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gwaphphle's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Well written prose, a number of likeable characters. You can tell which ones Millet puts in more care for. The others, largely, feel like caricatures, particularly as you get further from what seems to be Millet's own perspective. Some characters felt more like props than people, others don't really escape the tropes they're based in, strange for what's ostensibly a character-driven novel. Often times her writing feels gratuitous. As for the humor, I found only 2 or 3 stories funny, but everyone's taste is different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Death
the_dave_harmon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
clownwitch's review against another edition
4.0
I have so many feelings about this book that I am entirely unable to unpack, but keep stumbling over them as I try to discuss. That said - I cannot wait to Millet’s other books.
lilprend's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to stop reading this book so many times, and only continued because I am away travelling without other options.
Unlikeable characters twinned with unremarkable writing does not inspire persistence. Thankfully, it improved in the last third or so, making it a passable 2*s.
Unlikeable characters twinned with unremarkable writing does not inspire persistence. Thankfully, it improved in the last third or so, making it a passable 2*s.
wemedge's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
janneyf's review against another edition
5.0
One of the easiest 5-star ratings I’ve given. Ms. Millet continues to amaze! No spoilers here, just kudos for writing at its best, when you forget you’re even reading a book because you’re so caught up in the lives of the characters. And boy, does she know how to end a story! This book may look like a collection of short stories, but they are connected, so it’s probably best to read them in order. My favorite one, though, is “The Fall of Berlin.” Outstanding!
sujuv's review against another edition
4.0
Such a good book! Short stories connected via a realtor named Nina - all taking placing in LA - some very literally about home but all about "home." I had no idea where this would go and I was regularly surprised (which I love). Also - short!
sausome's review against another edition
4.0
A masterful collection of interconnected short stories, with women at their core. Sometimes strong, sometimes weak; broken and fractured; found but also still lost - these women explore what it means to be whole, oneself, aware, afraid, determined, and existing. A truly thoughtful look at the head space of women and their sense of place, both within themselves and in their physical environments.
On grief: "She was in her well and thought she’d never get out. And he had to admit, it was distinctly possible. A nurturing-type person would probably cluck like a chook and reassure her, but he didn’t have that in him. He could barely say regular things. He’d rather tell her the truth, anyway: a well was deep and true and had its own cylindrical perfection. It gave good shelter because its walls weren’t thin; they were as thick as the earth was round. When you were in a well the walls went on forever. From the solitude of a well, if you were fortunate, you could look up now and then and see a circle of sky. That circle might as well be the world, or the span of a life in it—clouds passed in the blink of an eye, no matter how immense they were. Stars greater than the sun shone down, as small as pins, from infinite remove. Course, you couldn’t say hard things, not when times were already hard. He knew that much. Only music could cross the divide."
"It wasn’t fair, Lexie had thought when she listened to Jun’s parents tell her adoption story at their dinner table once, how those adopting parents had to pass a gazillion tests to get a kid to take care of, but people pumping out their own babies didn’t have to pass jack shit. You had to take a bunch of tests to help a kid that needed you, but not to make a brand-new kid you’d warp for twenty years. Or more."
On grief: "She was in her well and thought she’d never get out. And he had to admit, it was distinctly possible. A nurturing-type person would probably cluck like a chook and reassure her, but he didn’t have that in him. He could barely say regular things. He’d rather tell her the truth, anyway: a well was deep and true and had its own cylindrical perfection. It gave good shelter because its walls weren’t thin; they were as thick as the earth was round. When you were in a well the walls went on forever. From the solitude of a well, if you were fortunate, you could look up now and then and see a circle of sky. That circle might as well be the world, or the span of a life in it—clouds passed in the blink of an eye, no matter how immense they were. Stars greater than the sun shone down, as small as pins, from infinite remove. Course, you couldn’t say hard things, not when times were already hard. He knew that much. Only music could cross the divide."
"It wasn’t fair, Lexie had thought when she listened to Jun’s parents tell her adoption story at their dinner table once, how those adopting parents had to pass a gazillion tests to get a kid to take care of, but people pumping out their own babies didn’t have to pass jack shit. You had to take a bunch of tests to help a kid that needed you, but not to make a brand-new kid you’d warp for twenty years. Or more."
micaelabrody's review against another edition
3.75
lowish 4 but that might just be bc i had unrealistic expectations based on my memory of mermaids in paradise. i wasn’t totally sold in the beginning but definitely was by the end. this really didn’t feel like a book of separate stories to me, but it still was fun when you realized “oh it’s THAT guy!” or “ooh they bought THAT house!” etc. millet is still very good at being funny without being cheap and not taking things too seriously without being detached or ironic.