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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This is one contemporary read that I will recommend to anyone who likes a lifelong story. I was a bit hesitant at first… I wasn’t sure what the point was going to be. But this is a story without a point; it’s a documentation of life as a woman from the 1950s to 2020-ish. It’s more a story of feminism, overcoming, sisterhood and parenthood, being a wife, a mother, a spouse, gay rights, cancer. This was a genuinely amazing story. I don’t want to give too much away, but there is a lot of discussion of sexual violence, so be forewarned if you are triggered by those discussions. It occurs throughout the entire story.
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Gut Instinct Rating: 9.75
Characters: 10
Believability: 10
Uniqueness: 10
Writing Style: 10
Excitement Factor: 10
Story Line: 10
Title Relevance: 10
Artwork Relevance: 10
Audiobook Narration: 9
Overall: 4.97
%: 98.8%
•
Gut Instinct Rating: 9.75
Characters: 10
Believability: 10
Uniqueness: 10
Writing Style: 10
Excitement Factor: 10
Story Line: 10
Title Relevance: 10
Artwork Relevance: 10
Audiobook Narration: 9
Overall: 4.97
%: 98.8%
What a saga. I related to Jo as a teen in so many ways. The end of the book socked me in the gut, and I sort of feel like I'm feeling after losing a friend.
The bones behind this book were very good, some of it was confusing and hard to follow. Overall good read.
There was such buzz about this book and I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy. The story was interesting but honestly this book was a struggle for me. This book covers a lot of ground both in topic(s) and in time and it just felt like too much for one novel I really wanted to love it but I can't say I did. I enjoyed parts and found others extremely slow. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher the early opportunity to read #mrseverything.
really realistic in the fact the many “radical hippies” of the 60/70s conformed to dominant culture and are now actively performing and perpetrating it. there are many critiques i have obvi…..but the sister/mother trauma (and other shit) threw me for a fucking spin. i’ll probably be bringing these newfound memories that this book recovered up to my therapist
Little long but good
Family is complicated
All's well that ends well
Family is complicated
All's well that ends well
I always enjoy Jennifer Weiner's books, and this one, even though it was 19 CDs long, held my attention. We follow sisters Jo and Bethie from their childhood in suburban Detroit in the 50's, their teens and 20's during the 60's and 70's civil rights movement, and into the 21st century as they and their families experience the highs and lows of life and adapt to the results of their choices and the opportunities society gives women. This would be a great book for a book club discussion as she covers most of the major women's issues of the past 70 years, and the choices women made based on the options available to them at the time. Some of the issues may be uncomfortable to some readers - including same-sex relationships, interracial relationship, sexual abuse, prejudice. However, Weiner's well-developed characters will hopefully help people develop more compassionate opinions of people who are victims or have made lifestyle choices that differ from the readers.
June 2021
I reread this because I noticed that one of the local libraries is having a discussion of this book. Still very enjoyable the second time through. The issues of the book seemed to stand out more this time though after having two daughters navigate major life changes - starting college and graduating from college and starting a career - during the pandemic. Also, during the two years since I first read this book, there have been major social movements regarding Me Too, race relations, and homosexual rights, which makes one reflect on how long these changes took and how much work there still is too do.
One thing that I did notice this time I listened to the audiobook, is the extensive descriptions. While this is nice for nostalgia and character development, it could have been edited, maybe two, not three or four songs listed when describing the music the characters listened to, or describe a few key articles of clothing they were wearing, not the entire outfit. At times it seemed like every object in the room was being described in detail.
June 2021
I reread this because I noticed that one of the local libraries is having a discussion of this book. Still very enjoyable the second time through. The issues of the book seemed to stand out more this time though after having two daughters navigate major life changes - starting college and graduating from college and starting a career - during the pandemic. Also, during the two years since I first read this book, there have been major social movements regarding Me Too, race relations, and homosexual rights, which makes one reflect on how long these changes took and how much work there still is too do.
One thing that I did notice this time I listened to the audiobook, is the extensive descriptions. While this is nice for nostalgia and character development, it could have been edited, maybe two, not three or four songs listed when describing the music the characters listened to, or describe a few key articles of clothing they were wearing, not the entire outfit. At times it seemed like every object in the room was being described in detail.
Maybe my favorite read of 2019. A sweeping book about 2 sisters. It is about family, friends, love, women. It follows 2 sisters from the 50s to modern day and it covers politics, religion, feminism, who women are and what we have become. For everyone who says chic lit is not real writing, they should read this. I loved every minute of it and almost didn’t want to finish it. It is the kind of book you are sad when it ends and think about when it is over.
Interesting perspective on all that has and hasn’t changed for women.
Not sure I really buy Bethie’s hippie phase.
Not sure I really buy Bethie’s hippie phase.
A beautiful family saga, well-written and thoughtful.