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A review by jenbsbooks
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
3.75
I liked this ... it's not one that will stick in my memory with the impact of The Midnight Library, but it was an enjoyable read. I have a few little quotes highlighted (about books, magic). I had this in both audio and Kindle copy, and went primarily with the audio/enjoyed the narration, but turned to the kindle a time or two.
This starts out with letters, from Maurice, a 22-year old young man to his former math teacher Grace Winters, and her response ... which IS the rest of the book. One does have to question a bit her "I started writing a response to you and it just grew and grew, far beyond a little email" ... about 300+, a BOOK ... how long did it take her to write this all down? I know it's fiction and she's not writing a novel per se, just her own history, but still, it seems like it would take some days/weeks. How long before she sent this reply? The "letters" are not dated ...
I'm not sure how I felt about this set-up ... the rest of the story is being told TO Maurice, and she addresses him (the reader) several times throughout. This interplay wasn't really integral to the storyline though. As she says "I have been meaning to write this all down for quite some time now, and your message was the perfect prompt" ...
As for the story itself - magical realism/fantasy ... even aliens? Powers? There were a LOT of chapters, I don't know how many because they were not numbered. Just the chapter headings were given. I like to have both ... the chronological numbering is helpful in switching between formats and finding a specific section more easily. There was an environmental focus, preserving the island, appreciating the animals and the ocean and the plants.
Not one I'd rave about, or absolutely recommend, but I enjoyed it and found some little tidbits to add to my QUOTES section.
ProFanity x17. A couple mentions of sex, very slight.
Some other words I notice: cacophony, preternatural, route(pronounced root), sneaked. Mentioned a murmuration of starlings and a flamboyance of flamingos. She played Wordle.
This starts out with letters, from Maurice, a 22-year old young man to his former math teacher Grace Winters, and her response ... which IS the rest of the book. One does have to question a bit her "I started writing a response to you and it just grew and grew, far beyond a little email" ... about 300+, a BOOK ... how long did it take her to write this all down? I know it's fiction and she's not writing a novel per se, just her own history, but still, it seems like it would take some days/weeks. How long before she sent this reply? The "letters" are not dated ...
I'm not sure how I felt about this set-up ... the rest of the story is being told TO Maurice, and she addresses him (the reader) several times throughout. This interplay wasn't really integral to the storyline though. As she says "I have been meaning to write this all down for quite some time now, and your message was the perfect prompt" ...
As for the story itself - magical realism/fantasy ... even aliens? Powers? There were a LOT of chapters, I don't know how many because they were not numbered. Just the chapter headings were given. I like to have both ... the chronological numbering is helpful in switching between formats and finding a specific section more easily. There was an environmental focus, preserving the island, appreciating the animals and the ocean and the plants.
Not one I'd rave about, or absolutely recommend, but I enjoyed it and found some little tidbits to add to my QUOTES section.
ProFanity x17. A couple mentions of sex, very slight.
Some other words I notice: cacophony, preternatural, route(pronounced root), sneaked. Mentioned a murmuration of starlings and a flamboyance of flamingos. She played Wordle.