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A review by mishmashedmagic
The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
5.0
There are some books in life that you will pick up not realizing just how much they'll impact you. The kind that linger in you thoughts long after they've been read and placed back on the shelf. For me, The Smell of Other People's Houses was one of these books. I picked it up, not entirely sure what to expect and finished it several hours later, unable to put it down for even a second.
I was not emotionally prepared for this book. The premise starts of simply enough, several teenagers all growing up in Alaska circa late 1960s, each with their own set of problems. In particular, it's told from the perspectives of three girls and boy. As their stories play out, their lives slowly begin to intertwine. On an emotional level, this book really struck a chord with me. It reminded me that behind every closed door, even those I'm familiar with, there are people with their own experiences and problems. And though the title may be a bit misleading--the book is indeed not just about how other people's houses smell--it also reminded me how smells can really give you insight into the way a person interprets their own, or other people's, family.
Each of the characters feel beautifully real and believable, and I found myself emotionally connected quick quickly to all four. The way their lives later intertwine is wonderfully written and stands to prove that we are all, in some way or other, connected. My only criticism would be, though I was very happy with the ending, that it did feel almost a little bit convenient. Then again, given the age range this book targets, I doubt many readers will have an issue with it.
Finally, I really loved this book because it was set in a place and time that I haven't read much about, and I really enjoyed reading about lives that were so vastly different from mine.
Overall, I think this will be one of those books that stays in the back of my mind for a long, long time.
I was not emotionally prepared for this book. The premise starts of simply enough, several teenagers all growing up in Alaska circa late 1960s, each with their own set of problems. In particular, it's told from the perspectives of three girls and boy. As their stories play out, their lives slowly begin to intertwine. On an emotional level, this book really struck a chord with me. It reminded me that behind every closed door, even those I'm familiar with, there are people with their own experiences and problems. And though the title may be a bit misleading--the book is indeed not just about how other people's houses smell--it also reminded me how smells can really give you insight into the way a person interprets their own, or other people's, family.
Each of the characters feel beautifully real and believable, and I found myself emotionally connected quick quickly to all four. The way their lives later intertwine is wonderfully written and stands to prove that we are all, in some way or other, connected. My only criticism would be, though I was very happy with the ending, that it did feel almost a little bit convenient. Then again, given the age range this book targets, I doubt many readers will have an issue with it.
Finally, I really loved this book because it was set in a place and time that I haven't read much about, and I really enjoyed reading about lives that were so vastly different from mine.
Overall, I think this will be one of those books that stays in the back of my mind for a long, long time.