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thebookstamp's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rozereads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
I felt so connected to some of the main characters,caseys_chapters's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Hieroglyphics by Jill McCorkle is a highly introspective story that blends the POVs of four characters. Frank and Lil are a married couple in their 80s who share the pain of losing a parent at a young age and are reminiscing on their lives. Frank fixates on visiting his childhood home where single mom Shelly and her son Harvey currently live.
The writing takes you deep into each character’s mind, all of them grappling with grief, mortality, and the bonds of family. It’s a unique style that bounces through time using real-time narrative, flashbacks, letters, and diary entries.
I really enjoyed how this style showed the nuances of two characters’ view of one event. The author also conveyed bruising and gut wrenching emotions very well. Warning: a few of the flashbacks depict violent, tragic deaths.
I struggled with the pace and disjointed flow. Typically I enjoy a slow burn and love multiple POVs, but I grew impatient with some of the detailed, scattered vignettes. I would have preferred a more cohesive narrative. The pace and flow really hurt the reading experience for me.
The writing takes you deep into each character’s mind, all of them grappling with grief, mortality, and the bonds of family. It’s a unique style that bounces through time using real-time narrative, flashbacks, letters, and diary entries.
I really enjoyed how this style showed the nuances of two characters’ view of one event. The author also conveyed bruising and gut wrenching emotions very well. Warning: a few of the flashbacks depict violent, tragic deaths.
I struggled with the pace and disjointed flow. Typically I enjoy a slow burn and love multiple POVs, but I grew impatient with some of the detailed, scattered vignettes. I would have preferred a more cohesive narrative. The pace and flow really hurt the reading experience for me.
keelin's review
2.0
You can read my review on my blog: Here!.
This took me FOREVER but I’m so glad to finally be finished. 2.5 rounded down. This just did not do it for me. Parts I enjoyed but most of it dragged for me. I understand why and how some people will really love this and be touched by how it deals with family. I just wasn’t the right person for this one.
This took me FOREVER but I’m so glad to finally be finished. 2.5 rounded down. This just did not do it for me. Parts I enjoyed but most of it dragged for me. I understand why and how some people will really love this and be touched by how it deals with family. I just wasn’t the right person for this one.
popthebutterfly's review
3.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Hieroglyphics
Author: Jill McCorkle
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: contemporary reads
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, grief, heartbreak, and stalkerish behaviors)
Publisher: Algonquin
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Lil and Frank married young, launched into courtship when they bonded over how they both—suddenly, tragically—lost a parent when they were children. Over time, their marriage grew and strengthened, with each still wishing for so much more understanding of the parents they’d lost prematurely.
Now, after many years in Boston, they have retired in North Carolina. There, Lil, determined to leave a history for their children, sifts through letters and notes and diary entries—perhaps revealing more secrets than Frank wants their children to know. Meanwhile, Frank has become obsessed with what might have been left behind at the house he lived in as a boy on the outskirts of town, where a young single mother, Shelley, is just trying to raise her son with some sense of normalcy. Frank’s repeated visits to Shelley’s house begin to trigger memories of her own family, memories that she’d rather forget. Because, after all, not all parents are ones you wish to remember.
Review: Oveall, this book was good. The characters were well developed and the plot was intriguing enough to keep my attention throughout the novel. The book also has good world building.
However, I felt like the story telling was really fragmented and all over the place and the use of 4 POVs didn’t do well for this book. The book was good, but it really takes a lot of thinking to keep the pieces together and at the end you’re mentally exhausted. Also, Frank is very creepy and it just creeps me out how he stalks Shelley.
Verdict: It was ok, but confusing.
Book: Hieroglyphics
Author: Jill McCorkle
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: contemporary reads
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, grief, heartbreak, and stalkerish behaviors)
Publisher: Algonquin
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Lil and Frank married young, launched into courtship when they bonded over how they both—suddenly, tragically—lost a parent when they were children. Over time, their marriage grew and strengthened, with each still wishing for so much more understanding of the parents they’d lost prematurely.
Now, after many years in Boston, they have retired in North Carolina. There, Lil, determined to leave a history for their children, sifts through letters and notes and diary entries—perhaps revealing more secrets than Frank wants their children to know. Meanwhile, Frank has become obsessed with what might have been left behind at the house he lived in as a boy on the outskirts of town, where a young single mother, Shelley, is just trying to raise her son with some sense of normalcy. Frank’s repeated visits to Shelley’s house begin to trigger memories of her own family, memories that she’d rather forget. Because, after all, not all parents are ones you wish to remember.
Review: Oveall, this book was good. The characters were well developed and the plot was intriguing enough to keep my attention throughout the novel. The book also has good world building.
However, I felt like the story telling was really fragmented and all over the place and the use of 4 POVs didn’t do well for this book. The book was good, but it really takes a lot of thinking to keep the pieces together and at the end you’re mentally exhausted. Also, Frank is very creepy and it just creeps me out how he stalks Shelley.
Verdict: It was ok, but confusing.
flaneurette's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is about aging and coming to terms with events in the past that have profoundly shaped the characters personalities
savoringstories's review
4.0
I found Hieroglyphics by Jill McCorkle to be so evocative that I had to step away several times while reading to grapple with various phrases or passages that really hit me.
This novel is a character-driven, slow burn with a non-linear structure. What I loved most was making sense of who each character was as they attempted to make sense themselves.
If you have read and loved fellow 2020 release, Writers and Lovers by Lily King, then you need to run and pick up this novel. Both novels explore life, mortality, and grief in such profound ways. Both will leave you in a quiet awe.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
This novel is a character-driven, slow burn with a non-linear structure. What I loved most was making sense of who each character was as they attempted to make sense themselves.
If you have read and loved fellow 2020 release, Writers and Lovers by Lily King, then you need to run and pick up this novel. Both novels explore life, mortality, and grief in such profound ways. Both will leave you in a quiet awe.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
katebelt's review
2.0
2 stars for the excellent writing. I've enjoyed this author's novels before and totally expected to love this one. I love slow paced books, character driven, with good writing. The plot is driven by some true, historical events. The story reflects points of view from 4 different generations, including couples, a young adult, and a child. There's also a dog whose only purpose is to be cuddled and hugged for comfort. Then we have a host of auxiliary characters not important to the story. I found it extremely difficult keeping track of who was who and their relationship, if any. I read a physical copy and definitely would not recommend it as an audiobook. Despite being character driven, none were well developed, and I did not resonate with any of them. I nearly abandoned the book 2/3 into it, then skipped to the last couple of chapters, finding a surprising twist, but it did not redeem the book. I can understand how it got its title, but it reads like a writer's notebook, full of various and sundry beautifully written, inspired jottings.