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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
This book caught my attention from the very beginning. Patchett's characters are so well-developed and believable that I was able to suspend my disbelief about some of the less believable plot points.
Good but not the mood I needed post election. Needed the kick ass feminist rage of Sydney Rye.
Wonderful novel by Ann Patchett. It was difficult to put it down. I read Run in 2 days.
I love Anne Patchett's writing, and this book was, like her others, moving, thoughtful and well done. It did not quite measure up to Bel Canto, my favorite of hers, but I liked it better than Magician's Assistant. The story is an interesting one. An Irish family living in Boston adopt two black babies, one of whom they adopt outright, and the other is the sibling of that baby and the mother abandons the older child on their doorstep. The Irish mother dies only a year or so after the adoption, so the white Dad is left raising the boys, and his son from the marriage, on his own. What follows is an encounter with a young black girl and her mother, who turns out to be their birth mother. A unique plot and Patchett doesn't just follow expected story lines, which is what makes the book interesting and an enjoyable read. My main problem with the book is that it ended too soon. Not just becuase I liked reading it but because there was not enough closure to several of the questions that were presented during the book. I felt like I was left hanging on several points. Still, it was great and I would recommend it.
Reading the top reviews, I now feel self-conscious for having liked this book. But hey - I won't be cowed! I liked this book, and that is that!
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Engaging character study. Not a page turner per se, but well written and interesting.
For book club. Interesting enough, and an interesting portrayal of siblings. But not as captivating to me as Bel Canto was - this one felt like it borrowed a bit too much from history / the Kennedy stories which made it feel a bit like a "ripped from the headlines" type novel...
I usually like Ann Patchett's books, but I couldn't get engaged with this one. The character's were not well-developed and the plot, while having promise, didn't deliver. One aspect of the plot didn't seem to contribute much at all and was never mentioned again leading to an implausible ending.
I don't like giving up on books but this is dreadful! Off she goes, Ann Patchett: Butterfly Slaughterer!