Scan barcode
beth_zovko's review against another edition
1.0
1.5
This was a slog to get through. A lot like Writers & Lovers (which I loathed) with a bit more plot.
A woman of privilege goes to prison and is released back into a world of privilege: People fall over themselves to help her, her tenured teaching position is delayed two years because of her pesky prison sentence, she marries wealthy.
Missing was the guilt of killing two people (did I mention the widower helpfully forgives her while she's still in the pen?), or the struggle to stay sober.
The jacket promised a "joyous, fall-off-the-couch-with-surprise" reveal, which pretty much sums up the problems I had with this book: it presumes readers like the bland protagonist AND sets up plot points you can see better than Jehovah's Witnesses at dusk.
This was a slog to get through. A lot like Writers & Lovers (which I loathed) with a bit more plot.
A woman of privilege goes to prison and is released back into a world of privilege: People fall over themselves to help her, her tenured teaching position is delayed two years because of her pesky prison sentence, she marries wealthy.
Missing was the guilt of killing two people (did I mention the widower helpfully forgives her while she's still in the pen?), or the struggle to stay sober.
The jacket promised a "joyous, fall-off-the-couch-with-surprise" reveal, which pretty much sums up the problems I had with this book: it presumes readers like the bland protagonist AND sets up plot points you can see better than Jehovah's Witnesses at dusk.
lastpaige111's review against another edition
4.0
F Scott Fitzgerald only with a likable, moral protagonist and recovery instead of … well, no spoilers on Gatsby. My kind of read—character driven.
coleycole's review against another edition
3.0
weird audiobook experience - I realize now that the recording elides a significant section in the middle-end of the book. The skip happened mid-disc I think, so at first I thought it was the author's choice to skip ahead in time with no explanation, so I just went with it... in retrospect: gaping plot holes.
booktalkcandy's review against another edition
1.0
Don’t take my review to heart while deciding if you want to read this - it just was not my cup of tea. I don’t understand the point of this story, I was extremely bored and uninterested.
debs4jc's review against another edition
3.0
Patsy--who is used to alcoholic benders that leave her with little memory of the night before--wakes up in jail and is immediately taken to a meeting with her lawyer, detectives, and a prosecutor. She seems to have gotten in trouble somehow but she's not sure what all the fuss is about. Until someone explains: two people where found dead in your driveway, they were run over by your car. Patsy never remembers that night clearly, but she lives the rest of her life atoning for her mistakes. She is encouraged to go to Alcoholics Anonymous in prison and becomes a reluctant convert. Indeed, much of the book revolves around her involvement with AA, especially since she eventually marries a man she meets there who is a big part of the organization. The book follows Patsy through the years with the different friendships and family involvements she has (and also her therapy sessions) and the readers sees how she grows and changes as a person. Eventually a starling revelation brings all that has been happening inside her to a head and Patsy has some tough choices to make.
This is an excellent book for discussion, since it has such a powerful theme about how "blame" can affect an individual. Patsy's life was a great springboard for discussions about AA, the legal system, the prison system, marriage, relationships, and alcoholism. I would definitely recommend it to discussion groups and also to readers who like books that will stimulate their thinking about these types of topics.
This is an excellent book for discussion, since it has such a powerful theme about how "blame" can affect an individual. Patsy's life was a great springboard for discussions about AA, the legal system, the prison system, marriage, relationships, and alcoholism. I would definitely recommend it to discussion groups and also to readers who like books that will stimulate their thinking about these types of topics.
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
4.0
A friend gave me a gift certificate to a local bookstore, and I wandered aimlessly around, unsure what to purchase, until seeking the help of an employee. I told him I enjoyed quirky, wacky and well-written stories, and pointed out some others that I liked. He recommended this one, and I am pleased with it.
An alcoholic (Patsy) is involved in a horrible accident, one that changes her life both internally and externally. The pacing is a bit slow, but I never felt like things were plodding; it was a thoughtful story with solid writing. The characters were especially well-written, and I found them easy to picture in my head. Patsy was my favorite. I understood her, thanks to Huneven's skill. Her despair and guilt over the accident, her mixed emotions with the men in her life, her pettiness and irritation with her relatives---all was handled expertly.
It's not a feel-good story, though I was satisfied with the ending. Also, I liked a few parts well enough to dog-ear those pages, and that's a sign of a good book for me.
An alcoholic (Patsy) is involved in a horrible accident, one that changes her life both internally and externally. The pacing is a bit slow, but I never felt like things were plodding; it was a thoughtful story with solid writing. The characters were especially well-written, and I found them easy to picture in my head. Patsy was my favorite. I understood her, thanks to Huneven's skill. Her despair and guilt over the accident, her mixed emotions with the men in her life, her pettiness and irritation with her relatives---all was handled expertly.
It's not a feel-good story, though I was satisfied with the ending. Also, I liked a few parts well enough to dog-ear those pages, and that's a sign of a good book for me.
dulcie54's review against another edition
4.0
All I could think about at some point was the incredible privilege Patsy experienced in her life. Prison was just a blip in a fairy tale life of lovers, friends, meaningful work and absolutely incredible real estate.
emmamgregory's review against another edition
4.0
I immensely enjoyed this book. At first it read like a memoir the narrative was so realistic. As the story progresses I became involved in the character development. A fast good read I'm hoping all my books for 2019 will be so well written
nixieknox's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning of this threw me off. Especially since I don't like books that feature kids/teens as the main character. The middle got a little slow at times, but overall a good read. I didn't even mind the giant coincidence which normally would bug me.