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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
Almost, but not quite, good. Interesting, but just not quite good. So close, so close.
Hildy Good is a mean drunk. The story is so engrossing that is the only reason to continue this until the end. The flashbacks and myriad of stories are so convoluted that it takes a while to figure out just what type of book this is supposed to be, I picked this randomly and did not really take it for a mystery but that component of the novel is intriguing.
It is interesting to read a book from the perspective of a self, completely self involved drunk. I was so impatient, at the end, to see where the story would take us. We had to wait as she meanders through Hildy's drunken mean diatribes toward Frank and her endless searches for a bottle of wine before we know what happens and it is almost too much.
I was frustrated by Hildy and wished for her sobriety, she was irascible and hard to like but I could not help liking her and hoping the best for her.
It is interesting to read a book from the perspective of a self, completely self involved drunk. I was so impatient, at the end, to see where the story would take us. We had to wait as she meanders through Hildy's drunken mean diatribes toward Frank and her endless searches for a bottle of wine before we know what happens and it is almost too much.
I was frustrated by Hildy and wished for her sobriety, she was irascible and hard to like but I could not help liking her and hoping the best for her.
I was sad to see the book end. I enjoyed spending time with Hilly and Frank. She felt like a friend, the slightly egotistical, slightly lushly one who is so much fun to be around. I enjoyed a book that talked about alcoholism in an honest way, but wasn’t preachy or tragic.
Even though alcoholism is tragic there are many fun/ny moments in this book, or possibly it is tragicomedy. My dear friend, Jana, recommended this one to me in order for me to develop a better understanding of the disease as I was struggling after a week with my deceitful, denying alcoholic school friend. This book was indeed helpful.
Excellent audiobook narration.
Excellent audiobook narration.
From my Cannonball Read V review...
This is an interesting novel, just released last month. It's one I would recommend for those looking for a book with a little bit of mystery, a lot of character study (can we really judge ourselves accurately?) and some vivid scenery. Suggested to me by the same person who offered up 'Defending Jacob,' it tells the story from the perspective of Hilda Good, a divorced real estate agent in her late 50s/early 60s who still lives in the Massachusetts seaside town where she grew up. She has a bit of a drinking problem (the size of which is debated throughout the book) and not a lot of friends.
The book follows Hildy over the course of a very eventful year as she befriends a new town resident, becomes privy to some secrets perhaps she should not, and rediscovers (in various different ways) friends from her youth. Hildy is the type of character who is flawed and you see it. She isn't hateful, or horrible; she's just not perfect. I don't have any experience with alcoholic parents, so I can't say whether the depiction of her and her family would ring true to someone who does, but it did not seem cartoonish to me. Instead, the writing portrays a woman who thinks she knows her limits but may be quite close to pushing them further than she can handle.
The pacing of the book felt a little off, but I do wonder if part of that is due to reading it on an e-reader. I know it sounds odd, but even though there's a little percentage complete box at the bottom of the screen, I have a much harder time putting that into perspective as compared to when I'm holding a physical book in my hand. My brain has spent over 30 years expecting books to flow in a certain manner relative to the amount remaining; with an e-reader those cues are gone. It did at times feel like a lot of 'nothing' was happening, but I never had to struggle to pick it up, finishing it in about three days, and am still able to picture the town, the houses, and all of the characters quite vividly.
I'd say this is a great little read for a weekend spent somewhere chilly. Add it to your mid-October reading list, warm up some cider and let yourself spend some time in New England.
This is an interesting novel, just released last month. It's one I would recommend for those looking for a book with a little bit of mystery, a lot of character study (can we really judge ourselves accurately?) and some vivid scenery. Suggested to me by the same person who offered up 'Defending Jacob,' it tells the story from the perspective of Hilda Good, a divorced real estate agent in her late 50s/early 60s who still lives in the Massachusetts seaside town where she grew up. She has a bit of a drinking problem (the size of which is debated throughout the book) and not a lot of friends.
The book follows Hildy over the course of a very eventful year as she befriends a new town resident, becomes privy to some secrets perhaps she should not, and rediscovers (in various different ways) friends from her youth. Hildy is the type of character who is flawed and you see it. She isn't hateful, or horrible; she's just not perfect. I don't have any experience with alcoholic parents, so I can't say whether the depiction of her and her family would ring true to someone who does, but it did not seem cartoonish to me. Instead, the writing portrays a woman who thinks she knows her limits but may be quite close to pushing them further than she can handle.
The pacing of the book felt a little off, but I do wonder if part of that is due to reading it on an e-reader. I know it sounds odd, but even though there's a little percentage complete box at the bottom of the screen, I have a much harder time putting that into perspective as compared to when I'm holding a physical book in my hand. My brain has spent over 30 years expecting books to flow in a certain manner relative to the amount remaining; with an e-reader those cues are gone. It did at times feel like a lot of 'nothing' was happening, but I never had to struggle to pick it up, finishing it in about three days, and am still able to picture the town, the houses, and all of the characters quite vividly.
I'd say this is a great little read for a weekend spent somewhere chilly. Add it to your mid-October reading list, warm up some cider and let yourself spend some time in New England.
I thought that this novel by Ann Leary showed great promise at the beginning but ultimately in the end still had some issues that need to be tightened up a bit.
We have the main protagonist of this novel, Hildy Good, who was born and raised in a small town near Boston. Hildy we find is a recovering alcoholic (though not really according to her)who is still recovering from her divorce from her husband and dealing with the recent downturn of her real estate business. Hildy jumps around in the storyline a lot which you can understand a bit better at the end when you see why the storyline at times may have been hazy or very clear. It is a bit problematic though if you are trying to follow along with what is going on.
The storyline floats between Hildy and a recent addition to the town, Rebecca McCallister. Rebecca and her family have bought a million dollar home and farm and their lives start intertwining with other residents in the town. The reader does not ever get to get inside Rebecca's head at all but we merely get our opinions about Rebecca from Hildy. In fact you as a reader have to solely rely on Hildy to give you the "truth" of any given situation so until the end of the novel you realize that it may not have been the best way to structure the novel. I wish we had the novel told from two points of views, Hildy's and Rebecca's just so we could see which version was more accurate or would we have discovered that something in between was more accurate.
I think there were several issues with the novel that caused me to lower it by two stars.
The first issue was that at times Hildy would relate a story about some resident in town when it often was not necessary to what we are reading. So oftentimes stories meandered along and you wondered if this needed to be known later on or was it just a story being told for the sake of being told.
The second issue is that Hildy as a character was not appealing at all. When you get to see her layers pulled back you ultimately get a look at a selfish and totally delusional person. Some of the things she did in the novel just made her off putting to me. Besides Hildy being off putting so was the character of Rebecca. So in the end I rooted for neither character and just felt dissatisfied at the ending.
The third issue is an issue I am having with several new novels lately. If the book description to the novel really does not match what the storyline is about then I get irritated that I wasted my time reading and buying a novel that if I had known what it was about I would have skipped past.
I still think that Ann Leary writes very well and when she gets into a groove at certain parts in the novel I was totally enthralled. I think if some things had been edited and perhaps we get to see more into Rebecca's head it would have made the novel more balanced for me. I would still recommend reading if you are looking for a novel to pass the time with.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
We have the main protagonist of this novel, Hildy Good, who was born and raised in a small town near Boston. Hildy we find is a recovering alcoholic (though not really according to her)who is still recovering from her divorce from her husband and dealing with the recent downturn of her real estate business. Hildy jumps around in the storyline a lot which you can understand a bit better at the end when you see why the storyline at times may have been hazy or very clear. It is a bit problematic though if you are trying to follow along with what is going on.
The storyline floats between Hildy and a recent addition to the town, Rebecca McCallister. Rebecca and her family have bought a million dollar home and farm and their lives start intertwining with other residents in the town. The reader does not ever get to get inside Rebecca's head at all but we merely get our opinions about Rebecca from Hildy. In fact you as a reader have to solely rely on Hildy to give you the "truth" of any given situation so until the end of the novel you realize that it may not have been the best way to structure the novel. I wish we had the novel told from two points of views, Hildy's and Rebecca's just so we could see which version was more accurate or would we have discovered that something in between was more accurate.
I think there were several issues with the novel that caused me to lower it by two stars.
The first issue was that at times Hildy would relate a story about some resident in town when it often was not necessary to what we are reading. So oftentimes stories meandered along and you wondered if this needed to be known later on or was it just a story being told for the sake of being told.
The second issue is that Hildy as a character was not appealing at all. When you get to see her layers pulled back you ultimately get a look at a selfish and totally delusional person. Some of the things she did in the novel just made her off putting to me. Besides Hildy being off putting so was the character of Rebecca. So in the end I rooted for neither character and just felt dissatisfied at the ending.
The third issue is an issue I am having with several new novels lately. If the book description to the novel really does not match what the storyline is about then I get irritated that I wasted my time reading and buying a novel that if I had known what it was about I would have skipped past.
I still think that Ann Leary writes very well and when she gets into a groove at certain parts in the novel I was totally enthralled. I think if some things had been edited and perhaps we get to see more into Rebecca's head it would have made the novel more balanced for me. I would still recommend reading if you are looking for a novel to pass the time with.
Please note that I received this novel for free via the Amazon Vine Program.
Enjoyed this easy to read book. Fascinating first person look-very and sad at times about a middle aged woman dealing with her life (excess drinking included). It would also be fun to read it from the view of the other characters also. Made me want more.
This audiobook was SO good. I felt like Hildy was sitting down with me at the table telling me about everything going on in her life.