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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Dementia, Kidnapping, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Racism, Rape, Medical content, Abortion, Toxic friendship
Although I found the early chapters perhaps less engaging, I was won over by the compelling story, and convincing narrative. The point of view voice is sometimes too much the author’s, and the products, tv shows, music, etc - seem only to be the culturally famous or familiar ones. Spirited narration.
Smaka på den här titeln ... Problemet med får och getter ... och säg sedan att du inte blir ett dugg nyfiken. Jag kommer inte att tro dig. Min nyfikenhet väcktes, men sedan började jag fundera på om jag verkligen var intresserad av en bok om får och getter. Det var jag inte. Inte förrän jag läste en recension av Anette på Just nu - just här. Jag köpte den senare samma år, 2017, och nu är den äntligen läst.
Först och främst så kan jag dementera att den handlar om just, riktiga, får och getter. De är högst metaforiska. Om jag hade haft koll på Gamla testamentet, Bibeln alltså, så hade jag kanske förstått titeln bättre. Nu i efterhand så är den inget annat än perfekt. Och kanske är det inte så enkelt att dela upp får och getter. Kanske är inte gränsen knivskarp.
Problemet med får och getter är ingen deckare, mer en relationsroman. Eventuellt en uppväxtskildring. Den är full av underbara reflektioner från en tioårings perspektiv, oförstörd av fördomar och förutfattade åsikter. Som vuxen läsare tolkar man givetvis allt på ett helt annat sätt.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
Först och främst så kan jag dementera att den handlar om just, riktiga, får och getter. De är högst metaforiska. Om jag hade haft koll på Gamla testamentet, Bibeln alltså, så hade jag kanske förstått titeln bättre. Nu i efterhand så är den inget annat än perfekt. Och kanske är det inte så enkelt att dela upp får och getter. Kanske är inte gränsen knivskarp.
Problemet med får och getter är ingen deckare, mer en relationsroman. Eventuellt en uppväxtskildring. Den är full av underbara reflektioner från en tioårings perspektiv, oförstörd av fördomar och förutfattade åsikter. Som vuxen läsare tolkar man givetvis allt på ett helt annat sätt.
OBS! Detta är en kraftigt förkortad text. Hela finns på min blogg
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The language was a little too cutesy and became tiresome.
This is a lovely, warm, funny book that kept me smiling all the way through.
Set in the famous heatwave of 1976, the story follows a small community in the East Midlands as they come to terms with the disappearance of one of their friends and neighbours Margaret Creasy. While the novel offers perspectives from everyone on the little street, the main narrator is 10-year-old Grace Bennett who, along with her best friend Tilly, is determined to solve the mystery of Mrs Creasy’s disappearance.
There were many wonderful things about it:
- Grace and Tilly are a delight. They’re funny, clever and naive all at the same time and their friendship is completely believable.
- It’s very evocative of a specific time and place. For a first time author, Cannon has done an amazing job of building up a detailed picture of a small community in the 1970s (although, admittedly, I wasn’t alive in the 70s so I can’t say for sure. But it certainly felt authentic). From the small-minded yet close-knit community, to the terrible TV and food and, the world was very realistic and absorbing.
- Some parts had me laughing out loud
- The pacing was very fast, with the plot moving along at a decent clip.
- It’s set in the East Midlands! Ie, near Nottingham (my home town)! Admittedly not something that will appeal to everyone, but the East Midlands is unfairly under-represented in literature IMHO :)
Having said all this, it missed out on a 5-star rating from me for a couple of reasons:
- Some of the dialogue between the adults was a bit unrealistic. While the childish outlook of Grace and Tilly and their sweet and naive conversations were expertly rendered, the conversations between the adults were sometimes a bit stilted. In some cases things are clearly omitted to further the plot, which is fine, but the way that they spoke wasn’t hugely believable. For example
- The ending wasn’t as satisfying as I was hoping
- I found the overall plot and especially the themes a little bit trite, but that might just be me.
I can see this being a very popular read this year and for good reason. I’d recommend it as a fun and compelling holiday read.
(With thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
Set in the famous heatwave of 1976, the story follows a small community in the East Midlands as they come to terms with the disappearance of one of their friends and neighbours Margaret Creasy. While the novel offers perspectives from everyone on the little street, the main narrator is 10-year-old Grace Bennett who, along with her best friend Tilly, is determined to solve the mystery of Mrs Creasy’s disappearance.
There were many wonderful things about it:
- Grace and Tilly are a delight. They’re funny, clever and naive all at the same time and their friendship is completely believable.
- It’s very evocative of a specific time and place. For a first time author, Cannon has done an amazing job of building up a detailed picture of a small community in the 1970s (although, admittedly, I wasn’t alive in the 70s so I can’t say for sure. But it certainly felt authentic). From the small-minded yet close-knit community, to the terrible TV and food and
Spoiler
the oblivious racism- Some parts had me laughing out loud
Spoiler
Most notably the scene where the Kapoors come to visit the Bennett’s and Derek’s misplaced attempts at bonding. Cringe-inducing and hilarious- The pacing was very fast, with the plot moving along at a decent clip.
- It’s set in the East Midlands! Ie, near Nottingham (my home town)! Admittedly not something that will appeal to everyone, but the East Midlands is unfairly under-represented in literature IMHO :)
Having said all this, it missed out on a 5-star rating from me for a couple of reasons:
- Some of the dialogue between the adults was a bit unrealistic. While the childish outlook of Grace and Tilly and their sweet and naive conversations were expertly rendered, the conversations between the adults were sometimes a bit stilted. In some cases things are clearly omitted to further the plot, which is fine, but the way that they spoke wasn’t hugely believable. For example
Spoiler
when Harold, Brian and Sheila are all in the pub discussing Margaret’s disappearance the conversation sounded to me a little unnatural, and when the police finish their recording for the news and ‘everyone starts shouting at once’, I just didn’t quite buy it.- The ending wasn’t as satisfying as I was hoping
Spoiler
I think ambiguous endings are fine for some books, but for a novel which is so clearly plot-driven and where each clue has been painstakingly laid out, I wanted the pay-off to be a little easier to access. I assume that the conclusion is that Dorothy set the fire? Something about the folded teatowels in the kitchen that Harold saw after the fire? But what was the little nod-wink between the police officers about after they’d recorded their TV message? Has Margaret Creasy already told them about the fire and they were just trying to get a confession? Who did Brian and May see sneaking around Walter’s house before the fire? What happened after Margaret got back?- I found the overall plot and especially the
Spoiler
religiousSpoiler
Obviously Mrs Creasy with the way she listened to and understood everyone’s problems (prayers) was meant to be God/Jesus, which is a nice idea but doesn’t work for me as an atheist. I was interested to read that Cannon is a psychiatrist. Obviously Mrs Creasy’s superpower is non-judgmental listening, but I would have liked this to be emphasised a little bit more over the religious aspects. But, as I say, that’s completely subjective. I really liked the exploration of exclusion of the ‘other’ (Walter) and vigilante attitudes in small communities. Proof that people were tried and convicted by public opinion way before social media came along.I can see this being a very popular read this year and for good reason. I’d recommend it as a fun and compelling holiday read.
(With thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Parts of the book were very enjoyable, particularly the relationship between Grace and Tilly. But all of the adults were either boring or annoying, and every one of them had some anxiety disorder or deep dark secret, to the point where it felt cliched. A disappointment overall.
3.5 stars.
This story is driven by the mystery of a woman who has gone missing from her neighborhood. Two young girls set out to find her. As the girls introduce us to each of the neighbors, we learn a little bit more about the missing woman, the neighbors, and their ties to each other. Each is deeply flawed and yet still harshly judges the rest of the tight knit avenue.
The young girls are the heart and charm of the novel. The neighbors are generally hard to like. This would be a cute, quirky coming of age story if not for the darkness around the edges and a deeper message about grace, forgiveness, and hypocrisy.
It got a little preachy at the end. Some story lines buttoned up too neatly with no explanation. An enjoyable read over all
This story is driven by the mystery of a woman who has gone missing from her neighborhood. Two young girls set out to find her. As the girls introduce us to each of the neighbors, we learn a little bit more about the missing woman, the neighbors, and their ties to each other. Each is deeply flawed and yet still harshly judges the rest of the tight knit avenue.
The young girls are the heart and charm of the novel. The neighbors are generally hard to like. This would be a cute, quirky coming of age story if not for the darkness around the edges and a deeper message about grace, forgiveness, and hypocrisy.
It got a little preachy at the end. Some story lines buttoned up too neatly with no explanation. An enjoyable read over all