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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this novel and will read Jennifer Close's other book.
Loving, needs-to-be needed matriarch Weezy welcomes her twenty-something/early thirties children as well as her son's girlfriend back to her home. Weezy and her sister Maureen have a semi-strained relationship, and history repeats itself with Weezy's daughters Claire and Martha.
While it wasn't technically ever stated, it seems as if daughter Martha has Asperger's; her life is very rigid, she doesn't make friends, she's never had a relationship. So rarely do you get to see a character portrayed with Asperger's, particularly a female in the chick lit genre. That was a refreshing character choice. You could see the mother in the daughter, which was another careful character choice by the author.
Each of the female characters is doing the best she can with what she has. Each has flaws, but they are forgivable flaws - no tragic flaws in this novel. Perhaps it is the hardest to bond with Elizabeth, but she's not a main character anyway.
The strengths of the novel are that the characters are incredibly human, they are good people, and there are strands of incredible truth woven throughout the book.
A gnawing frustration is that we don't learn any of the male perspectives. It's almost like the males are treated as pieces of furniture. I found that the pacing was slightly off. The first 150 pages seemed very engaging and then the book seemed to fumble around. Time sped up at that point in the novel, and it seemed like the story came a summary of what each character did each month.
Loving, needs-to-be needed matriarch Weezy welcomes her twenty-something/early thirties children as well as her son's girlfriend back to her home. Weezy and her sister Maureen have a semi-strained relationship, and history repeats itself with Weezy's daughters Claire and Martha.
While it wasn't technically ever stated, it seems as if daughter Martha has Asperger's; her life is very rigid, she doesn't make friends, she's never had a relationship. So rarely do you get to see a character portrayed with Asperger's, particularly a female in the chick lit genre. That was a refreshing character choice. You could see the mother in the daughter, which was another careful character choice by the author.
Each of the female characters is doing the best she can with what she has. Each has flaws, but they are forgivable flaws - no tragic flaws in this novel. Perhaps it is the hardest to bond with Elizabeth, but she's not a main character anyway.
The strengths of the novel are that the characters are incredibly human, they are good people, and there are strands of incredible truth woven throughout the book.
A gnawing frustration is that we don't learn any of the male perspectives. It's almost like the males are treated as pieces of furniture. I found that the pacing was slightly off. The first 150 pages seemed very engaging and then the book seemed to fumble around. Time sped up at that point in the novel, and it seemed like the story came a summary of what each character did each month.
I couldn't put this book down. I loved the way that Jennifer Close made me actually see htese characters in my head. The reason it gets three stars is that the ending left me wanting. It's almost as if she wrote this as a screenplay for a movie. So, basically loved, loved, loved it, until the next to last page.
3.5 Quick and satisfying read about flying back to the family nest from the view of the mother, two daughters and a girlfriend.
reflective
slow-paced
Most adorable author photo. I want to be her friend !!!!!
Note to self: I've got to stop commenting on author photos. It is going to bite me one day.
Note to self: I've got to stop commenting on author photos. It is going to bite me one day.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OK, but not great. It seems like a theme of books I've been reading lately. Woman in her late 20's/early 30's has a professional/personal crisis in NYC. Losses everything. Moves back to hometown and in with parents. Reconnects with high school friends/boyfriends. Realizes that things aren't better at home and you can't go home again. Does everything possible to move back to NYC.
As someone who would never want to live in NYC, the concept as a plot device is strained at best.
As someone who would never want to live in NYC, the concept as a plot device is strained at best.
I found the characters and story engaging; it was readable. But, I have to admit, I did not love the writing. It told you too much without showing you much of anything. Meh.
Parenthood, sibling rivalry, adult children returning home and the curve balls Life sometimes whips at us... Jennifer Close turns her observant aeye on these topics and how they affect the women in the Coffey family. At moments touching, cringe worthy, and laugh out loud funny, it would be easy to dismiss "The Smart One" as slightly elevated chick lit, but there's something so matter of fact and unsentimental about Close's story that it deserves more than being lumped in with those pink covered summer reads.