bfth23's review against another edition
1.0
Long book. Unlikeable characters that did not seem real at all. (Well, maybe the Amish ones did.) I really thought I would like this but instead I found myself slogging through it and wondering why the hell I was still trying.
basking_turtle's review against another edition
3.0
I found this an interesting book - another woman going through a mid-life crisis. Been there. It seems when one is going through a crisis that everything happens at once and so it was with the main character. I found her fantasy asides odd although they did add to the interest of the book. I didn't like it enough to give it 5 start but I liked it enough to finish it.
namielle's review against another edition
Try as I may, I could not force my way through the entirety of this book (only got to 35%). Phil, the main character, was just so unlikable. She’s self-absorbed like some sort of spoiled teen, when she’s actually a middle aged lady. I just felt bad for her husband and child.
wordnerdy's review against another edition
2.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2017/12/2017-book-214.html
Literary novels about middle aged academics having affairs have never been something I was particularly interested in, but this one grabbed me—at first—with its strong narrative voice. The fact that the narrator is a middle aged Jewish woman theater professor also made this feel a bit fresher, plus the first half of the novel turns on her mentally ill daughter's marriage to an Amish man—so a lot of balls are being juggled, but I found it compelling enough. Things start to drag as the narrator becomes mired in indecision and self pity, and I could have done without a lengthy dream sequence about WWII French collaborators as well as the lengthy retreads of the Bush-Kerry election (the novel is set in 2004 for some reason). I just found this all to be more insufferable the longer it went on. B-.
_
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on January 23.
Literary novels about middle aged academics having affairs have never been something I was particularly interested in, but this one grabbed me—at first—with its strong narrative voice. The fact that the narrator is a middle aged Jewish woman theater professor also made this feel a bit fresher, plus the first half of the novel turns on her mentally ill daughter's marriage to an Amish man—so a lot of balls are being juggled, but I found it compelling enough. Things start to drag as the narrator becomes mired in indecision and self pity, and I could have done without a lengthy dream sequence about WWII French collaborators as well as the lengthy retreads of the Bush-Kerry election (the novel is set in 2004 for some reason). I just found this all to be more insufferable the longer it went on. B-.
_
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on January 23.
britakate's review against another edition
My guess is that we librarians will have some "unappealing narrator" conversations around this one. I thought Philippa navigated her mess of a life in a completely realistic - if not quite admirable - manner, but I can imagine some readers will have trouble getting over her alleged (and freely acknowledged) selfishness. The hardest thing about the book for me, personally, is that the main character has the name of a coworker of mine, the main character's love object has my nephew's name, and her daughter has my stepmother-in-law's name. Definitely refreshing to see a middle-aged female protagonist. I'd recommend this to people who have enjoyed Nissen's previous novels, as well as fans of Karen Russell, Helen Ellis, and Lauren Groff.
mishiebhat's review against another edition
1.0
The main character Philippa was not only unlikeable but didn’t have an arc nor did she grow in any discernible way. The only possibly intriguing part about her mother-in-law’s mysterious origins were never really answered, and we’re left with Philippa ruining everything she has and altering her relationships all for completely selfish reasons, all while playing the victim.
mithilareads's review
4.0
When I picked this book up, I felt that it would not be my cup of tea. The start of the story felt a bit bumpy, and I couldn't wait to DNF the book. But, this book was featured in Chicago Review of Books's "Most Anticipated Reads of 2018", and I wanted to plough through the book and figure out what made it "anticipated". And I'm happy to tell you, that I started my January reading spree with a well-written book. A book with memorable quotes, so-close-to-reality characters and a very realistic plot.
What I liked about "Our Lady of the Prairie" is that the story seems to meander as per the thoughts of the protagonist Phillipa. This style of writing is something that people who are criticised for "thinking a lot" would relate to very well. The protagonist constantly chatters on and on about what could have been, what should have been, what must have been, what will be. And in a way, it does mirror the thoughts that every over-thoughtful person thinks. Our brains are on a constant overdrive, and this has many unexpected, and sometimes hilarious, repercussions.
I also happen to be very interested in books which have a theme of the World War II. And this book does have a glimpse of it. I wouldn't want to reveal to you in which context the theme comes in, as that would be a major spoiler. But trust me when I say this: The conclusion of the World War II themed chapter will leave you with your jaw on the floor. The whole chapter represents why and how a character grows over the ages, and how people are forced to make difficult decisions during difficult times.
Moreover, this is my first Thisbe Nissen book (thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an ARC!). I must say, inspite of my bumpy first chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I guess I took that time to get used to the reading style, because I haven't read a book like this in a long time. The whole descriptive language in the book transported me to Ohio and Iowa and Prairie and France and to every place described in the book, right from the Gas Stop Motel to the crappy apartment that Phillipa purchases in a fit of "worrying about the future."
What I didn't like about this book is... maybe the spanking scene in the start of the book could have been a little less NSFW? I mean, I felt that the introduction to Phillipa's husband Michael seemed a bit too volatile as compared to the later descriptions of docile Michael. (If you don't agree with me on this, I'm willing to understand a different perspective to this scene, dear reader.)
All in all, I give this book a 4/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an engaging read. Trust me, once you start liking Phillipa and start rooting for her, you'll want to reach the last word of the book, but would't want the book to end.
Read my full review here: https://mithilareviewsbooks.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/our-lady-of-the-prairie-by-thisbe-nissen-bookreview/
What I liked about "Our Lady of the Prairie" is that the story seems to meander as per the thoughts of the protagonist Phillipa. This style of writing is something that people who are criticised for "thinking a lot" would relate to very well. The protagonist constantly chatters on and on about what could have been, what should have been, what must have been, what will be. And in a way, it does mirror the thoughts that every over-thoughtful person thinks. Our brains are on a constant overdrive, and this has many unexpected, and sometimes hilarious, repercussions.
I also happen to be very interested in books which have a theme of the World War II. And this book does have a glimpse of it. I wouldn't want to reveal to you in which context the theme comes in, as that would be a major spoiler. But trust me when I say this: The conclusion of the World War II themed chapter will leave you with your jaw on the floor. The whole chapter represents why and how a character grows over the ages, and how people are forced to make difficult decisions during difficult times.
Moreover, this is my first Thisbe Nissen book (thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an ARC!). I must say, inspite of my bumpy first chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I guess I took that time to get used to the reading style, because I haven't read a book like this in a long time. The whole descriptive language in the book transported me to Ohio and Iowa and Prairie and France and to every place described in the book, right from the Gas Stop Motel to the crappy apartment that Phillipa purchases in a fit of "worrying about the future."
What I didn't like about this book is... maybe the spanking scene in the start of the book could have been a little less NSFW? I mean, I felt that the introduction to Phillipa's husband Michael seemed a bit too volatile as compared to the later descriptions of docile Michael. (If you don't agree with me on this, I'm willing to understand a different perspective to this scene, dear reader.)
All in all, I give this book a 4/5 stars and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an engaging read. Trust me, once you start liking Phillipa and start rooting for her, you'll want to reach the last word of the book, but would't want the book to end.
Read my full review here: https://mithilareviewsbooks.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/our-lady-of-the-prairie-by-thisbe-nissen-bookreview/
sarah_'s review
4.0
I really liked this Our Lady of the Prairie, despite a couple problems I had with it.
Problems first:
1) This book felt SO long! For whatever reason it took me way longer to read than most 350 page books. This is terrible, I guess, since I liked being in the world of the book, but it felt like it dragged sometimes.
2) WTF was that dream sequence about? I had been forewarned by reading other reviews that a lot of people thought it was weird, didn't feel like it added much, and almost quit the book during that section. So...I skipped it. I guess I can't complain that much about something I skipped, but I did try first. I read a few pages, then skimmed some more, and then I finally gave up. You know how it is excruciatingly boring to have someone else explain their dream to you in minute detail? Well, imagine that happening for over *fifty* pages of a convoluted dream about someone's possible-Nazi mother-in-law. I think I would have been setting the book down every couple pages and might never have made it through. I don't regret skipping it and don't feel like I missed anything, but I felt a little bad when I read an interview with the author where she said that section was the heart of the book. Sorry, Thisbe Nissen, I skipped the heart of your book :-/ But I think I enjoyed it better that way.
In any case, I really enjoyed this novel overall. It was the kind of slightly zany slice-of-life book I can really get into. While I'm normally into books with lots of plot, when I like being in a character's head as much as I did Philippa's, I really enjoy a more character-driven book. I suppose some people won't like Philippa much, but I was delighted by how messy and real and relatable she was, and her inner monologue was what really made this book so good for me.
The writing style reminded me, especially in the first half, of two of Garrison Keillor's books that I loved--Liberty and Pontoon. This may not read as an endorsement, since I know a lot of people find his work irritating, but while I was never a Prairie Home Companion listener, I found both those novels laugh-out-loud funny and charming. The similarity to Our Lady of the Prairie was a certain chatty, wry, midwestern humor, I think--and apparently that style is exactly my cup of tea. The second half of the book was a bit darker and more manic, but had a lot of heart, and everything about it really worked for me.
I very much recommend this book if anything about this description sounds appealing, though I think it certainly won't be for everyone. (And if you get to the dream sequence and have trouble getting yourself through it--feel free to give yourself permission to skip right ahead...)
Problems first:
1) This book felt SO long! For whatever reason it took me way longer to read than most 350 page books. This is terrible, I guess, since I liked being in the world of the book, but it felt like it dragged sometimes.
2) WTF was that dream sequence about? I had been forewarned by reading other reviews that a lot of people thought it was weird, didn't feel like it added much, and almost quit the book during that section. So...I skipped it. I guess I can't complain that much about something I skipped, but I did try first. I read a few pages, then skimmed some more, and then I finally gave up. You know how it is excruciatingly boring to have someone else explain their dream to you in minute detail? Well, imagine that happening for over *fifty* pages of a convoluted dream about someone's possible-Nazi mother-in-law. I think I would have been setting the book down every couple pages and might never have made it through. I don't regret skipping it and don't feel like I missed anything, but I felt a little bad when I read an interview with the author where she said that section was the heart of the book. Sorry, Thisbe Nissen, I skipped the heart of your book :-/ But I think I enjoyed it better that way.
In any case, I really enjoyed this novel overall. It was the kind of slightly zany slice-of-life book I can really get into. While I'm normally into books with lots of plot, when I like being in a character's head as much as I did Philippa's, I really enjoy a more character-driven book. I suppose some people won't like Philippa much, but I was delighted by how messy and real and relatable she was, and her inner monologue was what really made this book so good for me.
The writing style reminded me, especially in the first half, of two of Garrison Keillor's books that I loved--Liberty and Pontoon. This may not read as an endorsement, since I know a lot of people find his work irritating, but while I was never a Prairie Home Companion listener, I found both those novels laugh-out-loud funny and charming. The similarity to Our Lady of the Prairie was a certain chatty, wry, midwestern humor, I think--and apparently that style is exactly my cup of tea. The second half of the book was a bit darker and more manic, but had a lot of heart, and everything about it really worked for me.
I very much recommend this book if anything about this description sounds appealing, though I think it certainly won't be for everyone. (And if you get to the dream sequence and have trouble getting yourself through it--feel free to give yourself permission to skip right ahead...)
katevane's review
4.0
In the opening pages of Our Lady of the Prairie the author throws a whole lot at you – and it escalates from there. Phillipa Maakestad is due to drift into contented late-middle age. She has a career as a professor teaching musical theatre, a stable marriage and her daughter has found equilibrium – and a fiancé – after years of psychiatric problems. Then Phillipa starts an affair, leaves her husband and throws everything into disarray.
What follows is a romp through Midwestern life against the backdrop of the Bush/Kerry election. We see the effect on Phillipa’s husband, of course, and her evolving relationship with her daughter, Ginny, as well as getting a sense of the wider community – as she leaves her middle-class enclave and hangs out in bars and motels. In true musical theatre fashion, there are dramatic set pieces and reversals (invariably when she meets up with her lover, Lucius, you know they are not going to enjoy the uninterrupted intimacy they crave).
I liked the humour and the quirky characters, the odd vignettes (there’s a whole chapter where the narrator imagines/dreams a backstory for her difficult and enigmatic mother-in-law in Vichy France, which also happens to be Lucius’ area of academic expertise) and the willingness to answer questions you never dared to ask. (How do you cope if you have a heavy period while swathed in layers of white tulle on your wedding day? Read on and find out.)
But beneath the frenetic pace, there is a shrewd restraint. There are elements of the story that are left open, leaving the characters room to grow, and the reader space to reflect. Is Phillipa’s affair a reaction to her sudden liberation from caring for a seriously ill daughter, is it a perimenopause-induced rush of hypersexuality, or is it true love?
There is a sense of almost tipping into chaos in this book which mirrors Phillipa’s life, but the author does a great job of keeping the plates spinning while you hold your breath. This is an energetic, earthy, audacious novel asking us about the relationship between happiness, stability, and taking risks to pursue the life you want.
*
I received a copy of Our Lady of the Prairie from the publisher via Netgalley.
This review first appeared on my blog katevane.com/blog
What follows is a romp through Midwestern life against the backdrop of the Bush/Kerry election. We see the effect on Phillipa’s husband, of course, and her evolving relationship with her daughter, Ginny, as well as getting a sense of the wider community – as she leaves her middle-class enclave and hangs out in bars and motels. In true musical theatre fashion, there are dramatic set pieces and reversals (invariably when she meets up with her lover, Lucius, you know they are not going to enjoy the uninterrupted intimacy they crave).
I liked the humour and the quirky characters, the odd vignettes (there’s a whole chapter where the narrator imagines/dreams a backstory for her difficult and enigmatic mother-in-law in Vichy France, which also happens to be Lucius’ area of academic expertise) and the willingness to answer questions you never dared to ask. (How do you cope if you have a heavy period while swathed in layers of white tulle on your wedding day? Read on and find out.)
But beneath the frenetic pace, there is a shrewd restraint. There are elements of the story that are left open, leaving the characters room to grow, and the reader space to reflect. Is Phillipa’s affair a reaction to her sudden liberation from caring for a seriously ill daughter, is it a perimenopause-induced rush of hypersexuality, or is it true love?
There is a sense of almost tipping into chaos in this book which mirrors Phillipa’s life, but the author does a great job of keeping the plates spinning while you hold your breath. This is an energetic, earthy, audacious novel asking us about the relationship between happiness, stability, and taking risks to pursue the life you want.
*
I received a copy of Our Lady of the Prairie from the publisher via Netgalley.
This review first appeared on my blog katevane.com/blog
christie's review
3.0
I got off to a slow start with this one, in part because some of the paragraph asides were a page or so long. And then there's an abrupt full chapter that moves from the main character's life, to the life of someone else we meet in this story. I think the purpose was to make one feel a bit disjointed (maybe?) and I didn't like that. I also felt flummoxed by Phillipa's relationship with Lucius. How she described it didn't really match up with what was written about it, and because it's so central to at least some of the story, that kept throwing me off a bit.