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koalaautumn 's review for:
Grave Talk
by Nick Spalding
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for kindly providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:📖
Grave Talk is told through the alternating POVs of its two main characters, Ben and Alice. Both characters are dealing with very significant, "before-their-time" losses: Alice lost her 40-something husband Joe to an unexpected heart attack, and Ben lost his older brother Harry to a battle with leukemia. Though they first meet in a cemetery under the saddest circumstances, not all elements of their encounter are serious. Ben is dressed up like Kermit the Frog, green face paint and all. His deceased brother, ever the prankster, requested in his will that Ben visit his gravestone each year in a ridiculous costume of Harry's choosing. Connected by this initial absurdity and their shared losses, Ben and Alice strike up a conversation and an enduring friendship. Each year, they return to the cemetery—Ben in costume and Alice in anticipation of seeing said costume—to discuss the past, the future, and how they're each navigating the world without their loved ones.
I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, sadly. There wasn't much "oomph" to the characters or the plot. In general, I am not a huge fan of alternating POVs either. To me, they feel a bit cheap in terms of storytelling. Overall, I just wasn't impressed by the characters, plot, or writing. I think the whole thing would have made a much better movie. It doesn't work on the page but I think it could do better if adapted to the screen.
Based on the subject matter, I think this book would be most impactful for anyone dealing with a recent, significant loss in their adult lives. Even these readers may at times be frustrated by the (in)actions of the characters, though.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:📖
Grave Talk is told through the alternating POVs of its two main characters, Ben and Alice. Both characters are dealing with very significant, "before-their-time" losses: Alice lost her 40-something husband Joe to an unexpected heart attack, and Ben lost his older brother Harry to a battle with leukemia. Though they first meet in a cemetery under the saddest circumstances, not all elements of their encounter are serious. Ben is dressed up like Kermit the Frog, green face paint and all. His deceased brother, ever the prankster, requested in his will that Ben visit his gravestone each year in a ridiculous costume of Harry's choosing. Connected by this initial absurdity and their shared losses, Ben and Alice strike up a conversation and an enduring friendship. Each year, they return to the cemetery—Ben in costume and Alice in anticipation of seeing said costume—to discuss the past, the future, and how they're each navigating the world without their loved ones.
I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, sadly. There wasn't much "oomph" to the characters or the plot. In general, I am not a huge fan of alternating POVs either. To me, they feel a bit cheap in terms of storytelling. Overall, I just wasn't impressed by the characters, plot, or writing. I think the whole thing would have made a much better movie. It doesn't work on the page but I think it could do better if adapted to the screen.
Based on the subject matter, I think this book would be most impactful for anyone dealing with a recent, significant loss in their adult lives. Even these readers may at times be frustrated by the (in)actions of the characters, though.