jefecarpenter's review against another edition
A brilliant beginning; a fresh, original voice. Couldn't quite make it to the end.
samantha's review against another edition
5.0
“It is not always possible to tell the exact moment you have separated from the earth. So much of what we know for certain is irrelevant by the time we know it.”
lesliekyla's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
bm14's review against another edition
4.0
The writing and story were good, but the book was way too long.
bookalong's review against another edition
5.0
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
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This book hit me hard. I needed time to process after finishing it.
It was so moving and enthralling. I became so invested in these characters. They were so deep and real to me. I enjoyed their journeys. I loved the alternate history in this story. It was a facinating look at a particular part of the 1960's and 70's I hadn't read much about before. Focusing on political activism and radicalism and the space program. Alcott's writing is strong. She drew me in from the first page.
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Thank You to the publisher for sending me this #ARC. This book will publish on May 14th.
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This book hit me hard. I needed time to process after finishing it.
It was so moving and enthralling. I became so invested in these characters. They were so deep and real to me. I enjoyed their journeys. I loved the alternate history in this story. It was a facinating look at a particular part of the 1960's and 70's I hadn't read much about before. Focusing on political activism and radicalism and the space program. Alcott's writing is strong. She drew me in from the first page.
•
Thank You to the publisher for sending me this #ARC. This book will publish on May 14th.
ellenrhudy's review against another edition
2.0
The first fifty pages were amazing, and I kept plugging away, hoping the book would recapture something it had there. No one feels like a fully formed person—they’re more archetypes plugged into historical periods. The letters in particular revealed how little voice individuals have—those letters sounded like the author, not a 25-year-old man. And other smaller failings of characterization...one that struck me was in one chapter, where it’s referenced that Faye’s son (forget his name...ack) keeps lavender satchels with his clothes, just like his mother did. A new detail on her. Later in the same chapter there’s a reference from the roommate about those lavender satchels his roommate carries around. It’s so clumsily done, these two references within pages about something that doesn’t appear anywhere else in the novel, and felt representative of how everyone was a collection of details rather than a person. Frustrating read, language too pretty for itself.
simonfy's review against another edition
4.0
Not what I expected but a very good read. Also quite sad.
pinwheeling's review against another edition
4.0
i ended up LOVING parts of this -- the writing was so lush that I just felt drawn in and didn't want to stop. it's an ambitious novel and i think parts of it don't quite work because the text is so withholding about its characters. in particular i think the pieces about write and fay's time in the us part of the revolutionary group feel a little flat, whereas vincent, despite being a more distant character, feels more realized. it took me over a month to read the first fifty pages and once i moved past that, i was fully immersed and finished the rest in a weekend (also it was overdue and the library is harassing me).
sophronisba's review against another edition
3.0
There are few things more frustrating that a novel that you should like--but you don't, not really. Alcott's writing is stellar; I like that she's trying to tell a big, bold story; she's concerned with political and cultural conflicts; the setting (1960s America) should be just my thing -- but somehow it never came together for me. I will be curious about her next, though.