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seventhswan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I found this book extremely slow to get started, but once it did I was gripped even though little happens - a good two-thirds of the book is the protagonist, Marile, reflecting. Throughout the slow first section, I couldn't foresee what it was building up to, and found that I was getting bored as the prose was quite dense. However this did mean that I was genuinely shocked by the main event of the novel when it eventually arrived. From that point on, I flew through the rest of the story. I was pleasantly reminded of Ian McEwan by the focus on a single traumatic event and its impact on the rest of Marile's life, and thought the writing style was also similar to McEwan.
I picked this up because I'd previously read Elena Knows and wanted to try something else by this author, so it was only when I'd finished and returned it to the library that I realised it was in the crime and mystery section. I would have been disappointed if I'd been expecting crime fiction, as no crime takes place in this book and any mystery is much more about the characters' feelings and motivations than solving puzzles or looking for clues - I'm not sure where that categorisation came from. I really enjoyed this book, though, as the thought-provoking literary fic it was!
I picked this up because I'd previously read Elena Knows and wanted to try something else by this author, so it was only when I'd finished and returned it to the library that I realised it was in the crime and mystery section. I would have been disappointed if I'd been expecting crime fiction, as no crime takes place in this book and any mystery is much more about the characters' feelings and motivations than solving puzzles or looking for clues - I'm not sure where that categorisation came from. I really enjoyed this book, though, as the thought-provoking literary fic it was!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Abandonment, and Child death
Moderate: Death
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
biobeetle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Child death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
aprettybookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Child death
xbarr2's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, and Child death
Minor: Miscarriage and Gaslighting
bps'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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars
I have to say that I when I started this novel, I wasn't expecting the theme of motherhood and all its complexities to be the story's driving force (it's not mentioned in the blurb). While it's not my favourite theme/topic to read about personally, Piñeiro's writing was just as lovely as Elena Knows.
Our main character, Mary/Marilé/Maria Elena, was oftentimes irritating to me - partly because she (both the author and character) intentionally maintains this distance due to her grief and it made it hard to sympathize with her (prior to knowing for sure what caused said grief).
All this said, I appreciated how Piñeiro explored motherhood in the context of Argentinian society, the judgemental and difficult social relationships between upper-class mothers, power-imbalanced marriages, and how grief can drive a person to extremes. The focus on grief was the strongest part of the novel, and it really shone when Maria let herself process those emotions properly. That said, all the crying and blurred contacts annoyed me (the blurred contacts have to be the most annoying metaphor to me now). The discussions around how traumatic events (no matter how responsible we may be) can affect us forever, causing chronic emotional pain and grief, and how we can allow healing or prevent ourselves from healing was impactful. Sometimes it's a little too direct/overt, but Piñeiro leaves a lot of food for thought in her novel.
Overall, I'm glad I read this. I'm still looking forward to reading more of Piñeiro's works, though this one didn't land as much for me personally.
I noted a lot of good quotes in this book, but here's two that stood out to me during my final reading session:
"'Yes, I do: a woman damaged,' Robert answered. 'Not a woman destroyed, like in Simone de Beauvoir's book, just a woman damaged.' 'And is that better or worse?' I asked. 'It's much better,' said Robert. 'Why?' 'Because damage can be repaired, wounds sewn up, scars healed. Something that's broken is harder to repair, it's often better to just replace it. But something that's simply damaged can be fixed. There's hope that it can be restored, I'm not saying always back to it's original state, but good enough to keep going. Maybe slower, weaker, but still going. ... What happened, the events in themselves, can't be fixed. They've already happened, there's not changing them. They will always be there. In your past. But today, tomorrow, next year, all depend on how you live and what you do as you move on. The damage is done, the pain is there, but the paths you choose will determine what's to come. You can't erase the pain, but you can it into something you're able to tolerate a little more every day, that's always with you but that allows you to carry on.'" Page 164-165
"Maybe some people simply aren't wired for happiness. Some of us, when we feel joy circling close, fly into a state of panic. And we'll do whatever it takes to avoid it, to push it out of our path before it descends on us. Because we'd have no idea what to do with that happiness, how to make it fit inside our bodies so that we can continue moving forward. For some of us, unease, not happiness is the only habitat in which we feel we can survive." Page 172
I have to say that I when I started this novel, I wasn't expecting the theme of motherhood and all its complexities to be the story's driving force (it's not mentioned in the blurb). While it's not my favourite theme/topic to read about personally, Piñeiro's writing was just as lovely as Elena Knows.
Our main character, Mary/Marilé/Maria Elena, was oftentimes irritating to me - partly because she (both the author and character) intentionally maintains this distance due to her grief and it made it hard to sympathize with her (prior to knowing for sure what caused said grief).
All this said, I appreciated how Piñeiro explored motherhood in the context of Argentinian society, the judgemental and difficult social relationships between upper-class mothers, power-imbalanced marriages, and how grief can drive a person to extremes. The focus on grief was the strongest part of the novel, and it really shone when Maria let herself process those emotions properly. That said, all the crying and blurred contacts annoyed me (the blurred contacts have to be the most annoying metaphor to me now). The discussions around how traumatic events (no matter how responsible we may be) can affect us forever, causing chronic emotional pain and grief, and how we can allow healing or prevent ourselves from healing was impactful. Sometimes it's a little too direct/overt, but Piñeiro leaves a lot of food for thought in her novel.
Overall, I'm glad I read this. I'm still looking forward to reading more of Piñeiro's works, though this one didn't land as much for me personally.
I noted a lot of good quotes in this book, but here's two that stood out to me during my final reading session:
"'Yes, I do: a woman damaged,' Robert answered. 'Not a woman destroyed, like in Simone de Beauvoir's book, just a woman damaged.' 'And is that better or worse?' I asked. 'It's much better,' said Robert. 'Why?' 'Because damage can be repaired, wounds sewn up, scars healed. Something that's broken is harder to repair, it's often better to just replace it. But something that's simply damaged can be fixed. There's hope that it can be restored, I'm not saying always back to it's original state, but good enough to keep going. Maybe slower, weaker, but still going. ... What happened, the events in themselves, can't be fixed. They've already happened, there's not changing them. They will always be there. In your past. But today, tomorrow, next year, all depend on how you live and what you do as you move on. The damage is done, the pain is there, but the paths you choose will determine what's to come. You can't erase the pain, but you can it into something you're able to tolerate a little more every day, that's always with you but that allows you to carry on.'" Page 164-165
"Maybe some people simply aren't wired for happiness. Some of us, when we feel joy circling close, fly into a state of panic. And we'll do whatever it takes to avoid it, to push it out of our path before it descends on us. Because we'd have no idea what to do with that happiness, how to make it fit inside our bodies so that we can continue moving forward. For some of us, unease, not happiness is the only habitat in which we feel we can survive." Page 172
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, and Car accident
Minor: Emotional abuse and Cancer
molly_readss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Abortion, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Chronic illness, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, and Toxic relationship
applesodaperson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Yeah wow this was a hard read. Just emotionally. It was so well written that it makes the reader feel the guilt that the character feels. The only thing I would change is that I do wish there was more at the end of her healing and talking to her son and his family. And maybe even reconnecting with her ex-husband.
Read from the Provo library.
Read from the Provo library.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
meemawreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked my first Claudia Piñeiro so much, I tried another! This was another hit, although I enjoyed the concept and execution of Elena Knows more.
In this story, Marilé (now Mary) is coming back to Buenos Aires for the first time since fleeing to Boston 20 years ago. As the story unfolds we learn why she left and what happens when she returns. I guessed most of what I think was supposed to be a reveal later in the book, but it held my attention anyway. It's a book about trauma, accident vs tragedy, punishment, strained family bonds, and insular communities. Check the content warnings before you dive in. Four taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
In this story, Marilé (now Mary) is coming back to Buenos Aires for the first time since fleeing to Boston 20 years ago. As the story unfolds we learn why she left and what happens when she returns. I guessed most of what I think was supposed to be a reveal later in the book, but it held my attention anyway. It's a book about trauma, accident vs tragedy, punishment, strained family bonds, and insular communities. Check the content warnings before you dive in. Four taters 🥔🥔🥔🥔/🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Car accident
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
A Little Luck opens with Mary Lohan preparing to travel from Boston to Buenos Aires for work. It soon becomes clear that Mary has some history in Buenos Aires, history she’s not keen to revisit.
This book explores what happens when you make a decision, a slight error of judgement, one that you and plenty of others have made previously to no ill effect, except this time it has tragic consequences. Would you, could you carry on after the worst day of your life? And what might you have to sacrifice along the way? Could you forgive yourself for your choices and could others forgive you?
I love the issues this book explores and I really love the suspenseful way the first half unfolds. Interspersed with Mary’s present timeline are small snippets that hint at her past. At first this is just a short basic paragraph, but each time a few sentences are added to the previous version, slowly revealing more and more details as to exactly what happened that terrible day. This really builds a suspense and made for a propulsive reading experience as I frantically turned the pages in search of further details.
This is in many ways a book of two parts. Although each has a different feel I enjoyed them both equally and was never less than 100 % engaged. The storytelling was simply fabulous. And the ending was perfection - hopeful but restrained, just what I needed.
This is a book that had me asking all the “what ifs” and “what would I dos”. It left me thankful for the kindness of strangers and much more aware of all the small moments and small decisions that have the potential to alter the trajectory of our lives. Highly recommend.
This book explores what happens when you make a decision, a slight error of judgement, one that you and plenty of others have made previously to no ill effect, except this time it has tragic consequences. Would you, could you carry on after the worst day of your life? And what might you have to sacrifice along the way? Could you forgive yourself for your choices and could others forgive you?
I love the issues this book explores and I really love the suspenseful way the first half unfolds. Interspersed with Mary’s present timeline are small snippets that hint at her past. At first this is just a short basic paragraph, but each time a few sentences are added to the previous version, slowly revealing more and more details as to exactly what happened that terrible day. This really builds a suspense and made for a propulsive reading experience as I frantically turned the pages in search of further details.
This is in many ways a book of two parts. Although each has a different feel I enjoyed them both equally and was never less than 100 % engaged. The storytelling was simply fabulous. And the ending was perfection - hopeful but restrained, just what I needed.
This is a book that had me asking all the “what ifs” and “what would I dos”. It left me thankful for the kindness of strangers and much more aware of all the small moments and small decisions that have the potential to alter the trajectory of our lives. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, and Car accident