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A review by karak
A Simple Thing by Kathleen McCleary
3.0
Susannah and Betty both gave up lives in the city for life on a small island off the coast of Washington. Susannah in response to her teenage daughter acting out, and her pre-teen son getting bullied. Betty moved 50 years earlier to placate a cheating husband.
The book was good, but not great. The narration jumps between Susannah and Betty, in different time periods, but the date and narrator is introduced on the title of each chapter.
Susannah really bothered me. She's obsessively worried about the safety of her children, due to her own childhood. The anxiety is used to move the plot along. Until a final conflict towards the end of the novel clears up everything.
Betty is more interesting, and her story is revealed over the chapters. I wish there was more Betty, but this is Susannah's story. In fact, if there was more anyone except Susannah, the story would be better.
The book was good, but not great. The narration jumps between Susannah and Betty, in different time periods, but the date and narrator is introduced on the title of each chapter.
Susannah really bothered me. She's obsessively worried about the safety of her children, due to her own childhood. The anxiety is used to move the plot along. Until a final conflict towards the end of the novel clears up everything.
Betty is more interesting, and her story is revealed over the chapters. I wish there was more Betty, but this is Susannah's story. In fact, if there was more anyone except Susannah, the story would be better.