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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
More engaging than I expected after reading the blurb on the dust jacket. A re-imagining of the story of Hercules, thinly disguised in a story of crimes, bullets, scars, love, loyalty, and coming of age complete with a setting of Olympus and time spent with Jove.
I didn't love this book. I'd really rate it more of a 2.5 than a 3, but I'm feeling generous. I went into the book thinking that I'd love it because everyone else did, but I did not.. and that makes me disappointed.
I appreciate the premise of the book and the storytelling based on different scars, but I didn't feel like I could identify with the characters, thus preventing me from wanting to know the story. This is not to say I didn't enjoy the story, I did. I just didn't love the book. IDK, it's complicated.
Since I listened to the audio, I was happy thinking that Loo's name was Lou and then the spelling was explained, which probably explained more if you were reading a hard copy, and I didn't love it. Why would you name your kid something you don't like? Also, why is it even relevant?
I appreciate the premise of the book and the storytelling based on different scars, but I didn't feel like I could identify with the characters, thus preventing me from wanting to know the story. This is not to say I didn't enjoy the story, I did. I just didn't love the book. IDK, it's complicated.
Since I listened to the audio, I was happy thinking that Loo's name was Lou and then the spelling was explained, which probably explained more if you were reading a hard copy, and I didn't love it. Why would you name your kid something you don't like? Also, why is it even relevant?
Kept my heart rate up
This book is dense with plot, backstory, and present. It’s not a read for the faint of heart, I found myself having to put the book down and digest between chapters. Hannah Tinti beautifully pieced together the story of Sam Harley, Lily, and Loo. I think this is one of those stories that will stay with me for a long time
This book is dense with plot, backstory, and present. It’s not a read for the faint of heart, I found myself having to put the book down and digest between chapters. Hannah Tinti beautifully pieced together the story of Sam Harley, Lily, and Loo. I think this is one of those stories that will stay with me for a long time
Loo and her father, whose body is riddled with scars and bullet holes, live on the run until Hawley decides to return to the home town of Loo's mother, who died when Loo was an infant. The novel alternates between Loo struggling to decipher her father and deal with small town life and the back stories of Hawley's twelve lives--the twelve bullet holes in his flesh. Tinti can write and kept the suspense going through this incredible book.
This book was fine. It was interesting enough to keep me going but not really gripping. It was a fairly meandering tale of a ne'er do well who tries but just can't seem to ever right his ship. The fantastical tales of how he acquired his 12 bullet wounds are a bit MUCH. There are also levels of coincidences that made me roll my eyes more than once. On the whole, fine. 3/5.
This book was chosen for my book club group. As someone who hates anything having to do with guns, I couldn't get past the 4th chapter. I listened to it on audiobooks and it just did not hold my attention.
It seems like everyone really loved this book, but I could not get into it. Maybe my expectations were too high. I stopped reading 25% of the way through because at 480 pages, I didn't feel like investing anymore of my time on characters that didn't interest me.
I received this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
I received this book from NetGalley for review purposes.
I really enjoyed this story, a different kind of coming of age story. Samuel Hawley lives on the wrong side of the law but loves deeply: his dead wife Lily and especially their daughter Loo. Story goes between the past, telling how Hawley got each bullet, and the present, telling mostly Loo's story.
Not your typical story, but I enjoyed it. The author seemed to take making flawed characters to the extreme, though. The only truly likable character was the principle. Everyone else was flawed to the point of being sociopathic. They seemed to lack the ability to feel most any emotion other than anger. The few instances where they were supposed to be feeling love rarely came through believably. Despite that, the story kept my interest and had a satisfying, if obscure ending. I would recommend this book to readers looking for something out of the ordinary.
