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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Ellis Judd – I found myself immediately drawn to Ellis Judd. There was such sadness around him and I had to discover why. At the story’s onset, Ellis was a creature of habit, following the same routines, day in and day out. His life was completely solitary, yet you knew he once had so much more. At the beginning of Tin Man, Ellis reminded me a little of Ove in A Man Called Ove. That feeling didn’t hold up long, but set the book off on a wonderful path. Even as a boy, Ellis was very endearing. He lost his mom at only 14, and had to continue on with a father who didn’t know how to show Ellis love.
“He rarely went to his father’s house when nobody was there, rarely went when only his father was there, truth be told. He did anything to avoid the wordless connection neither felt comfortable with.”
Ellis Judd was a man whose life had been touched by tragedy too many times, yet in between his joy was nearly complete. In this way Ellis reminded me of Cyril in The Heart’s Invisible Furies.
An Interesting, Beautiful Friendship – Ellis and Michael met when they were both 12-years old. These two had much in common. In different ways, both lost their mothers. One’s father was dead, the other’s remote. They shared a love for Mabel, Michael’s grandmother and protector of both boys. As they grew older, their feelings for each other also grew, leaving them both a little lost. When Annie entered the picture, she was like a balm on their friendship, smoothing out the rough patches, loving them both.
That Writing – Sarah Winman has such a lovely way of wording her story. I highlighted many passages and could have easily highlighted many more. Her words touched me over and over, sometimes bringing tears.
“Mabel’s hand pressed firm to my back, holding me up. It’s got cold, she said. Let’s go home and get you warmed. The gesture almost broke me. We settled silently in the back of a taxi, no talk of the beautiful day or who wore what or who said what. I could see her looking at me. She slipped her hand into mine. Waiting for me to crack. That’s how I knew she knew. Had always known. As if she, too, had seen another version of our future orbiting around us. Before its fall to earth on that real and perfect day.”
Winman wisely divides her novel into two narratives, spectacularly woven together. The first, told in third person, focuses on the boys growing up, and Ellis in the present day. The second part, told in first person by Michael, fills in the gaps that grew larger and larger in the first half. This set up left me nearly rabid to know more. Tin Man is a slim novel that many will devour in a single sitting.
What Didn’t
Gentle Start – Some might call the beginning of Tin Man a little slow, but for me gentle is a better word. Ellis is a broken man, and Winman eases the reader into knowing him. For some, this might require a little patience in the early pages.
No Quotation Marks – I hesitate to include this, because it didn’t bother me at all, but I know some it bothers. (Though, honestly, I think we need to let it go! I don’t see this trend going away.)
{The Final Assessment}
I adored Tin Man. The characters, the plot, and the writing were all remarkable on so many levels. I already want to read it again! I applaud Sarah Winman on creating such a beautifully crafted story of love. Grade: A
Note: I received a copy of this book from the G.P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for my honest review.
Original Source - Novel Visits: https://novelvisits.com/tin-man-by-sarah-winman-review/
What Worked For Me
Ellis Judd – I found myself immediately drawn to Ellis Judd. There was such sadness around him and I had to discover why. At the story’s onset, Ellis was a creature of habit, following the same routines, day in and day out. His life was completely solitary, yet you knew he once had so much more. At the beginning of Tin Man, Ellis reminded me a little of Ove in A Man Called Ove. That feeling didn’t hold up long, but set the book off on a wonderful path. Even as a boy, Ellis was very endearing. He lost his mom at only 14, and had to continue on with a father who didn’t know how to show Ellis love.
“He rarely went to his father’s house when nobody was there, rarely went when only his father was there, truth be told. He did anything to avoid the wordless connection neither felt comfortable with.”
Ellis Judd was a man whose life had been touched by tragedy too many times, yet in between his joy was nearly complete. In this way Ellis reminded me of Cyril in The Heart’s Invisible Furies.
An Interesting, Beautiful Friendship – Ellis and Michael met when they were both 12-years old. These two had much in common. In different ways, both lost their mothers. One’s father was dead, the other’s remote. They shared a love for Mabel, Michael’s grandmother and protector of both boys. As they grew older, their feelings for each other also grew, leaving them both a little lost. When Annie entered the picture, she was like a balm on their friendship, smoothing out the rough patches, loving them both.
That Writing – Sarah Winman has such a lovely way of wording her story. I highlighted many passages and could have easily highlighted many more. Her words touched me over and over, sometimes bringing tears.
“Mabel’s hand pressed firm to my back, holding me up. It’s got cold, she said. Let’s go home and get you warmed. The gesture almost broke me. We settled silently in the back of a taxi, no talk of the beautiful day or who wore what or who said what. I could see her looking at me. She slipped her hand into mine. Waiting for me to crack. That’s how I knew she knew. Had always known. As if she, too, had seen another version of our future orbiting around us. Before its fall to earth on that real and perfect day.”
Winman wisely divides her novel into two narratives, spectacularly woven together. The first, told in third person, focuses on the boys growing up, and Ellis in the present day. The second part, told in first person by Michael, fills in the gaps that grew larger and larger in the first half. This set up left me nearly rabid to know more. Tin Man is a slim novel that many will devour in a single sitting.
What Didn’t
Gentle Start – Some might call the beginning of Tin Man a little slow, but for me gentle is a better word. Ellis is a broken man, and Winman eases the reader into knowing him. For some, this might require a little patience in the early pages.
No Quotation Marks – I hesitate to include this, because it didn’t bother me at all, but I know some it bothers. (Though, honestly, I think we need to let it go! I don’t see this trend going away.)
{The Final Assessment}
I adored Tin Man. The characters, the plot, and the writing were all remarkable on so many levels. I already want to read it again! I applaud Sarah Winman on creating such a beautifully crafted story of love. Grade: A
Note: I received a copy of this book from the G.P. Putnam’s Sons in exchange for my honest review.
Original Source - Novel Visits: https://novelvisits.com/tin-man-by-sarah-winman-review/
And I wonder what the sound of a heart breaking might be. And I think it might be quiet, unperceptively so, and not dramatic at all. Like the sound of an exhausted swallow falling gently to the earth.
I don't even know where to start. I weeped at multiple points during the second half of this book. I just wanted to reach in and give each of these characters a hug.
I adored that most of the "drama" seemed to happen off the page. You're aware of the tragedies that loom in the near future, but you're spared the pain of enduring them (which somehow makes them all the more painful?)
Understated, tender, and deeply moving, I know this one is going to become a new favourite 🥰
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Terminal illness
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nichts was mich überrascht, weder emotional bewegen konnte.
“There's something about first love...it's untouchable to those who played no part in it. But it's the measure of all that follows.”
Tragically beautiful. Filled with real complex relationships, and surprising character growth, in such a short book. Sarah Winman has a beautiful voice and is able to make her characters shine even as they fell dull and lightless. I'm a sucker for tragedy. So maybe I would have loved it either way. Though, Winman's storytelling has definitely left me wanting to read more of her work. I was so easily sucked in by this one.
Tragically beautiful. Filled with real complex relationships, and surprising character growth, in such a short book. Sarah Winman has a beautiful voice and is able to make her characters shine even as they fell dull and lightless. I'm a sucker for tragedy. So maybe I would have loved it either way. Though, Winman's storytelling has definitely left me wanting to read more of her work. I was so easily sucked in by this one.
emotional
sad
medium-paced