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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
Good lord. This whole thing was four hundred pages of heartbreak and misery, like some kind of cautionary tale that has no specific warning.
And I kind of loved it.
And I kind of loved it.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I think I need to rate this book 5 stars. Nothing is perfect, but I have no complaints about this book or things that should be changed and based off that, this is my first 5-star read of the year. It was digestible, and interesting enough to keep me eager to skip meals and bedtime to continue reading. I knew it would probably be 5 stars last night and I didn’t want to just push through, so I gave myself a night sleep before I finished it, and I think that was smart. Marley, Jade, Waylon, Baylor, Shay, Elise and even Mick all had redeeming qualities that kept me itching to know more about each of them. I wouldn’t recommend this book for everyone, but if you like family fiction (wouldn’t necessarily call it a drama because nothing that shocking occurs) and you like Appalachia and reading about imperfect people, I think you would like this book. I would classify it as slightly pedestrian, but also every character is so complex and has such strong inner motivations that aren’t obvious until the end, so pedestrian in the BEST way. All pedestrians on the street have a lot going on inside their heads too.
I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. I love stories that are character driven. Some find them boring but I love getting to know people, their psyche, and behavior. It helps me understand real life at times. I also love books with strong women. This book has both of these things. It has just enough twists to keep you on your toes without being a thriller. Enough emotion to keep you invested without being draining. And the nostalgia of the 90s was the cherry on top. I can see why this was a BOTM for several outlets.
For more of the reviews and others- TikTok: @jillandjackets
For more of the reviews and others- TikTok: @jillandjackets
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one took me forever to actually pick up, but holy shit. Couldn’t put it down, loved the writing, and I love a character-driven story with a plot that keeps you dying to know what happens next. I think this is my favorite read of the year so far!
3 Stars for Mercury by Amy Jo Burns. This is the story of the Joseph brothers, a family in small town Mercury, PA. The 3 brothers -Baylor, Waylon, and Shay - work for the family roofing business. When Marley moves into town, she finds herself at the dinner table of Mick and Elise bc she dates Baylor, only to end up marrying Waylon and becoming a 2nd mother to Shay. While the family dynamics is interesting, the story really gets intersting when a dead body is found boarded up in the local Presbyterian Church. I enjoy a family saga, but this seemed to take forever to really get into the story for me.
This was not the book for me. I have a love/hate relationship with literary fiction and this one just didn’t do it for me. Honestly the ideas and characters were all pretty interesting but it was just so slow that I stopped caring. I’m still giving three stars because I don’t think it was a bad book, just not my cup of tea.
When I first picked up this book I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I thought this was going to be a suspense and was very pleasantly surprised that it is a character driven family drama (one of my favorite genres!).
When 17 year old Marley West first drives into Mercury, PA, the first people she sees are Mick Joseph and his two sons, Baylor and Waylon (18 & 17 respectively) standing atop a roof. Within a few weeks Marley finds herself woven into the family and their family business. Loved by the boys and their 10 year old brother Shay, hated by their mother Elise, and ignored by Mick, Marley quickly finds herself at the center of the family- their problems, their secrets, and their hearts.
Taking place during the years of 1990-1999, Amy Jo Burns has given us a family drama that will have you glued to the pages. I have to admit the first 30% was very slow moving and I wasn’t quite sure I would like it, but as soon as it picked up, it took off running and I couldn’t put it down.
The depth of Ms. Burns’ writing is something truly spectacular despite the slow beginning and her characters are three dimensional and jump off the page at every moment. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Burns but it certainly won’t be the last. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advanced copy. This gem hits the shelves on January 2nd.
When 17 year old Marley West first drives into Mercury, PA, the first people she sees are Mick Joseph and his two sons, Baylor and Waylon (18 & 17 respectively) standing atop a roof. Within a few weeks Marley finds herself woven into the family and their family business. Loved by the boys and their 10 year old brother Shay, hated by their mother Elise, and ignored by Mick, Marley quickly finds herself at the center of the family- their problems, their secrets, and their hearts.
Taking place during the years of 1990-1999, Amy Jo Burns has given us a family drama that will have you glued to the pages. I have to admit the first 30% was very slow moving and I wasn’t quite sure I would like it, but as soon as it picked up, it took off running and I couldn’t put it down.
The depth of Ms. Burns’ writing is something truly spectacular despite the slow beginning and her characters are three dimensional and jump off the page at every moment. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Burns but it certainly won’t be the last. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advanced copy. This gem hits the shelves on January 2nd.