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A review by batsinthecastle
The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares
3.0
My rating is more like 3.5, just so we're squared.
Okay, so I listened to this on audiobook and while I left it feeling like this was a really good audiobook (i.e. I would recommend it for my commuter friends), I didn't initially start out that way.
The book probably makes things a little clearer, but this book is from all the children's perspectives and switches rapidly. So, if you're like me, and occasionally check out of a story for 30 seconds or so when driving, there's a lot of "wait, what?" moments for a few discs. So by all the children, I mean that we check in with Sasha, Ray, Quinn, Maddie, and Emma. The idea is that Maddie, Emma, & Quinn's parents split up around the time that Maddie was born. They then remarried and one other parent had Ray and the other had Sasha- they aren't related. Let's make that abundantly clear. Otherwise it gets awkward ;)
1 &2 stars - Once I processed that we were following 5 characters, the story made a lot more sense and was really easy to listen along to. The action kept moving and there was a lot to engage with. I didn't like everyone equally (I found Emma the most annoying and Quinn to be the best person), but it did give a better depth of their family. This family has been splitting a summer home for years and the sisters have been trekking back and froth between parents for the same amount of time. But it's not that easy and things quickly change and escalate.
3.5 stars - The narrator for this had a pleasant and engaging voice. I also appreciated that she changed up her voice when there were so many characters involved. From the siblings, to the parents, to the side friends and side characters.
Ultimately I took away a star or so because I didn't like the device the author used to get to the end. Albeit it does make sense in retrospect, but I'm not sure I liked it. I did like the vague way the story ended, but it still felt a little too coupled-off. I'm not sure how else it could go, but I still really enjoyed the story.
Okay, so I listened to this on audiobook and while I left it feeling like this was a really good audiobook (i.e. I would recommend it for my commuter friends), I didn't initially start out that way.
The book probably makes things a little clearer, but this book is from all the children's perspectives and switches rapidly. So, if you're like me, and occasionally check out of a story for 30 seconds or so when driving, there's a lot of "wait, what?" moments for a few discs. So by all the children, I mean that we check in with Sasha, Ray, Quinn, Maddie, and Emma. The idea is that Maddie, Emma, & Quinn's parents split up around the time that Maddie was born. They then remarried and one other parent had Ray and the other had Sasha- they aren't related. Let's make that abundantly clear. Otherwise it gets awkward ;)
1 &2 stars - Once I processed that we were following 5 characters, the story made a lot more sense and was really easy to listen along to. The action kept moving and there was a lot to engage with. I didn't like everyone equally (I found Emma the most annoying and Quinn to be the best person), but it did give a better depth of their family. This family has been splitting a summer home for years and the sisters have been trekking back and froth between parents for the same amount of time. But it's not that easy and things quickly change and escalate.
3.5 stars - The narrator for this had a pleasant and engaging voice. I also appreciated that she changed up her voice when there were so many characters involved. From the siblings, to the parents, to the side friends and side characters.
Ultimately I took away a star or so because I didn't like the device the author used to get to the end. Albeit it does make sense in retrospect, but I'm not sure I liked it. I did like the vague way the story ended, but it still felt a little too coupled-off. I'm not sure how else it could go, but I still really enjoyed the story.