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hawkia75's review against another edition
3.0
A very self-assured debut about a love triangle, motherless girls, and growing up under the eyes of a tight-knit, church-going community. I liked the conceit of the church mothers as Greek chorus. I thought it gave the author a chance to indulge (in a good way) in a vernacular and rhythm that I would have missed. It helped me establish a context for the story to live in without having the author delineate a lot of other characters.
dbluminberg's review against another edition
4.0
A very well written first novel, tells the story of three young people, each of whom has their own personal sadness that colors and influences how they interact with their community and each other. This story is somewhat sad, not a major tragedy, but just sad in the depiction of people and their loneliness.
waifofthenorth's review against another edition
5.0
The first half of this book made me cry pretty much continuously. Read with a box of tissues. :'(
edenali's review against another edition
2.0
It was unclear to me whether the author knew what story she wanted to tell.
alena_bar's review against another edition
4.0
This was a beautiful novel exploring loss and loneliness, the influence of mothers on their daughters, the complex feelings and journey surrounding abortion, and the profound ways in which where we're from can bind to us and pull us back. It took a little time for me to feel connected to the characters but I got there.
jenniferchinyere's review against another edition
3.0
More a 3.5 than a 3, but they won't let me give half a star☹
This book was beautifully written. I enjoyed the narration from the mothers' point of view, and of course the prose, a delicate work of art. I loved the complexity of the characters and the range of issues and emotions explored however, I feel as though some bits fell a bit flat.
I felt as though I didn't understand the constant tie between Nadia and Luke. While I understand that there were a lot of unspoken and unacknowledged feelings between the two in regards to the abortion, to me it didn't explain the gravity of their connection displayed later on in the story. I feel like perhaps we should have had a greater insight or exploration if their relationship before the abortion.
I also would have liked to explore Aubrey's character more. Aubrey was a victim of childhood sexual abuse, and was often uncomfortable around men. In addition, she wore a purity ring which symbolised her commitment to abstain from sex until marriage. These two factors combined, meant I didn't understand her beach encounter with Miller. To me it contradicted the character that Brit had created, and so I think it was worth exploring and yet it was simply left undone.
I did find the story jumped quite a bit in the middle, it felt rushed at times. I think more care should have been taken to create a picture of the lives that the characters were living at each time frame, either that..or less time frames next time.
Overall, a decent read.
This book was beautifully written. I enjoyed the narration from the mothers' point of view, and of course the prose, a delicate work of art. I loved the complexity of the characters and the range of issues and emotions explored however, I feel as though some bits fell a bit flat.
I felt as though I didn't understand the constant tie between Nadia and Luke. While I understand that there were a lot of unspoken and unacknowledged feelings between the two in regards to the abortion, to me it didn't explain the gravity of their connection displayed later on in the story. I feel like perhaps we should have had a greater insight or exploration if their relationship before the abortion.
I also would have liked to explore Aubrey's character more. Aubrey was a victim of childhood sexual abuse, and was often uncomfortable around men. In addition, she wore a purity ring which symbolised her commitment to abstain from sex until marriage. These two factors combined, meant I didn't understand her beach encounter with Miller. To me it contradicted the character that Brit had created, and so I think it was worth exploring and yet it was simply left undone.
I did find the story jumped quite a bit in the middle, it felt rushed at times. I think more care should have been taken to create a picture of the lives that the characters were living at each time frame, either that..or less time frames next time.
Overall, a decent read.
lindsey_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
cassiev1019's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful writing! Engaging, contemporary story. Fast read. The adultery in it was the only part I didn't appreciate. How love and friendship ebb and wane. How choices and scars shaped the lives of Aubrey and Nadia, both motherless, in very different ways.
lkoster's review against another edition
5.0
This book is simply sublime and struck so many nerves with me. Although I cannot personally attest to how perfectly Brit Bennett may have captured Black church life, I did feel as though I was completely immersed in it, even to the point that I felt the shame of some of the characters.
I grew up in the church, your classic Midwestern Lutheran variety. As soon as I graduated high school and left my parents' home, I exhaled when I realized that I no longer had to put up with the hypocrisy of it—the gossip, the comparison of one's children to the children of others, the assessing of purity and commitment to belief, the constant judgment of wealth, grades, and promotions.
Brit Bennett deftly captures the cadence of the gossipy church Mothers, for whom the book is named, while also delicately introducing us to a cadre of complex characters—so complex, they feel like real people. Nadia is reeling from her mother's suicide. Luke is struggling with a life-altering injury and the stereotyping of a preacher's son. Aubrey is traumatized from sexual assault at the hands of her mother's boyfriend. About halfway through the novel, we think we understand how these three teenagers' lives intertwine. And then, Bennett throws us a curveball, soft at first but then its speed and the implications of it pick up with an unforgettable emotional force.
Read if: you want your novel to give you chills from its superb writing and carefully constructed plotline.
I grew up in the church, your classic Midwestern Lutheran variety. As soon as I graduated high school and left my parents' home, I exhaled when I realized that I no longer had to put up with the hypocrisy of it—the gossip, the comparison of one's children to the children of others, the assessing of purity and commitment to belief, the constant judgment of wealth, grades, and promotions.
Brit Bennett deftly captures the cadence of the gossipy church Mothers, for whom the book is named, while also delicately introducing us to a cadre of complex characters—so complex, they feel like real people. Nadia is reeling from her mother's suicide. Luke is struggling with a life-altering injury and the stereotyping of a preacher's son. Aubrey is traumatized from sexual assault at the hands of her mother's boyfriend. About halfway through the novel, we think we understand how these three teenagers' lives intertwine. And then, Bennett throws us a curveball, soft at first but then its speed and the implications of it pick up with an unforgettable emotional force.
Read if: you want your novel to give you chills from its superb writing and carefully constructed plotline.
kristinadaisyy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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
5.0