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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
I greatly enjoyed reading Friends and Strangers as it laid out the most ordinary of circumstances but revealed a much deeper inner-working of characters and events. There are several characters that relate to almost every kind of person I know, and I happen to be one of them. Having this relation to the main character kept me intrigued and drew me in deeper to the book. With all the other characters, I enjoyed reading about how each person has deeper struggles than what we see on the surface.
J. Courtney Sullivan does a great job of accurately writing about each character, not allowing any of them to be unrealistically "perfect" and unafflicted. She creates a realistic world that allows all kinds of people to relate to and see what others may be going through.
This book was entertaining and mature in a way that keeps the reader attentive.
J. Courtney Sullivan does a great job of accurately writing about each character, not allowing any of them to be unrealistically "perfect" and unafflicted. She creates a realistic world that allows all kinds of people to relate to and see what others may be going through.
This book was entertaining and mature in a way that keeps the reader attentive.
I always love J. Courtney Sullivan’s writing and this was no exception. Elizabeth was a really difficult character to like, so it took me much longer to get through this than her previous books.
reflective
fast-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
One of the best novels about “modern” life as a female I’ve read lately. The themes felt extremely relevant and managed to feel so for the most part without being too in-your-face or coming off as pandering. A novel that is entertaining but will also prompt self-reflection!
I wish there had been an epilogue for Elisabeth like there was for Sam. Overall really good book
This was a miss for me. I kept waiting for something- anything- to happen. When things did it was a minor pop & fizzle.
I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t articulate exactly why. I just did.
This book was really trying to be a lot of things, and I’m not sure it really achieve that. Part college book, part about new motherhood, along with the critique of capitalism in the United States, friendships, class, and social relations, it was just trying to do a lot of things. It switches between the two perspectives of Elisabeth, the mother, and Sam, her babysitter, as they both made bad choices, and try to justify them constantly. So many things in the story we’re not ever clarified or wrapped up, like Elisabeth’s relationship with her sister and her lies to her husband, and his whole solar powered grill?
I just feel like there were a lot of ideas, that never really went anywhere. But all that said, and done, it was a fairly enjoyable book to read.
I just feel like there were a lot of ideas, that never really went anywhere. But all that said, and done, it was a fairly enjoyable book to read.