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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Banks is in a class with very few other authors. I finished this book while traveling, and picked up another. I had to put the second book down because, after reading Russell Banks, it felt like reading a third-grader's essay.
I know a lot of parents who refuse to read this because it involves the death of children in a school bus accident (not a spoiler - the accident happens on the first page or two). It's not about death per se, but how a tragedy affects a community.
I know a lot of parents who refuse to read this because it involves the death of children in a school bus accident (not a spoiler - the accident happens on the first page or two). It's not about death per se, but how a tragedy affects a community.
I can't even write a review without spoiling everything. All you need to know is that this book was absolutely wonderful to read. Heartbreaking and brutal as hell.
What happens in a small town after a tragic bus accident. Succinct and well-written.
This is the tale of the aftermath of a tragedy in a small town in Upstate New York. I saw this movie ages ago in the 90s and I found it interesting, and many years later picked it up in a used bookstore. There was much exploration of each character and their responses to the horrific trauma that they suffer. The characters range from lonely, neurotic, manipulative to sad and powerless. Grief seems to tear this town apart. I liked the depth behind each person. They all have some form of suffering prior to the accident. I didn't mind this book. I give this one 4/5.
Another great [author:Russell Banks] book -- but incredibly depressing, no matter how hard he tries at the end.
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
"it's amazing how poor people who live in distant beautiful places always think that a six-lane highway or an international airport will bring tourists who will solve all their problems, when inevitably the only ones who get rich from it live elsewhere." (96)
Absolute beautiful and heart wrenching story of a town amidst an unthinkable tragedy. The story is told through several POV’s, and while the book doesn’t bring closure to everything that’s happening, it ends with hope for the future of the characters.
In his attempt to write a philosophical novel, Russell Banks sacrifices character development, plot and engaging writing. In his attempt to tell the story of people coping with a shared tragedy, he sacrifices philosophy. The resulting disaster is a barely readable story told by four different people, often with the characters overlapping and repeating events to the reader - sometimes even lifting dialogues word for word from previous chapters - instead of moving the story forward. Perhaps if Banks could commit to either philosophy or writing real characters, this story could have been salvaged. As it stands, The Sweet Hereafter is a plodding, dull and entirely forgettable novel that loses itself in its own attempt to be deep and meaningful.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes