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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
I picked this up over Christmas break for a light, fluffy read but honestly, the characters were hilarious and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would initially. Curling up with Claire and Weezy was just what I needed and I loved watching everyone try to placate the crazy, racist grandma as she antagonizes her alcoholic grandson and vegan/lesbian granddaughter in law. The Smart One reminded me that everyone's family is crazy, not just yours, and the way the Coffey clan deals with their issues is good reminder to laugh in the face of circumstances you just can't change.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't wait for this book to end. It was the slowest I have read any book. I couldn't figure out why I was reading about this family. I wanted to like at least one character but not one was all that likable. I was waiting for something to happen. I just didn't get the relevance of reading about such a boring, normal family.
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 have not read Jennifer’s earlier book “Girls in White Dresses” -- will try and read it later. I listened to the audio version of The Smart One and it was not my favorite and a little different than most of the books I read; however, I did enjoy the writing style. The author did an exceptional job with her characterization, and details. I think the narrator could have done a little better job as she was kind of blah.
The novel is centered around family (Weezy and Will Coffey’s grown children have all moved back home just when she thinks she will be empty nest) – all with problems and issues – totally different personalities. Martha the oldest (30) with plenty of issues, Claire (middle child who has money issues and broken off her engagement), and youngest Max who gets his girlfriend pregnant.
The story is told from different perspectives of each of the characters bridging the gap between old and young. With other drama from elderly mother Bets and sister, Maureen – what a crew! The book would be fitting for young and old alike; however, be prepared for a lot of self-pity, depression, and whining.
The novel is centered around family (Weezy and Will Coffey’s grown children have all moved back home just when she thinks she will be empty nest) – all with problems and issues – totally different personalities. Martha the oldest (30) with plenty of issues, Claire (middle child who has money issues and broken off her engagement), and youngest Max who gets his girlfriend pregnant.
The story is told from different perspectives of each of the characters bridging the gap between old and young. With other drama from elderly mother Bets and sister, Maureen – what a crew! The book would be fitting for young and old alike; however, be prepared for a lot of self-pity, depression, and whining.
A great summer read! This is one of those novels that spends a lot of time constructing the characters. Another reviewer commented that Martha seems to have Asperger's and I agree. I related strongly to aspects of both Claire and Cleo's lives and was rooting for both of them during this story.
Shelve this one on : I relate to these characters in matters of the mind. Not in matters of how they act, but that New England restrained 'this is what you should be like' sensibility.
Also shelve it on : despicable characters, embarrassing covers, more than meets the eye.
Also shelve it on : despicable characters, embarrassing covers, more than meets the eye.
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
If you have a sibling, have you ever been compared or compared yourself to them? I don't know if there is a soul out there that doesn't feel a little sibling rivalry. The Smart One by Jennifer Close has two generations of sibling rivalry and what can happen when a family of adult children are all brought back home for an extended amount of time.
If you have a sibling, have you ever been compared or compared yourself to them? I don't know if there is a soul out there that doesn't feel a little sibling rivalry. The Smart One by Jennifer Close has two generations of sibling rivalry and what can happen when a family of adult children are all brought back home for an extended amount of time.
Really 3.75 instead of 4 stars. I liked this book. The overlap and repetition of the smart vs. pretty theme was a grounding force in this book, and the choices made by everyone were honest ones I felt I would make too. Somehow I imagined Becky Newton as Cleo, no clue why.
3.5 stars
While I didn't always like every character in this book, I certainly recognized myself in them. I think that is what elevated Jennifer Close's writing for me in this novel- her ability to take four women going through different aspects of their lives and make them incredibly relatable to the reader.
As this book drew to a close, I was preparing myself to criticize Ms. Close for not including more character development in her writing. However, the final sentence of the book stopped me. It reads, "And then she recovered and went on." I think that is the theme of this entire novel: four women recovering from different things. Some recover quickly, while others go more slowly. So while there might not have been the loud or showy character development I was looking for, each character did develop the ability to rebound from a difficult situation, which made this book less of a fictitious story and more like real life.
While I didn't always like every character in this book, I certainly recognized myself in them. I think that is what elevated Jennifer Close's writing for me in this novel- her ability to take four women going through different aspects of their lives and make them incredibly relatable to the reader.
As this book drew to a close, I was preparing myself to criticize Ms. Close for not including more character development in her writing. However, the final sentence of the book stopped me. It reads, "And then she recovered and went on." I think that is the theme of this entire novel: four women recovering from different things. Some recover quickly, while others go more slowly. So while there might not have been the loud or showy character development I was looking for, each character did develop the ability to rebound from a difficult situation, which made this book less of a fictitious story and more like real life.