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dorothynaysayer's review against another edition
5.0
The sweetest, strangest, and saddest love story ever written. Quirky, funny, and filled with brilliant observations--the sort that make you elbow your nearest neighbor every five minutes to read out loud to them. It's one of the only books I've ever read that gave me the urge to turn back to the beginning and read it again as soon as I finished it. This is quite possibly my favorite book of all time.
egleezy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
thesassybookworm's review against another edition
4.0
This was an odd little book, and when I say odd I really mean fabulously written, touching, emotional and quirky! I am looking forward to reading more by this author!
andybeagle333's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The writing style is beautiful but no amount of beautiful writing can make up for the fact that this is a book about a romance between an adult woman and a child. Sure he's 20 later on in the book but the protagonist is 26 years old when she first meets and develops feelings for James, who is 11 years old at the time. That's really creepy- and not at all saved by the insistence of the protagonist that her feelings aren't sexual, it's still creepy!
katie_mizuro's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
csprfamily's review against another edition
5.0
I was standing in the aisle at the library waiting for my daughter when I saw this book on the shelf and decided I would take it home. It was an amazing read. It was unusual and odd: happy and sad and had a bit of black humor here and there. Everything I love in a book.
Taking place in the fifties in New England, librarian Peggy has all the characteristics of a spinster in the making. She meets a boy who is a giant, and their relationship blossoms from there. It had some twists and turns I didn't expect, and I loved that.
Taking place in the fifties in New England, librarian Peggy has all the characteristics of a spinster in the making. She meets a boy who is a giant, and their relationship blossoms from there. It had some twists and turns I didn't expect, and I loved that.
banana__plum's review against another edition
5.0
Ahh - this book!!! So tragic and lonely and full of love and disappointments in all the truest ways.
bookishcassie's review against another edition
4.0
Slow. Burn.
Loved everyone by the end, especially Peggy.
(Reiterates that even brilliant authors have trouble ending books)
Loved everyone by the end, especially Peggy.
(Reiterates that even brilliant authors have trouble ending books)
mathteachtaco's review against another edition
4.0
National Book Award finalist for 1996 and one of Liberty Hardy's favorite books. I'll be seeking more from this author. I think I saw myself a bit in the protagonist: consider the first lines "I do not love mankind. People think their interesting. That's their first mistake." Peggy Cort is a spinster librarian whose life is changed forever when a young boy, James Carlson Sweatt, begins coming into the library regularly to take out books. He's a giant, in the medical sense, with an unconventional mother and absent father.