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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Progressive, inclusive, diverse, brilliant, moving, heart breaking, inspiringly wonderful! I could not put it down!
I am struggling to rate this story because although I enjoyed the writing, this story of two sisters as they grew was boring and so morose at times. The main characters, sisters Jo and Bethie both struggle to find themselves. Jo struggles with having feelings for other girls, but she winds up settling for a life with marriage and children. Bethie is molested by an uncle in her teens and struggles to overcome the damage done to her self-worth. Both girls are resilient and eventually do find their own way to happiness. My main challenge with this book is the length, and the fact that it is so steeped in sadness and conflict. Simply put this book was depressing to read. Unlike most stories with a clear story arc, this story simply followed the girls from adolescence to adulthood and through their lives. I typically enjoy historical fiction but this book just didn't hit the mark for me.
I did not enjoy this book. As an older sister, I was reading my worst nightmare come true. This entire story is about a family destroying one another with very little payback. I did finish, going for a stronger ending, but it did not come.
This book is a WOW classic Jennifer Weiner book, you've got two sisters (like in In Her Shoes) but growing up from the 1950's, 60's, 70's, 80s etc. If you didn't know better, you might think the author grew up in the same era, but research was well done. It was unexpected which sister chose the conventional life and which one didn't. The only thing was I lost a little interest towards the end with the grandchildren... especially as less time was spent on the one sisters daughters, than on the original 2 sisters. And I could have done without the *ichigan setting with the school up north, as a Buckeye. But issues of race, gender, sexuality were written flawlessly. Weiner brought in hot button political issues such as abortion and the Me Too movement.
This one packed A LOT into its story. Of course it drew me in right away, as it was set in and around Detroit, and my beloved University of Michigan figured prominently (although I have a suspicion that the author flubbed a few details about the school and its surroundings; I need to do a little research. I forgive her, though!). It's actually a fairly sad book, as both sisters struggle mightily throughout large chunks of their lives - lots of mistakes, regrets, denial - it was almost a bit depressing at points. Still, I read it in two days. I felt very invested in the main characters as they moved through the decades of their lives, although sometimes they exhausted me. The language is rich and flowing and I had a vivid image of these people and places in my mind. I was sorry to see the book end. I've read most of this author's books, and she certainly has a way of truly making her characters very relatable and real.
3.5 stars-an epic story of women coming of age and learning who they are and what they are allowed to become. Sometimes pushing the boundaries of both. A bit long and slow but felt very real
My latest favorite book. Two sisters grew up together, very different people who took different routes in life. Both were successful, in their own way. Excellent writing. I hated for it to end.
Story of a family through 3 generations - focused on women and love among women mother/daughter, sisters, friends, lovers. Really enjoyable.
Some people have noted that the author seems to be trying to fit "too much" into one novel. I didn't feel that way: I felt like the showcase of women's issues worked and was believable-- especially in light of the number of female characters, the period during which the book is set, and the length of a human life. I liked the unfolding story of Beth and Jo an awful lot, and I appreciated the introduction of Melissa and Kim, and how their stories added to the tapestry. I was still leaning towards a 4 star rating, but what killed it for me was Lila: Her utter unlikability, the amount of time spent focusing on her, and the rushed and unbelievable transformation that appears to happen to her at the end of the book, soured the last fourth of the story for me.