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lillianjv's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
bestknownfor's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
carole888's review against another edition
4.0
Picked up on an impulse after hearing about it. There is a great mix of characters with an unexpected storyline that kept me wanting more. This was a most enjoyable read.
henrymarlene's review against another edition
3.0
Like a classical Greek saga, there is a very wide chronological and familial connection that Andrew Pippos builds into “Lucky’s”, from as far back as 1913 to 2002. In such an immense stretch of time, it is hard to believe, as the book begins, that its characters are connected to each other in one way or another. They are connected through failure and regret, and the need to fight what others think of them, and how this perception can filter into their thoughts and keep them stagnant. They are connected through the need for making amends with others and unto themselves. And there are so many elements to each story line, even without the links whether they cross over. Who knew ‘Wheel of Fortune’ could be literally the prize haul of a lifetime, not to mention a metaphor for the value of atonement for a man called Lucky who had lost everything?
This is a dual family saga, connected by a murder, violence, fraud, and Benny Goodman. It is the sum of all these parts that drowns the arrogance of the characters that seem to elevate them to no end at particular points in their timelines. And it is the connections that bind Lucky, Emily and Ian that bring down the curtain of living lives that are not entirely truthful, honest or are feeding off the shadows of others. As for Ian, sometimes repentance can take forever. And Emily’s story is no less sad; an end to a marriage, a loss of compassion from those who should love her the most, and investigating a story to nowhere to find a connection to that very story, as well as the truth about many things that she had sought for so long.
“Lucky’s” was strong on pace, movement and the connection of characters and time with adventure, violence and tragedy abound, and shed just enough light to see how and where emotion, love and hope were sacrificed to protect the fate of future generations.
This is a dual family saga, connected by a murder, violence, fraud, and Benny Goodman. It is the sum of all these parts that drowns the arrogance of the characters that seem to elevate them to no end at particular points in their timelines. And it is the connections that bind Lucky, Emily and Ian that bring down the curtain of living lives that are not entirely truthful, honest or are feeding off the shadows of others. As for Ian, sometimes repentance can take forever. And Emily’s story is no less sad; an end to a marriage, a loss of compassion from those who should love her the most, and investigating a story to nowhere to find a connection to that very story, as well as the truth about many things that she had sought for so long.
“Lucky’s” was strong on pace, movement and the connection of characters and time with adventure, violence and tragedy abound, and shed just enough light to see how and where emotion, love and hope were sacrificed to protect the fate of future generations.
sspence's review against another edition
2.0
DNF - tried to push through and got to page 268 but I just don’t find this story interesting. The jumping around of the timelines is too confusing and there’s too many unnecessary characters and random stories. It seems like it’s trying to fit too much into it but then also nothing much even happens.
read_with_pinot's review against another edition
DNF Tried three times. The story is told in way what seemed like different genres styles - this can work but in this case it made the book disjointed and hard to connect with.
albionloveden's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
fasicari's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. This took me ages to finish as I just didn't care about the characters. It was also the second book I had read in a row where the adult characters didn't seem to have any friends or positive relationships, which made them one dimensional. Meh.
frigidita's review against another edition
2.0
Easy read, short lag in the middle but enjoyed the ending - everything tied up quite nicely.