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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Usually I’m annoyed by books with A Purpose, but I enjoyed and appreciated this one despite the way the message took precedence over truly believeable character development.
This one came as a monster surprise. Prior to this, I would never call myself a Jennifer Weiner fan. I’m not into kitschy “women’s fiction” per se and was scared that this book was just another literary cheeseball. But NO! This story about the lives of two sisters throughout the decades was well thought out, deeply layered and very emotional. I liken it to the women’s version of Forrest Gump. Watching the sisters evolve, discover their roles in an ever-changing society and peel back their own layers in a quest for self-discovery was everything that you’d hope for in the women’s fiction genre!
This took me two borrows to get this book read, but the length is totally worth it, and in the end I wanted more! Starting in the 1950's this is a modern day version of the March sisters. Feminism and cultural expectations are the major themes, however, alongside these also run companionship, friendship, the difficulty of growing up, and making choices along the way. I gave this book a 5 out of 5 and would recommend to everyone!
The beginning of this book made me groan internally—Bethie and Jo were not characters, but rigid tropes. Weiner quickly resolved this matter though, as the tropes were mere jumping off points for the rich and complex development she had in store.
I really enjoyed this story, and it has claimed the rare honor of now belonging to my "personal" shelf. It is a book that I felt particularly connected to. I recognized myself in Jo and Bethie's lives in a much more visceral way than I might usually in another book.
I definitely recommend this book. It isn't perfect, and I'll admit maybe it has an extra star because I felt so connected to the story, but you definitely won't regret the read all the same.
I really enjoyed this story, and it has claimed the rare honor of now belonging to my "personal" shelf. It is a book that I felt particularly connected to. I recognized myself in Jo and Bethie's lives in a much more visceral way than I might usually in another book.
I definitely recommend this book. It isn't perfect, and I'll admit maybe it has an extra star because I felt so connected to the story, but you definitely won't regret the read all the same.
You know, it's been two weeks since I finished this book and I've yet to be able to write a review about it. I also said, when I was about three quarters through it, that I was going to give it a four star rating.
WELL I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. FIVE STARS ALL DAY LONG TO MRS. EVERYTHING!
That's because I have recommended Mrs. Everything to ~5 people in the past couple weeks, I consider it my last really good read, and I'm still regularly thinking about Jo and Bethie. Oh and because I've been borderline neurotic about getting my hands on Jennifer Weiner's upcoming novel, Big Summer, which HAS to be a great sign!
I'm going to give up on writing a review for the book, though. I've been stressing about it and I've come to the conclusion I just don't have the skills to write a quality review about a quality book. Just, if you don't suck, read it and love it. <3
WELL I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. FIVE STARS ALL DAY LONG TO MRS. EVERYTHING!
That's because I have recommended Mrs. Everything to ~5 people in the past couple weeks, I consider it my last really good read, and I'm still regularly thinking about Jo and Bethie. Oh and because I've been borderline neurotic about getting my hands on Jennifer Weiner's upcoming novel, Big Summer, which HAS to be a great sign!
I'm going to give up on writing a review for the book, though. I've been stressing about it and I've come to the conclusion I just don't have the skills to write a quality review about a quality book. Just, if you don't suck, read it and love it. <3
This story was written with the best of intentions. I believe the author tried earnestly to showcase the evolution of women from the fifties until now with the story of two sisters and their respective lives. Unfortunately, it reads as if the author had a checklist of events and social issues that marked time periods and made sure to have the characters take part in them all.(Woodstock, Newport, Vietnam War, molestation, rape, abortion, drug use,etc.) Almost a Forest Gump-like feel. Didn’t work for me...
https://literallaura.home.blog/2019/08/15/everything-to-everyone/
I gave up around 200 pages in. It just wasn’t for me at this time….I was not into the characters or their stories.
This epic novel is a slow burn and is everything I wanted it to be. This is a story of two very different sisters, who love one another, but live lives that they think they want, can't have and eventually lives they want. The world, culture shifts, expectations of woman, men, war, etc. inform or limit their choices.
Weiner is a terrific writer and each book I've read by her impresses me more.
Weiner is a terrific writer and each book I've read by her impresses me more.