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A review by jerkyf
Enchanted August by Brenda Bowen
2.0
Audiobook
I'm not sure about the narration. I don't dislike the narrator, but there is no attempt to voice the various characters differently. I'm having a hard time keeping track, especially if my mind wanders a bit. And my mind is wandering more than a bit. Not one of their stories is especially compelling. It reads like a YA book, with awkward adult scenes.
A small ad for a vacation home on a small Maine island attracts two mothers, who then find two more people to share the space. Each is looking for something from the seclusion, including anonymity, isolation, adventure, and separation. I'm not relating to any of them so far. Rose takes a month away from her husband and preschool-aged twins to figure out how to handle her difficult son and her relationship with her author husband. Leaving both for a month doesn't make sense to me. Lottie wants adventure, but so far she's letting everyone else make all of the decisions while she takes their drink orders and worries about money. I don't understand that either. Beverly is dealing with the loss of a beloved cat and a great love, grumpily and grudgingly. And Caroline is an actress trying to get over the devastation of almost winning an Oscar. She's rude and demanding, and I certainly can't relate to her. Every character is a cliché. I seem to be back in the 'more money than sense' spiral.
I'm not sure about the narration. I don't dislike the narrator, but there is no attempt to voice the various characters differently. I'm having a hard time keeping track, especially if my mind wanders a bit. And my mind is wandering more than a bit. Not one of their stories is especially compelling. It reads like a YA book, with awkward adult scenes.
A small ad for a vacation home on a small Maine island attracts two mothers, who then find two more people to share the space. Each is looking for something from the seclusion, including anonymity, isolation, adventure, and separation. I'm not relating to any of them so far. Rose takes a month away from her husband and preschool-aged twins to figure out how to handle her difficult son and her relationship with her author husband. Leaving both for a month doesn't make sense to me. Lottie wants adventure, but so far she's letting everyone else make all of the decisions while she takes their drink orders and worries about money. I don't understand that either. Beverly is dealing with the loss of a beloved cat and a great love, grumpily and grudgingly. And Caroline is an actress trying to get over the devastation of almost winning an Oscar. She's rude and demanding, and I certainly can't relate to her. Every character is a cliché. I seem to be back in the 'more money than sense' spiral.