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cheryl1213 's review for:
Songs in Ordinary Time
by Mary McGarry Morris
Again, I'm wanting a half star. 2.5 really fits better and I will probably keep waivering between 2 and 3.
Songs in Ordinary Time is written in a lovely prose and is focused on developing characters and place. These tend to be winning qualities for me. The tale explores many inhabitants of a small Vermont town with a focus on a single mom, her drunk ex, her three kids, and the con-man who takes up residence in her life with promises of riches and, perhaps more importantly to her, stability. I got lost in the names at first but did get past that (which speaks well of the author...she put enough into each character to make them memorable and I admit I'm not great at juggling lots of names and plot lines).
The problem with Songs is it is just an overwhelmingly depressing read. I don't need books to be fountains of joy and happiness. I actually prefer novels that feel real rather than fake happy endings. I've never flocker to rom-coms at the movies and don't look for that in books. But this just was too far...too sad and down. There were some glimmers that some people might end up okay, but they were faint and overshadowed. I tried to think of a time and place that would fit the book (i.e. beach read, airplane read, educational read, serious thinking read...)...I couldn't find a real spot or audience for which I'd recommend it.
So...stylistically strong and well-written but just too bleak to be able to earn my kudos.
Songs in Ordinary Time is written in a lovely prose and is focused on developing characters and place. These tend to be winning qualities for me. The tale explores many inhabitants of a small Vermont town with a focus on a single mom, her drunk ex, her three kids, and the con-man who takes up residence in her life with promises of riches and, perhaps more importantly to her, stability. I got lost in the names at first but did get past that (which speaks well of the author...she put enough into each character to make them memorable and I admit I'm not great at juggling lots of names and plot lines).
The problem with Songs is it is just an overwhelmingly depressing read. I don't need books to be fountains of joy and happiness. I actually prefer novels that feel real rather than fake happy endings. I've never flocker to rom-coms at the movies and don't look for that in books. But this just was too far...too sad and down. There were some glimmers that some people might end up okay, but they were faint and overshadowed. I tried to think of a time and place that would fit the book (i.e. beach read, airplane read, educational read, serious thinking read...)...I couldn't find a real spot or audience for which I'd recommend it.
So...stylistically strong and well-written but just too bleak to be able to earn my kudos.