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A review by ryelees
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I picked up this book because I saw the author recommended several times, despite not being a mother (or, honestly, particularly interested in the topic). I found the book very entertaining and well done.
I liked the structure. It's a pet peeve when a first person narrative doesn't have a reason the story is being told. I'm always like "who are they talking to?". Here, it was immediately clear who she was talking to and why she was telling the story.
I worried the book was going to be cheesy and/or cringey. The "I married an asshole who doesn't help me clean!" narrative that's too realistic to be entertaining, but that wasn't the case. It's realistic, nuanced, and raw. It can be heavy handed at times, but rarely. I wanted to help her. I wanted to give her someone to talk to.
I think if I could relate to the material more, it would have been even better. It was also a bit slow and times and the MC isn't the most memorable.
I liked the structure. It's a pet peeve when a first person narrative doesn't have a reason the story is being told. I'm always like "who are they talking to?". Here, it was immediately clear who she was talking to and why she was telling the story.
I worried the book was going to be cheesy and/or cringey. The "I married an asshole who doesn't help me clean!" narrative that's too realistic to be entertaining, but that wasn't the case. It's realistic, nuanced, and raw. It can be heavy handed at times, but rarely. I wanted to help her. I wanted to give her someone to talk to.
I think if I could relate to the material more, it would have been even better. It was also a bit slow and times and the MC isn't the most memorable.