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A review by zinelib
California Golden by Melanie Benjamin
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
I really liked the story going in, but by about halfway through I felt like the Donnelly Girls--Carol, Mindy, and Ginger, were...maybe archetypical Bad Women in need of redemption--through being better mothers? The Donnellys are a surf family. Carol got into surfing after an unplanned pregnancy ruined her plans for playing professional baseball. Mindy got into surfing to try to keep her mother, and Ginger because Mindy kind of made her (for the keeping their mother reason).
Carol is a terrible mother because she really just wants to be in charge of her own body and life. Mindy is vapid because she wants to be "normal" and have a career as a performing, and Ginger is a punching bag, in love with a man who is indifferent to her--as her father was in love with Carol.
Carol is a terrible mother because she really just wants to be in charge of her own body and life. Mindy is vapid because she wants to be "normal" and have a career as a performing, and Ginger is a punching bag, in love with a man who is indifferent to her--as her father was in love with Carol.