You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Received as one of the author's choice books in a Quarterly book box.
I've read at least one of Ann Patchett's books before. Bel Canto, maybe? I wasn't overly impressed with Run. I found it hard to suspend my disbelief enough to get into the story. I don't think it would have been nearly as easy for the boys to have been assimilated into a white household in the 1970's. And the ending was way too abrupt.
I've read at least one of Ann Patchett's books before. Bel Canto, maybe? I wasn't overly impressed with Run. I found it hard to suspend my disbelief enough to get into the story. I don't think it would have been nearly as easy for the boys to have been assimilated into a white household in the 1970's. And the ending was way too abrupt.
Ann Patchett completely pulled me into this 24 hour time span novel. It’s a book about adoption, race, belonging, and family.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I picked up this book because I really liked Patchett's Bel Canto. I was not as impressed with this book. I did not feel like she developed her two main characters, Teddy and Tip, as well as she could have, and I found myself having to come up with ways to tell them apart. Also, there were certain parts of the plot that I think she could have rearranged to make it flow better.
I liked this book. It moved very quickly. I've not read any other of Patchett's novels, therefore I don't have strong feelings like some of the reviewers on here about whether or not this is better or worse than Bel Canto. There were flashes of brilliant writing, especially the chapter with Tennessee and her friend in the hospital room, and also the part where Kenya runs at the Harvard track. I really liked Kenya as a character. All in all a good story.
The novel is based on a highly unlikely occurrence- the mother of two black boys who have been adopted by the former white mayor of Boston is hit by a car pushing one of the adult boys out of the way. The story is told over the following 24 hours. We get to know each of the characters- the two boys, the mother, the father, the daughter of the mother, the priest uncle, the older brother. Although the premise is unlikely, the story is compelling and valid.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
I wasn't crazy about this book. I loved Bel Canto but just couldn't get into this. The plot and sequence of events seemed unrealistic and implausible.