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marilynsaul's review
5.0
An amazing debut novel, which I read back in the '80s and loved enough to carry with me throughout my years wanderings and adventures. And it was all "new to me" on the re-read some 40 years later. I had completely forgotten that Kate was such a damaged, obsessive, controlling, passive-aggressive person. And I kept wondering how, why she had become like that, because there were hints that she was not at all like this before her conversion to Catholicism. Did she convert because the religion more closely suited her true personality and helped her justify her actions? Or did the conversion create the monster??? It really struck home with me because my domineering, damaged, controlling mother was a devout Catholic. No answers here - just pondering.
rdheicher's review
2.0
I listened to the audio version of this book during car trips. It was okay, but I've never been a horse person at all, and I found the detailed descriptions of riding and all things horsey a bit tedious, and I didn't care for the matriarch of the family, although I understand that she's meant to be a character that most readers probably will not like. I just kind of wanted to smack her, and most of the other characters, at times.
It also seemed to end abruptly. While I really enjoyed A Thousand Acres, I've never liked any of Smiley's other novels very much. I keep giving her a try, though! Oh well.
It also seemed to end abruptly. While I really enjoyed A Thousand Acres, I've never liked any of Smiley's other novels very much. I keep giving her a try, though! Oh well.
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