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hopeykat's review
3.0
HIEROGLYPHICS by Jill McCorkle is a beautiful examination of how one’s past can affect their present through showing the deep connection that exists between two families.
Told through four perspectives, Hieroglyphics looks into the lives of Lil, an aging woman desperately trying to cling onto the memories that remain by reading the diary entries that detail her life; her husband Frank, a retired professor haunted by his past and finds himself fixated on visiting his childhood home; Shelley, a single mother struggling to keep her job and who just moved into Frank’s old house where she takes care of her son Harvey; who suffers from cleft lip and a troubled mind filled with visions of ghosts and mass murderers.
HIEROGLYPHICS follows these characters as their lives are laid out and interwoven through their experiences with loss and tragedy, revealing how family and memory constantly shape one another and reminds us that we’re all trying to make sense of our own lives.
An emotionally charged story that tugs on the heart, McCorkle uses poignant prose and vivid descriptions to prove herself as a profound author who has written a truly mature work that speaks on the difficulties of those who struggle with the scars of their past.
“Don’t we all harbor the hope, the wish, that something magnificent will happen? Don’t we all marvel at how easily we can get lost within a work of art?” –Jill McCorkle
Told through four perspectives, Hieroglyphics looks into the lives of Lil, an aging woman desperately trying to cling onto the memories that remain by reading the diary entries that detail her life; her husband Frank, a retired professor haunted by his past and finds himself fixated on visiting his childhood home; Shelley, a single mother struggling to keep her job and who just moved into Frank’s old house where she takes care of her son Harvey; who suffers from cleft lip and a troubled mind filled with visions of ghosts and mass murderers.
HIEROGLYPHICS follows these characters as their lives are laid out and interwoven through their experiences with loss and tragedy, revealing how family and memory constantly shape one another and reminds us that we’re all trying to make sense of our own lives.
An emotionally charged story that tugs on the heart, McCorkle uses poignant prose and vivid descriptions to prove herself as a profound author who has written a truly mature work that speaks on the difficulties of those who struggle with the scars of their past.
“Don’t we all harbor the hope, the wish, that something magnificent will happen? Don’t we all marvel at how easily we can get lost within a work of art?” –Jill McCorkle
koby's review
2.0
This has promising moments, but it feels too long, too rambling. It was hard for me to connect with any of the narrators.
fallchicken's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 even
Four voices, narrated in fragments, back and forth in time. Takes a bit of attention to sort this all out. Being of a certain age myself, I especially enjoyed the bits from Lil and Frank, as their relationship grew and changed over the years.
Four voices, narrated in fragments, back and forth in time. Takes a bit of attention to sort this all out. Being of a certain age myself, I especially enjoyed the bits from Lil and Frank, as their relationship grew and changed over the years.
lisagray68's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
serendipitysbooks's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Hieroglyphics is a story of four interconnected people - Shelly a single mother, her son Harvey who is a little quirky and currently has an obsession with serial killers, Frank an old man who used to live in Shelly’s house, and Frank’s wife Lil. It’s novel that explores loss, memory, and death. Definitely a quieter, character-driven novel with rewards for the patient and attentive reader as characters slowly reveal more of their pasts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
travel_through_pages's review
3.0
This book takes place across many decades as we follow Lil and Frank, a married couple that share a tragedy of both losing a parent who died too soon. It follows their journey from being young and having kids, living in Massachusetts, to decades later when they move down to North Carolina.
This story weaves together a tale of family, from the perspective of child and parent as they learn to navigate through relationships and heartbreak.
The writing in this book was quite beautiful and at times you could feel completely immersed into the heartbreak of losing a parent.
While the writing was something that brought this story to life, it also felt that the plot line got a bit repetitive. This sometimes made for a slow building story, as you felt like you were just revisiting the same things over and over.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this book, is that it is told from multiple POVs. We get to follow both Lil and Frank on their journeys, as well as, a single mother Shelley and her son, Harvey who happen to live in the house that Frank grew up in.
All in all, this was a well written story that provides a look into family, relationships, heartbreak, and the legacy people would like to leave behind for their family and loved ones.
This story weaves together a tale of family, from the perspective of child and parent as they learn to navigate through relationships and heartbreak.
The writing in this book was quite beautiful and at times you could feel completely immersed into the heartbreak of losing a parent.
While the writing was something that brought this story to life, it also felt that the plot line got a bit repetitive. This sometimes made for a slow building story, as you felt like you were just revisiting the same things over and over.
One of the things that I enjoyed about this book, is that it is told from multiple POVs. We get to follow both Lil and Frank on their journeys, as well as, a single mother Shelley and her son, Harvey who happen to live in the house that Frank grew up in.
All in all, this was a well written story that provides a look into family, relationships, heartbreak, and the legacy people would like to leave behind for their family and loved ones.
laceybeanreads's review
4.0
Thanks to Algonquin for a copy for review purposes.
This book was a reflection of life from a married couple.
I liked it.
This book was a reflection of life from a married couple.
I liked it.
scout_p's review
3.0
3.5. I liked the idea of how tragedy can bring people together. The older woman trying to explain herself and her life to her children. Very well written, I just tend to gravitate to quicker paced books atm.
reyesreadingreview's review against another edition
4.0
This was a tough read for me. I listened partially to the audio, but I believe it’s one that needs to be physically read to fully digest.
Hieroglyphics journeys through four main characters: Frank and Lil, husband and wife, and Shelley and Harvey, mother and son. Frank and Lil are retired and are on their own ways to finish their life stories. Lil uncovers some secrets while trying to develop a history for her children, secrets Frank may have wanted to stay hidden. Frank connects with Shelley, as she lives in his childhood home. His multiple visits trigger some painful memories for Shelley, ones she also didn’t want to remember. This story brings up the rough connections some family histories have and how younger generations use the information. It also covers the loss and grief that accompanies some memories, especially ones that can cut a family to its core.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars out of 5. I cried at the end..I felt so sad for Shelley and her kids. My only issue was the frequent POV changes, as it was hard for me to keep track of certain stories.
Thank you to @algonquinbooks and @jill.mccorkle for a gifted copy of this novel!
Hieroglyphics journeys through four main characters: Frank and Lil, husband and wife, and Shelley and Harvey, mother and son. Frank and Lil are retired and are on their own ways to finish their life stories. Lil uncovers some secrets while trying to develop a history for her children, secrets Frank may have wanted to stay hidden. Frank connects with Shelley, as she lives in his childhood home. His multiple visits trigger some painful memories for Shelley, ones she also didn’t want to remember. This story brings up the rough connections some family histories have and how younger generations use the information. It also covers the loss and grief that accompanies some memories, especially ones that can cut a family to its core.
Overall, I give this book 4 stars out of 5. I cried at the end..I felt so sad for Shelley and her kids. My only issue was the frequent POV changes, as it was hard for me to keep track of certain stories.
Thank you to @algonquinbooks and @jill.mccorkle for a gifted copy of this novel!