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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia
4.5 Really liked this well written book. Good character development. Will be watching this author.
Anissa Gray’s novel felt like an intriguing blend of Tayari Jones and Brit Bennett: the plot and character development and writing were captivating in equal measure.
The Butler siblings have struggled since the death of their mother in their childhood and the slow fade of their father. Althea, the eldest, took on the role of sole provider far too young and struggled with the role of mother when she has her own children, Kim and Baby Vi. Viola is the middle daughter, who finds success as a university professor and a joyful life with her partner, Ella, but she hides her eating disorder. Joe, the only son, struggles with the demons left by a father who he was never able to please. And Lilian is the youngest, a baby when her mother died, who finds joy in caring for others until she is poured out.
Althea falls for her high school sweetheart, Proctor, and they run a successful restaurant and charity together in their small town. Until the police come in the middle of lunch rush and arrest them both. Their fall from the pillars of the community to inmates who will not see their daughters graduate from college is a mystery to everyone, including Althea’s sisters.
This portrait of a family, told through the eyes of the three wounded, wise, and witty sisters, is moving and human and riveting. I could not put this one down.
The Butler siblings have struggled since the death of their mother in their childhood and the slow fade of their father. Althea, the eldest, took on the role of sole provider far too young and struggled with the role of mother when she has her own children, Kim and Baby Vi. Viola is the middle daughter, who finds success as a university professor and a joyful life with her partner, Ella, but she hides her eating disorder. Joe, the only son, struggles with the demons left by a father who he was never able to please. And Lilian is the youngest, a baby when her mother died, who finds joy in caring for others until she is poured out.
Althea falls for her high school sweetheart, Proctor, and they run a successful restaurant and charity together in their small town. Until the police come in the middle of lunch rush and arrest them both. Their fall from the pillars of the community to inmates who will not see their daughters graduate from college is a mystery to everyone, including Althea’s sisters.
This portrait of a family, told through the eyes of the three wounded, wise, and witty sisters, is moving and human and riveting. I could not put this one down.
This book was fantastic--the story pulled me into a family saga and a set of characters that was engrossing and moving. Gray is masterful with what she includes and what she doesn't think we need to know--many of the details of past actions or crimes aren't filled in--but the book works. It's rich, insightful, interesting, and full of diverse characters. The title is terrific as well. Read it!
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, I picked this up as part of my "read my shelves" project and was blown away by this emotional and poignant read. Althea and Proctor are in jail so the care of their twin teenage daughters has fallen to Althea's sisters, Violet and Lillian. The story delves deeply into family dynamics and the ideas of forgiveness as we get insight into the family through the various POVs of each sister, along with letters between Althea and Proctor while incarcerated.
Needless to say, no one is adjusting well to what is happening, especially one of the twins, Kim, who Althea blames for putting her and Proctor in prison. Althea carries the burden of basically raising her siblings after their mother died and their father emotionally abandoned them. GIRLS explores what motherhood means and also looks into family history, such as abuse and the many forms it can take, both physical and emotional.
This is not an uplifting read, but it's quite well-done with vibrant and well-drawn characters.
Needless to say, no one is adjusting well to what is happening, especially one of the twins, Kim, who Althea blames for putting her and Proctor in prison. Althea carries the burden of basically raising her siblings after their mother died and their father emotionally abandoned them. GIRLS explores what motherhood means and also looks into family history, such as abuse and the many forms it can take, both physical and emotional.
This is not an uplifting read, but it's quite well-done with vibrant and well-drawn characters.
A superb multigenerational tale of trauma, healing, resilience, and reconciliation. In the tradition of Toni Morrison and Terry McMillan.
3.5
I listened to this book, and luckily there were different narrators for each character/chapter to help differentiate the characters.
I just wasn’t as grabbed as I would like to be, but I still enjoyed listening to this story of a family forced to face each other and their past after the oldest sister is arrested.
I listened to this book, and luckily there were different narrators for each character/chapter to help differentiate the characters.
I just wasn’t as grabbed as I would like to be, but I still enjoyed listening to this story of a family forced to face each other and their past after the oldest sister is arrested.
This copy was a ARC . It is a story about Sisters . It is a great book . I think it will be a book you want to read in 2019 .