find yourself in the middle of a dark plot. It was an intriguing story though, which focused on the relationships we have (especially with mothers) and how we can let our lives slip away from us. Going to need to take a peppy breather after this one, that's for sure.
enlenar's review against another edition
2.0
I got about 60 pages into this book and had to put it down. The beginning starts off with a bang and then goes really slowly after that. The topic of the whole book was off. I couldn't get into the story and was really put off from the first chapter. Don't read this if you really like Alice Sebold.
mariola's review against another edition
The book was crazy from the first and some of the attitudes really bothered me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Terminal illness, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Dementia
ivanssister's review against another edition
2.0
This is the second book in a row I've read that features parents with mental illness and suicide. Clearly my next book needs to be some sort of palate cleanser.
The reviews of this book are all over the board. I was interested in the storyline (read the book within a 24 hour period in fact) but wasn't very sympathetic to the main character. I get how sometimes we end up in unintended situations, but I wasn't feeling the love. I was just tired and annoyed that the family was so broken and never did anything about it.
The reviews of this book are all over the board. I was interested in the storyline (read the book within a 24 hour period in fact) but wasn't very sympathetic to the main character. I get how sometimes we end up in unintended situations, but I wasn't feeling the love. I was just tired and annoyed that the family was so broken and never did anything about it.
non_xistent's review against another edition
4.0
I admit the story felt like it had dragged on a bit. Other than that, the chapter with Mrs. Leverton’s notepad stuck with me. I needed it.
“Every day, Mrs. Leverton wrote again the things that kept her tethered to the outside world. No matter how frail, she had not relinquished her hold. I knew what held me.”
“Every day, Mrs. Leverton wrote again the things that kept her tethered to the outside world. No matter how frail, she had not relinquished her hold. I knew what held me.”
loribulb's review against another edition
2.0
Beautifully written, and I understand the actions of the main character... But I really did not like her, and could not wait to finish the book and get out of her head.
millerhj718's review against another edition
1.0
I listened to this book on my recent long car trip. It was horrifying and disturbing, and I have no idea why I kept listening. Blech (to be mature).
asdhleydg83's review against another edition
3.0
At first I couldn't read it. The actions of Helen jar against even the idea that it is fiction. But picking it up to continue was worth it. It's not an easy read, but the further you go the more you can relate.
marthagal's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't find this book quite as offensive as a lot of people did. I did want to take a shower after reading it (it's the story of a woman who kills her mentally ill mother, and she's not exactly a pleasant narrator), but I found myself oddly engrossed in it once I got past the scene of the murder.