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tyrenny's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly, I was a little underwhelmed. I had heard so many great things about this book, and technically, the writing is strong. However, I got lost in the story, and not in the good way. It was tough to keep track of what was going on, and there were too many loose ends for me. What the hell happened to June?
arielamandah's review against another edition
4.0
This book built for me as it went along. Initially, I struggled to connect with the primary narrator and was uncomfortable with the way she crafted the story she told herself about what happened (but that felt like a great parallel to the act of writing a novel or even a story, and also something we all do with/to each other), BUT the other characters far made up for it and kept me reading.
I feel that Ruskovich was in her element when writing the children’s stories. The way she sets those scenes and describes the smells and sounds was so “true” for me, and strongly resonated with my “sense memories” of growing up in rural (at the time) Washington. The chapter from the bloodhound blew me away.
By the end of the book, the way the stories wove together, the kindness of the characters, and even the way she did (or didn’t) resolve certain stories really came off beautifully.
I feel that Ruskovich was in her element when writing the children’s stories. The way she sets those scenes and describes the smells and sounds was so “true” for me, and strongly resonated with my “sense memories” of growing up in rural (at the time) Washington. The chapter from the bloodhound blew me away.
By the end of the book, the way the stories wove together, the kindness of the characters, and even the way she did (or didn’t) resolve certain stories really came off beautifully.
tensy's review against another edition
4.0
Hard to say why I loved reading this novel. Let's just say Emily Ruskovich's writing gets under your skin and you become totally engaged in the story. These are not easy characters to like or decipher, but her writing gives them great depth. Her descriptions of nature are like long prose poetry and kept me mesmerized.
amycrea's review against another edition
3.0
This was a tough one to rate. But in the end, some parts earned a 5, while other parts earned a 1, so we'll average them out. Great, flawed characters, interesting plot, and a good deal of insight (especially into young children) battled scenes that were overwritten or just didn't need to be there, and good lord the amount of backstory in the first 100 pages, so much of which simply wasn't necessary.
pamjsa's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely, evocative writing--as a native Idahoan myself, I appreciate the rare novel that understands and values the relationship between people and the landscapes that shape them. I admire so much about this book, though I did find the narrative needlessly meandering and, at times, self-indulgent in its focus on language. Nevertheless, the ending felt satisfying and true. It's hard to ask for more than that.
ericparkeroliver's review against another edition
4.0
Very pretty, page turner for the most part, but a bit meandering without direction.
kait_unicorn's review against another edition
2.0
DNF, 75 pages read.
Couldn't do it. The prose was unbelievably tedious. Paragraph long descriptions of settings really killed the tension for me. It made me stop caring about the premise entirely.
Couldn't do it. The prose was unbelievably tedious. Paragraph long descriptions of settings really killed the tension for me. It made me stop caring about the premise entirely.
readswithtea29's review against another edition
5.0
Where to start? I loved “Idaho” and not just because I live here. Ruskovich writes poetically about a “mysterious and shocking act” that scatters the Mitchell family. Told from multiple perspectives and from different moments in time, “Idaho” reverberates within the reader.
I cherished every inch of this book. There were moments when I felt like I was with Ann or Jenny and the words melted away. You know that moment when you finish a book, you close it and look up and feel like your world is settling around you? That’s how I felt after finishing “Idaho.”
I cherished every inch of this book. There were moments when I felt like I was with Ann or Jenny and the words melted away. You know that moment when you finish a book, you close it and look up and feel like your world is settling around you? That’s how I felt after finishing “Idaho.”
bianca89279's review against another edition
4.0
I've finally finished this novel. Admittedly, it was a busy time of the year and it was probably not the wisest choice of reading material for this period. I'm surprised to see that it's only about 320 pages long, I was under the impression that it was around the 500-page mark.
What can I say about Idaho since I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. The only thing that I'm certain about is that Emily Ruskovich is a talented writer, who can do prose and atmosphere beautifully. There are pages and pages of gorgeous, dream-like writing.
The novel has an interesting and, at times, confusing structure, going back and forward in time, including to the future, in a non-linear way. One of the aspects that added to my confusion was the multiple points of view, especially from relatively small, insignificant characters. I kept waiting for them to reveal themselves as important pieces of the puzzle.
Speaking of reveals, unfortunately, while I am not one to demand everything to be tied-up nicely with a bow, there were way too many questions left unanswered, even when one keeps in mind that not everything has an answer, not every behaviour can be explained.
While I felt somewhat deflated that the threads of this novel were left hanging, I am not at all sorry for having read it, because it was different and the writing was exquisite. I am certainly looking forward to reading more by Emily Ruskovich.
3.5 stars rounded up
I received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
What can I say about Idaho since I'm not completely sure how I feel about it. The only thing that I'm certain about is that Emily Ruskovich is a talented writer, who can do prose and atmosphere beautifully. There are pages and pages of gorgeous, dream-like writing.
The novel has an interesting and, at times, confusing structure, going back and forward in time, including to the future, in a non-linear way. One of the aspects that added to my confusion was the multiple points of view, especially from relatively small, insignificant characters. I kept waiting for them to reveal themselves as important pieces of the puzzle.
Speaking of reveals, unfortunately, while I am not one to demand everything to be tied-up nicely with a bow, there were way too many questions left unanswered, even when one keeps in mind that not everything has an answer, not every behaviour can be explained.
Spoiler
Why does a seemingly normal, loving mother kill her daughter, May? We never find out. I kept waiting for the reveal, so when the novel ended I was still as confused. What had happened to June, the older sister?While I felt somewhat deflated that the threads of this novel were left hanging, I am not at all sorry for having read it, because it was different and the writing was exquisite. I am certainly looking forward to reading more by Emily Ruskovich.
3.5 stars rounded up
I received this novel via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publishers, Random House UK, Vintage Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
“Because Wade had thrown everything away - drawings, clothes, toys - each accidental remnant loomed in Ann's mind with unspeakable importance. Four moldy dolls buried in the sawdust of a rotten stump. A high-heeled Barbie shoe that fell from the drainpipe. A neon toothbrush in a doghouse. Then, finally, the half-finished drawing in a book. Artifacts heavy with importance they didn't deserve, but which they took on because of their frightening scarcity; they built up against her, making stories of themselves, memories inside her head that should have remained in Wade's.”
Once again, I pick up a novel because of the ToB. This one threw me for a loop. I try not to read too much about ToB books before I start reading and so I had no idea what Ruskovich’s story was about. I was a bit startled when I learned how Wade’s life had taken a drastic turn and that Ann was not his first wife. Although I was uncomfortable with the violence in this book, I was able to keep reading at least for awhile.
I think the quote above says so much about this novel. Ann has “memories inside her head that should have remained in Wade’s.” That was the sticking point for me, the place where I had to put down this story and consider whether I could go on. So much has happened to Wade and as the book opens he is losing his memory. Why does Ann want to take on those memories? And what about Jenny? Does she want to remember what has happened? How do the actions of the past continue to reverberate through the story? I have so many questions and not nearly enough answers.
I would not have gotten past the violence of this book without the ToB. I would have put it down for something easier, simpler, happier. I would have missed something worth reading, worth thinking about. I wish I could get my book group to read this. However, what might have turned me off would cause the women in my group to run the other direction.
Once again, I pick up a novel because of the ToB. This one threw me for a loop. I try not to read too much about ToB books before I start reading and so I had no idea what Ruskovich’s story was about. I was a bit startled when I learned how Wade’s life had taken a drastic turn and that Ann was not his first wife. Although I was uncomfortable with the violence in this book, I was able to keep reading at least for awhile.
I think the quote above says so much about this novel. Ann has “memories inside her head that should have remained in Wade’s.” That was the sticking point for me, the place where I had to put down this story and consider whether I could go on. So much has happened to Wade and as the book opens he is losing his memory. Why does Ann want to take on those memories? And what about Jenny? Does she want to remember what has happened? How do the actions of the past continue to reverberate through the story? I have so many questions and not nearly enough answers.
I would not have gotten past the violence of this book without the ToB. I would have put it down for something easier, simpler, happier. I would have missed something worth reading, worth thinking about. I wish I could get my book group to read this. However, what might have turned me off would cause the women in my group to run the other direction.