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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This has been the first Ann Patchett book that I have read and I had no idea what to expect. It was one of those books that you see in shops and bestsellers lists but I never really picked up. But then I thought that I’d give it a go - and I am very thankful that I did.
So this is one of those books that is so well written that it just made me incomprehensibly angry and emotional when reading it. I mean what kind of mother is capable of leaving her children for the reasons she did and not facing up to it long beforehand, what kind of woman is capable of doing what Andrea did, let alone as a mother herself. And to add insult to injury what kind of father does absolutely nothing to make sure that his own children are safe and protected, particularly as he was not unaware of his wife’s temperament. In a way I completely understand the close bond between the siblings because they literally had no one other than Sandy and Jocelyn to really look out for them.
Not to say that the siblings were blameless, but the hurt and resentment that they carried around completely dominated their entire lives. The focus on being the victims, and of clinging onto their memories of a house which, although should have been theirs, never really brought them much happiness. In the end this story is just sad - everyone really just a victim of their own making, sacrificing their lives on the alter of history and memories.
So this is one of those books that is so well written that it just made me incomprehensibly angry and emotional when reading it. I mean what kind of mother is capable of leaving her children for the reasons she did and not facing up to it long beforehand, what kind of woman is capable of doing what Andrea did, let alone as a mother herself. And to add insult to injury what kind of father does absolutely nothing to make sure that his own children are safe and protected, particularly as he was not unaware of his wife’s temperament. In a way I completely understand the close bond between the siblings because they literally had no one other than Sandy and Jocelyn to really look out for them.
Not to say that the siblings were blameless, but the hurt and resentment that they carried around completely dominated their entire lives. The focus on being the victims, and of clinging onto their memories of a house which, although should have been theirs, never really brought them much happiness. In the end this story is just sad - everyone really just a victim of their own making, sacrificing their lives on the alter of history and memories.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3 for the book, stopped at 30% then switched to audio to finish and that was a 4.
3.9 Decent book. Easy read. Definitely don’t see it as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. I thought her book Tom Lake was better.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Is Ann Patchett our modern day Louisa May Alcott? This is the second novel I’ve read (and to be clear, I listened to Tom Hanks narrate on Audible). I find that the way this woman can open a door and draw the reader in is remarkable. Her books feel like someone has opened their home to the reader and invited her to sit on a couch and watch this story play out. It is unlike many of the books I am used to reading. I wonder if anyone else feels the same way.