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A review by ldv
Carry the One by Carol Anshaw
3.0
Based on my vague recollection of the blurb on the book and the title, I expected this book to be a little bit more like [b:One Day|4137|Me Talk Pretty One Day|David Sedaris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165389015s/4137.jpg|1030767] in that it revisits the same characters over an extended period of time. Or I thought that each chapter would directly connect that chapter's main character with "the girl" (ie the One of the title), and that it would follow all of the characters who were in the car when the accident occurred. Not quite. Really the book focusses on three siblings and their adulthood/development. Only two of the siblings were in the car, and the other three characters who were in the car are part of the story throughout the novel, but mainly in secondary or tertiary roles.
This unexpected storyline shadowed my perception of the story, but there is no doubt that the author writes well. I never felt dialogue was cheesy or characters were flat or unrealistic. In fact, these characters are some of the most realistic characters I've encountered. That's what the book is really about: realistic characters living through life's screw-ups and trials. More attention was given to Alice and her love life than I would have liked (I felt Carmen's storyline dropped off after it seemed to be going so strongly), but still interesting. And different. Different is always welcome.
This unexpected storyline shadowed my perception of the story, but there is no doubt that the author writes well. I never felt dialogue was cheesy or characters were flat or unrealistic. In fact, these characters are some of the most realistic characters I've encountered. That's what the book is really about: realistic characters living through life's screw-ups and trials. More attention was given to Alice and her love life than I would have liked (I felt Carmen's storyline dropped off after it seemed to be going so strongly), but still interesting. And different. Different is always welcome.