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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Audiobook
My four stars are for the story within the story. That is not an easy feat but it is well written and so so accurate
My four stars are for the story within the story. That is not an easy feat but it is well written and so so accurate
This book is truly remarkable, as it tackles the important topic of alcoholism. Set in New England, it is a must-read for fans of novels in this setting. The story revolves around Hildy Good, a mother who faces the end of her marriage when her husband reveals that he's gay. While she excels as a realtor during the day, she battles with alcoholism at night. Witnessing her denial is both heartbreaking and poignant, but don't be mistaken, this book is far from being a downer. In fact, it is filled with humor that will keep you entertained throughout.
Hildy Good is a character we are all familiar with, and I believe that this book not only provides an enjoyable exploration of a genuine issue, but also offers readers a glimpse into the complex world and psyche of an alcoholic. Surprisingly, this is achieved in a captivating and engaging manner.
The Movie with Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline was great as well.
Hildy Good is a character we are all familiar with, and I believe that this book not only provides an enjoyable exploration of a genuine issue, but also offers readers a glimpse into the complex world and psyche of an alcoholic. Surprisingly, this is achieved in a captivating and engaging manner.
The Movie with Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline was great as well.
This was basically exactly what one wants in a lowkey novel--cozy yet gritty, realism, strong sense of place, memorable characters, a bit of realistic pathos without too much melodrama... And the audiobook narration by Mary Beth Hurt was *PHENOMENAL.*
Disliked the narration-one star off for that. I feel like the narrator's choice of intonation and emotion was just too much when it came to the main character (Hildy). If I had read the book or if there was a different narration, I might have been sympathetic to her and her struggle with alcohol. Instead, she came across as completely unlikeable, and I found myself repeating some of the text with different intonations and interpreting the words differently.
The plot had a few holes and seemed to go all over the place. The author tried to tie it all together at the end, but it just didn't work for me.
I did love that the book took place in a coastal New England town. Many of the characters were very relatable.
I also have to say that I have yet to listen to an audiobook where the narrator does a good job with a young child's voice. This book is no excpetion. So awful.
The plot had a few holes and seemed to go all over the place. The author tried to tie it all together at the end, but it just didn't work for me.
I did love that the book took place in a coastal New England town. Many of the characters were very relatable.
I also have to say that I have yet to listen to an audiobook where the narrator does a good job with a young child's voice. This book is no excpetion. So awful.
Slow moving at first. This is an easy and light summer read.
Hildy Good, descendent of Salem witches is a modern day real estate agent, divorced from her gay husband and finding her way through her alcoholism and lonely life. Very much a adult version of an Afterschool special. Read it one one sitting but overall unimpressed by style and story.
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I buy books for my Kindle all the time, far more often than I can finish a book so I have hundreds of books on my "shelf". Sometimes I choose one and can't remember anything about it, why I bought it, what caught my interest. The Good House was one of those. So I started it and although the narrative is a style that I sometimes find difficult to read, I remember being surprised in those first few pages at how much I was already pulled into the story.
There was a hint throughout the novel that something was going to happen, a hint that kept me reading into the night.
Telling the story from the perspective of an alcoholic was eye opening. These characters were so well established and developed, I felt like I was there as the story unfolded. Dark humor to be sure, Ann Leary nails this one. After I finished the book, I found info that it is being made into a movie....not sure they can capture this on film but I hope they do a good job.
There was a hint throughout the novel that something was going to happen, a hint that kept me reading into the night.
Telling the story from the perspective of an alcoholic was eye opening. These characters were so well established and developed, I felt like I was there as the story unfolded. Dark humor to be sure, Ann Leary nails this one. After I finished the book, I found info that it is being made into a movie....not sure they can capture this on film but I hope they do a good job.
THE GOOD HOUSE has been sitting on my shelf, lonely and unread, for the better part of a year. Finally, with the incentive of being able to read it outside, I thought I might as well give it a go.
The going is, initially, a tad slow, and I didn't know what to make of Hildy. After forty pages or so, I was firmly sucked in. Hildy is a great character, very real and flawed and funny. She has confidence and sass, but insecurities, too. I liked that she was sixty, and not another late teen, or twentysomething dealing with addiction. Addiction is a trap anyone of any age can fall into, even a successful adult with a good job, home, and family life.
This was the first book by Ann Leary for me, but I will certainly look up her other books in the future. She writes elegantly but accessibly, too. The story sucks you in, and I almost felt that I knew Wendover, the town this takes place in, as well as Hildy, personally. There isn't excessive drama, which I found refreshing in a story dealing with addiction. For many, coming to the realization that they need help, is probably a slow process, and not one grand event. Overall, highly recommended.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
The going is, initially, a tad slow, and I didn't know what to make of Hildy. After forty pages or so, I was firmly sucked in. Hildy is a great character, very real and flawed and funny. She has confidence and sass, but insecurities, too. I liked that she was sixty, and not another late teen, or twentysomething dealing with addiction. Addiction is a trap anyone of any age can fall into, even a successful adult with a good job, home, and family life.
This was the first book by Ann Leary for me, but I will certainly look up her other books in the future. She writes elegantly but accessibly, too. The story sucks you in, and I almost felt that I knew Wendover, the town this takes place in, as well as Hildy, personally. There isn't excessive drama, which I found refreshing in a story dealing with addiction. For many, coming to the realization that they need help, is probably a slow process, and not one grand event. Overall, highly recommended.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
6/16: I apparently read this book in 2013 but didn't remember it because I just reread it. I had just read another book by the author and was looking for something quick and I almost didn't finish this book. I did not like the main character at all, and