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A review by dangled
The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
4.0
3.5/5
Overall, I’d say it was a well crafted novel. There are certainly heavy portions of this book as we’re looking back at 1920s America (especially in Matilda’s section of the book) making it frustrating to read due to the unfair injustice.
The start of the novel was extremely slow and I almost put it down a few times while reading Ada’s section because it progressed so slowly. I wish there was more of an explanation of Ada’s life in Baton Rouge with Jesse as that may have been more interesting to read about than her getting setting up in the stilt house and anticipating Virgil. I think it would’ve also showed more of her character, why she was so invested in Jesse. All we really got about him was that she was in love and she ran away from home with him only to have to go back home once he dumped her.
Once getting to Matilda’s section of the book my interest definitely increased as we learned a lot about her, her back story, how she ended up hiding out with Ada. I definitely enjoyed reading the book from there up till the end. I enjoyed the fact that both girls seemingly got fresh and good starts at new lives by the end as it leaves the book on a rather warm note but it just makes me wonder what happens next.
Do people find out about Frank being dead? Does anyone search for who did it considering he just signed a lease for a law office and is friends with the Sheriff (I believe that was mentioned when he was blackmailing Ada)? Does Matilda make it to Cleveland and become a writer? Does Ada make it as a seamstress? I think it’s good that we’re left with questions like that but it just makes me feel a bit lost, without closure.
Overall, I’d say it was a well crafted novel. There are certainly heavy portions of this book as we’re looking back at 1920s America (especially in Matilda’s section of the book) making it frustrating to read due to the unfair injustice.
The start of the novel was extremely slow and I almost put it down a few times while reading Ada’s section because it progressed so slowly. I wish there was more of an explanation of Ada’s life in Baton Rouge with Jesse as that may have been more interesting to read about than her getting setting up in the stilt house and anticipating Virgil. I think it would’ve also showed more of her character, why she was so invested in Jesse. All we really got about him was that she was in love and she ran away from home with him only to have to go back home once he dumped her.
Once getting to Matilda’s section of the book my interest definitely increased as we learned a lot about her, her back story, how she ended up hiding out with Ada. I definitely enjoyed reading the book from there up till the end. I enjoyed the fact that both girls seemingly got fresh and good starts at new lives by the end as it leaves the book on a rather warm note but it just makes me wonder what happens next.
Do people find out about Frank being dead? Does anyone search for who did it considering he just signed a lease for a law office and is friends with the Sheriff (I believe that was mentioned when he was blackmailing Ada)? Does Matilda make it to Cleveland and become a writer? Does Ada make it as a seamstress? I think it’s good that we’re left with questions like that but it just makes me feel a bit lost, without closure.