Reviews

Take What You Need by Idra Novey

cradman's review

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Of the two main voices, Jean, the older woman, is sticking with me the most. She’s complicated: loving yet self centered. I admired the “wolfish” mode she would go into when she was aroused by the younger man. It was super uncomfortable to sit with but so human. She’s a memorable character.
I also loved the way Jean makes and notices art everywhere. I’ll remember that.

I thought Leah was less interesting, though relatable. She seemed more like the foil for Jean than anything else.

cmklaft's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.75

indreni's review

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I greatly enjoyed this book--in fact, it felt meaningful to me and genuinely made me feel things, in a way that many contemporary novels don't. I loved the setting (Allegheny Mts of western PA), as I drove right through that area last fall. I am a fan of Indra Novey's writing in general. Her stories are always challenging, beautifully-written, very human, and unique. My only complaints was that I felt Leah was an uptight snob. To be so afraid of the people in the town you spent your early years in...she seemed to suspect anyone and everyone was going to shoot her and her family in cold blood in that part of the country!! My other complaint is that I feel the people in the town were a bit stereotyped. Surely not *everyone* is a racist/addict/gun-loving/trigger-happy/mean just because they live in a poor area...but perhaps I am being naive. Other than those two things, I really loved this story. 

Also, Jean is a tough cookie--anyone who has fought self-doubt to stubbornly going on making art will relate to her, I think--and a tough cookie to survive in that town all those years, a town she never left, a town (and a father, and a husband) that she refused to let make her mean. Go, Jean.

sarahmadams's review

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

This is a book club read-and one of those reads I'd like to give two different ratings, one for enjoyability and one for technical execution.

This was a quick read. None of it dragged for me and I finished in two days. But it wasn't a deeply satisfying read. This is a book where a story is told, not necessarily a book where people are growing and changing and learning (which, to be fair, is the kind of book I prefer). Take away the structure of the story, and there's not a whole lot to the story. That's not fair. It's a story, and a well told one, but it doesn't have a lot of... movement? Emotionally or physically. 

At times, it reminded me of Demon Copperhead--in its bleak portrayal of destitute America. 
Once it reminded me of Station Eleven -- in its theme of making art at (what feels like) pointless circumstances. I liked that part.

Ultimately, I wanted it to be more than it was, which is mostly due to my own expectations rather than any failure on the author's part. People who like quieter books, may get more out of this than I did.

trippalli's review

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A enrapturing  story about a welding sculpture and get little life in a corner of a small town. The people and the art struggle and creation are vivid and engrossing

lindsiemcknight's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I’m going with 3 stars for this one. I generally like unlikeable characters cause they’re more real, but Jean’s decision making skills were rough and I didn’t feel like I got enough out of Leah’s character to make an informed decision on her. Her chapters were pretty flat for me.

Jean’s chapters were better but I did feel like they dragged in the descriptions of her art. I had a hard time truly picturing them and I think some of the details were lost on me. Jean was a better character to read about, even though she was generally unlikable. She just made a bunch of weird decisions and I was lost a few times in the art.

It’s a short read that deals with a lot of things but the main topic would be strained family relationships.

kwilke32's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ambersbooks's review

3.0

Blew through first 75ish pages. Then the story seemed to drag because Jean was making choices that really made me question my tolerance for her character. The ending was an emotional punch, but not strong enough to redeem her choices throughout. 

sweil05's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

katie_archer's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75