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sofijac's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
saraiphim's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
thereading_giant's review
4.0
Obviously, huge TW for suicide. This book offered more than I expected and I always love a deep dive into a family history.
h_pasta's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
livres_de_bloss's review
DNF at 55%.
When am I going to learn not to buy books from the discount section!
This wasn't what I thought it would be. While I usually love books set in NYC, this had no redeeming qualities at all. I found the characters unappealing, the writing rambling and disjointed and the overall premise bizarre.
Another review said that this book made them feel bad and therefore they didn't continue with it. I couldn't put it better myself!
When am I going to learn not to buy books from the discount section!
This wasn't what I thought it would be. While I usually love books set in NYC, this had no redeeming qualities at all. I found the characters unappealing, the writing rambling and disjointed and the overall premise bizarre.
Another review said that this book made them feel bad and therefore they didn't continue with it. I couldn't put it better myself!
lookmairead's review against another edition
4.0
ME: I’m going to stick away from books that talk about WWII. (This category and I tend to go on long “breaks”.)
ALSO ME: This book took my breath away.
Would recommend:
1- When you’re in the mood for something darkly funny, but also oddly tender. The internal dialogue in this is stunning.
2- If you are a sucker (like I am) for a sibling-love driven plot.
3- If you miss NY.
ALSO ME: This book took my breath away.
Would recommend:
1- When you’re in the mood for something darkly funny, but also oddly tender. The internal dialogue in this is stunning.
2- If you are a sucker (like I am) for a sibling-love driven plot.
3- If you miss NY.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
1.0
A Reunion of Ghosts by Judith Claire Mitchell is the story about three sisters who decide to commit suicide together after discovering that Vee’s cancer has returned. The story starts in the summer of 1999. Lady, Vee and Delph Alter write a memoir/suicide letter about their family history. The three sisters live in an apartment on Riverside Drive in New York where they grew up. Lady is 49 and a divorcee. Vee is a widower, 46 and discovers that she is dying of cancer. Delph is the youngest at 42 and is a spinster (and still a virgin).
The book details the history of their family which came from Germany. One of their ancestors invented the gas used in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. They talk about how their relatives committed suicide and did not leave notes. The girls have even compiled a family tree which shows how each person killed themselves.
A Reunion of Ghosts was not a hit with me. I found this book to be a very lengthy tome. I did not think it would ever end. I give it 1 out of 5 stars. I think the book could have done with a good editing. A Reunion of Ghosts is a very dark story with a depressing ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book details the history of their family which came from Germany. One of their ancestors invented the gas used in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II. They talk about how their relatives committed suicide and did not leave notes. The girls have even compiled a family tree which shows how each person killed themselves.
A Reunion of Ghosts was not a hit with me. I found this book to be a very lengthy tome. I did not think it would ever end. I give it 1 out of 5 stars. I think the book could have done with a good editing. A Reunion of Ghosts is a very dark story with a depressing ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
dilchh's review against another edition
5.0
What is amazing about this book that it deserved a five star (might I add, this is the first five star I gave in 2016) is the characters and the setting (also the PUNS!!!! So many puns, I can’t help myself to love this book even more). I was interested upon seeing the beautiful hue of the cover, I was intrigued after reading its synopsis, was a bit put off because of the characters’ name (but who am I to judge?). Then as I began reading it, I just couldn’t stop. There was something unique and weird and sad and self-deprecating about how the story flaws that I just couldn’t stop reading it. I have to admit that it was pretty depressing and dark (and this might put off some readers), but as the story go back and forth between modern day Alter girls and those before them, there was no way I was going to back down from finishing this book.
I guess the real-ness of the story owes it to the extensive research the author had invested in writing this book. I don’t normally go and read an author’s acknowledgement at the end of the book, but I was very curious that I just kept on reading it. Believe you me, if you ever read this book, go and have a read on the author’s acknowledgement to be amaze and how extensively she has been researching for the characters that were the core of this book. I get that I can sometimes be overly bias when it comes to historical fiction but this is definitely one hell of a great historical fiction. Oh, one thing that I noticed as I was reading about these Alter girls is that there were some parts of the story that had reminded me a lot about The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells; not the story, but the ambience of vintage New York, I suppose. Not a bad thing, but just something I would like to share.
Now, to my favourite part of the book, the characters. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the characters are all lovable but you can’t help but sort of understood why they act the way they act. What was surprising for me the most was that I didn’t even realise that I was very emotionally invested with the characters until they killed themselves. Why does it surprise me? Well, let’s just say I am not a champion of suicide. I don’t agree with suicide. But reading the struggle that is the characters in the book, I feel like I can understand why they would opt for suicide instead of something else (not that I have an idea what this ‘something else’ might be). Point is, not only the author did an amazing research for the story, she is also very gifted in creating her characters, and I love stories like that.
Look, I seriously recommend people to read this book. What’s not to like? (1) It has an amazing storyline; (2) It has amazing and relatable characters; (3) The storytelling is crazy unique and very captivating; (4) Every pages leaves you wanting to know more. Word of advice, though, if you’re going through some rough patches and/or are a tad bit depressed or something, maybe you should not be reading this book. As I’ve said in the beginning, the book can be a little off putting for some people due to its extensive depressive and dark contents, but hey, there’s always PUNS to save the day.
I guess the real-ness of the story owes it to the extensive research the author had invested in writing this book. I don’t normally go and read an author’s acknowledgement at the end of the book, but I was very curious that I just kept on reading it. Believe you me, if you ever read this book, go and have a read on the author’s acknowledgement to be amaze and how extensively she has been researching for the characters that were the core of this book. I get that I can sometimes be overly bias when it comes to historical fiction but this is definitely one hell of a great historical fiction. Oh, one thing that I noticed as I was reading about these Alter girls is that there were some parts of the story that had reminded me a lot about The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells; not the story, but the ambience of vintage New York, I suppose. Not a bad thing, but just something I would like to share.
Now, to my favourite part of the book, the characters. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the characters are all lovable but you can’t help but sort of understood why they act the way they act. What was surprising for me the most was that I didn’t even realise that I was very emotionally invested with the characters until they killed themselves. Why does it surprise me? Well, let’s just say I am not a champion of suicide. I don’t agree with suicide. But reading the struggle that is the characters in the book, I feel like I can understand why they would opt for suicide instead of something else (not that I have an idea what this ‘something else’ might be). Point is, not only the author did an amazing research for the story, she is also very gifted in creating her characters, and I love stories like that.
Look, I seriously recommend people to read this book. What’s not to like? (1) It has an amazing storyline; (2) It has amazing and relatable characters; (3) The storytelling is crazy unique and very captivating; (4) Every pages leaves you wanting to know more. Word of advice, though, if you’re going through some rough patches and/or are a tad bit depressed or something, maybe you should not be reading this book. As I’ve said in the beginning, the book can be a little off putting for some people due to its extensive depressive and dark contents, but hey, there’s always PUNS to save the day.
carolyn0613's review against another edition
5.0
This is a quite startling story about 3 sisters, Delph, Vee and Lady. The story is written in the first person plural "we" and feels slightly artificial to start with. But the reason behind this becomes clear and I enjoyed hearing the different voices of the three characters. The girls are contemplating a triple suicide because Vee is terminally ill and because it seems that this is what women in their family do. The story tells of their German Jewish heritage, in particular their great grandfather who is very much a black sheep. The story is surprising, well written, and full of mystery. I liked the ending.