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A review by canuckblondie
Evenings & Weekends by Oisín McKenna
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
I read this as part of an online book club, and I do think I enjoyed it more thanks to that experience.
Told from multiple perspectives, this read involved many characters, but felt like it centred on Phil as much of the plot is progresses in relation to him. This was fine, but I felt it wasn't "as advertised" as I expected a lot more stand alone moments for each of the periphery characters.
This book held a lot of trauma, queer representation, and reminders that our perspective of others can be vastly different than the reality of who they are or how they see us.
One of the most touching parts of the book for me was when Phil talks about how much he admires his mother, and in the very next chapter we hear how his mother is struggling to feel connected to him. Her whole inner monologue there reminded me a lot of my mum (in a very sweet way). I'll often tell her what I'm reading or what I ate for dinner and think, "this can't be interesting to you?" But she always swears it is.
Overall, I'd recommend this book as a buddy read or book club pick. It does invite a lot of conversation and reflection. Also fitting for those looking for emotional reads, but who don't get frustrated by the story centring on miscommunication (or lack of communication).
While the lack of communication felt very real, it still felt frustrating at times.
Told from multiple perspectives, this read involved many characters, but felt like it centred on Phil as much of the plot is progresses in relation to him. This was fine, but I felt it wasn't "as advertised" as I expected a lot more stand alone moments for each of the periphery characters.
This book held a lot of trauma, queer representation, and reminders that our perspective of others can be vastly different than the reality of who they are or how they see us.
One of the most touching parts of the book for me was when Phil talks about how much he admires his mother, and in the very next chapter we hear how his mother is struggling to feel connected to him. Her whole inner monologue there reminded me a lot of my mum (in a very sweet way). I'll often tell her what I'm reading or what I ate for dinner and think, "this can't be interesting to you?" But she always swears it is.
Overall, I'd recommend this book as a buddy read or book club pick. It does invite a lot of conversation and reflection. Also fitting for those looking for emotional reads, but who don't get frustrated by the story centring on miscommunication (or lack of communication).
While the lack of communication felt very real, it still felt frustrating at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abortion