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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I don’t think I would’ve liked this book as much as I did if I hadn’t had Meryl Streep reading it! *chefs kiss* and that’s coming from me who takes forever with audiobooks and has read only a handful of them. So, I’ll thank the lovely lady on my bookclub who made it a requirement to be listened and not read.
Beautifully written. Relatable COVID-times forced family time. I was entangled by young Lara and older Lara and how she got there. Joyous to see her reminisce and embrace the road that led her to her happy place.
Beautifully written. Relatable COVID-times forced family time. I was entangled by young Lara and older Lara and how she got there. Joyous to see her reminisce and embrace the road that led her to her happy place.
I think we all could look at the world a little more like Lara - totally in the moment and appreciative of the beauty around her even in the midst of tragedy. But it also leaves her blind or indifferent? To some pretty obvious threats she later is hurt by, and maybe even regrets, a little.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was different than most things ive read, but i see why its popular. And I loved Meryl Streep narrating, it really made the book for me
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
3.5 stars rounded up because I listened to the audiobook and Meryl Streep ABSOLUTELY ELEVATED this to another level! I'm not sure I would have liked the character as much if not for her interpretative mastery.
I found this to be quite fresh and enjoyed the ways in which the characters got to live full lives in different ways, with the stark contrast of acting vs. farming. I also always love seeing a healthy and long lasting marriage portrayed along with a well functioning parental relationships too. At some points I got confused as to what was going on / if we were in the past or the present, but eventually the format of a mother telling her daughters of a prior time became more endearing than confusing. The characters also felt well developed and compelling. The one part I found unnecessary was the abortion - I almost would have preferred it if the secret reveal was that Emily really was Duke's biological daughter.
Nonetheless, this was overall sweet and heartwarming while still being poignant!
--
Audiobooked this for a second time in June, and the sentiments remain the same.
I found this to be quite fresh and enjoyed the ways in which the characters got to live full lives in different ways, with the stark contrast of acting vs. farming. I also always love seeing a healthy and long lasting marriage portrayed along with a well functioning parental relationships too. At some points I got confused as to what was going on / if we were in the past or the present, but eventually the format of a mother telling her daughters of a prior time became more endearing than confusing. The characters also felt well developed and compelling. The one part I found unnecessary was the abortion - I almost would have preferred it if the secret reveal was that Emily really was Duke's biological daughter.
Nonetheless, this was overall sweet and heartwarming while still being poignant!
--
Audiobooked this for a second time in June, and the sentiments remain the same.