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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
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
The relationship between Charity, Sid, Sally and Larry and the settings in Madison,WI, Greensboro, VT and Cambridge, MA were very familiar. The final death scene was one of the most poignant I've ever read.
Crossing to Safety
I have complicated feelings about this book! I almost quit it a few chapters in, finding it dry and not connecting to the characters. But after reading on I was completely engrossed in their friendships and lives unfolding. The ending felt abrupt to me but overall, I was pulled into their story and enjoyed the book.
I have complicated feelings about this book! I almost quit it a few chapters in, finding it dry and not connecting to the characters. But after reading on I was completely engrossed in their friendships and lives unfolding. The ending felt abrupt to me but overall, I was pulled into their story and enjoyed the book.
Beautifully written. Not my favorite story line ever, but a joy to read nonetheless because of the way he writes.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book took me such a long time to read! And not because it wasn't enjoyable. I really did get into this book, I think it's just a long book. I read it on my Kindle so I couldn't see how big it was, but this is my belief. It's a long and complicated story of the friendship of two couples. It felt very grounded in reality and honest, and especially for me, someone who will probably always mourn the loss of our friendship with Lindsey and Matt Kennelly, it felt very poignant. I don't think I really read a book like this, at least not that I can recall. And certainly not within the last few years, since I started tracking. I still think about the name of this book and wonder if I can find where that element is in the story, where the crossing to safety could have occurred. What it could mean. It's also very interesting because I don't think that the book makes a call on the moral right or wrong of either of the four people in this friendship. Everyone is just who they are, and the rest of everyone reacts to them as they are. I do think there is some discussion over personality traits or ways of being that are more challenging to deal with, but it certainly doesn't indict that person for the rest of their life.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I will think about this one often. Warning: this review contains mild spoilers. Proceed with caution, I didn’t tag them.
The theme is friendship. The plot is couples becoming friends and basically finding their friendship soulmates. One couple is meek and mild with their own insecurities but a deep love for one another. The other is wealthy, attractive, picture perfect with hidden cracks in the china, but they are fiercely loyal and take the first couple under their wing. Eventually, the friendship slowly drifts apart due to jealousy and silly frustrations. But it’s not so in your face with all that. Everything is observant and subtle. Platonic love abounds and then tragedy strikes.
I found myself deeply emotional by the end of it. Because I can relate to the loss of a loved one but also the loss of a deep friendship you once had. I understand that we are all complicated in our own ways and we can’t always be best friends. That’s the circle of life.
I loved Larry’s narration. Wish there wasn’t one small part of the book but otherwise it was incredible. A classic I’m glad that was introduced to me.
The theme is friendship. The plot is couples becoming friends and basically finding their friendship soulmates. One couple is meek and mild with their own insecurities but a deep love for one another. The other is wealthy, attractive, picture perfect with hidden cracks in the china, but they are fiercely loyal and take the first couple under their wing. Eventually, the friendship slowly drifts apart due to jealousy and silly frustrations. But it’s not so in your face with all that. Everything is observant and subtle. Platonic love abounds and then tragedy strikes.
I found myself deeply emotional by the end of it. Because I can relate to the loss of a loved one but also the loss of a deep friendship you once had. I understand that we are all complicated in our own ways and we can’t always be best friends. That’s the circle of life.
I loved Larry’s narration. Wish there wasn’t one small part of the book but otherwise it was incredible. A classic I’m glad that was introduced to me.
…She wants to leave her love and thoughtfulness in an irrevocable trust that will protect us all forever. Life betrayed her by not always going as she told it to. Now she hopes she can make death behave better. All my life she's stopped me and started me and run me like a lawn mower or a dishwasher. She knows I can't run my-self. I'll need somebody—why not a plump young handmaiden? So she comes up with that list. It's a shrewd list, too, it says a lot about both her and me. And now she's going to have this final picnic if it kills her and everybody else.
It's been years since I read this one but I still think of it every now and again. Stegner has a great writing style: for example, he perfectly captures the feel of a college campus on game day in the crisp fall. The underlying theme of friendship is a powerful one and this book explores all facets of a close relationship with others.
Wonderfully crafted story. A wonderful introduction to this gifted writer.
