Scan barcode
garroyo's review
emotional
medium-paced
3.75
The beginning is a bit slow for me, but once the stakes start getting higher it gets really good. I was glued to the book and finished in 3 days. This is a fast pace for me. I couldn't relate to a lot of Adrienne's life, but that didn't affect my compassion for her.
raegold's review
4.0
Lucky are those with no family dysfunction... but I’m guessing those people don’t exist. Great memoir about a girl who will do anything for her mother’s love.
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forward.”
“Memory is an odd curator.”
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forward.”
“Memory is an odd curator.”
rmarcin's review
3.0
Wild Game is a memoir of Adrienne, who was her mother's confidante in an affair. Malabar, the mother, woke Adrienne at age 14 to tell her of the start of an affair between herself and Malabar's husband's best friend, Ben. Malabar also enlists Adrienne to help Malabar and Ben carry on this affair for about 10 years. Adrienne becomes a player in this love story and it is manifests itself in depression and being under her mother's thumb for too long.
I was looking forward to reading this memoir, due to all the advance praise for it, but after reading it, I just felt that it was all about the rich not caring who they hurt. The families lived very wealthy and carefree lives on Cape Cod and in NYC, and carried on an affair in front of their spouses, and involved a young daughter in this lie. It made me sick to think of a mother who would do this to her daughter, only caring about her own happiness, and not caring what effect it would have on the daughter. I felt sorry for Adrienne, but I also had a touch of "poor little rich girl" feeling that went along with it.
I also felt that it was odd that all the names in the book would be changed, and then the author names each person in the acknowledgement section of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss.plus for a free reader copy, any opinions on the book are my own.
#WildGame #AdrienneBrodeur
I was looking forward to reading this memoir, due to all the advance praise for it, but after reading it, I just felt that it was all about the rich not caring who they hurt. The families lived very wealthy and carefree lives on Cape Cod and in NYC, and carried on an affair in front of their spouses, and involved a young daughter in this lie. It made me sick to think of a mother who would do this to her daughter, only caring about her own happiness, and not caring what effect it would have on the daughter. I felt sorry for Adrienne, but I also had a touch of "poor little rich girl" feeling that went along with it.
I also felt that it was odd that all the names in the book would be changed, and then the author names each person in the acknowledgement section of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss.plus for a free reader copy, any opinions on the book are my own.
#WildGame #AdrienneBrodeur
plaidpladd's review
3.0
This was pretty interesting. I liked how fast-paced it was and the author's setting descriptions.
emmaaxtco's review
4.0
I still think I hate the mother from Glass Castle and the father from Educated more, but Malabar is a piece of work. This was impossible to put down. Many SMH moments. I can’t believe the depths this selfish woman went to involving her poor daughter in her affair. And then creepily waiting for their spouses to die and not even hiding that fact from Adrienne. Despicable.
Memoirs of this ilk seem to be cropping up a lot in recent years. The commonality among all is that these people never can seem to let go of their terrible parents. My heart goes out to Adrienne. The most poignant moment for me is the moment when she realises she has missed her chance to be properly mothered. I was devastated for her.
The writing was superb. There’s one particular metaphor I loved:
“She wasn’t going down without a fight. When Lily’s husband of 45 years had explained to her that he’d been carrying on an affair with my mother...and wished to continue doing so, Lily disabused him of that notion at warp speed, jerking his chain so violently that he heeled immediately.”
Memoirs of this ilk seem to be cropping up a lot in recent years. The commonality among all is that these people never can seem to let go of their terrible parents. My heart goes out to Adrienne. The most poignant moment for me is the moment when she realises she has missed her chance to be properly mothered. I was devastated for her.
The writing was superb. There’s one particular metaphor I loved:
“She wasn’t going down without a fight. When Lily’s husband of 45 years had explained to her that he’d been carrying on an affair with my mother...and wished to continue doing so, Lily disabused him of that notion at warp speed, jerking his chain so violently that he heeled immediately.”
katedavis6's review
3.0
I didn’t realize this was a memoir which I do enjoy( thought it was fiction). It felt a little bit sporadic? I was missing more context with her mom towards the end which I feel like she was too. Overall it was pretty good but not my fav
fiberreader's review
4.0
Part memoir, part psychological study, this book asks us to consider the relationship between parent and child and what it should or should not be. This story could easily have been the plot of a novel, but it's a true story, and that makes it almost more troubling. Don't many daughters grow up idolizing their mothers, wishing they could also be their friends and confidants? For the author, getting this wish truly turned her world upside-down and had a huge impact on her life. Brodeur writes beautifully about the complicated relationship with her mother and the havoc her mother created in her life, clearly from the perspective of someone who has done the hard work of facing her demons and charting her own path.
nicki_j's review
4.0
Definitely worth the hype - so much drama and characters that you either really like or really hate. It was hard to believe that the story was true - especially the author's first husband. I am still kind of mad about some elements of the book almost two weeks later, which is a sign of a compelling narrative.