carlythurm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.5
smiley938's review against another edition
4.0
The external convo between mother and daughter and the confusing you vs I pronouns took some getting used to, but once I did, this was an enjoyable and original read. I don't know that the execution was totally successful, but it's definitely unique. It made a lot more sense when I read the P.S. and realized the book was semi-autobiographical.
kklemaster's review against another edition
5.0
There is something subtly enchanting about this book.. not quite a novel, not quite a memoir, kinda epistolary, definitely meta. I'll be thinking about the questions it raises for a long time, questions like how much do we really know or not know the people we love, the people whose lives parallel and intersect and diverge from ours, most (or least?) of all our mothers, and what extreme levels of empathy would it take in order to understand such things?
trashkatchewan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
3.5
deannah's review against another edition
1.0
Did not finish. Couldn't finish. Didn't want to finish. Made it 44% through and only because it was for book club.
I am surprised at the high ratings for this book. It kind of makes me wonder whether people rated this highly because they *thought* it should be? I don't care how acclaimed the author or this book is supposed to be. It was painful trying to figure out who was talking, whose story was being told (daughter/mother), what time period we were in, etc. The lack of traditional formatting, etc., might be seen as cool/edgy/avant-garde. I found it distracting and pointless.
I feel like this might be a fun writing exercise, but as a novel to publish and inflict upon readers? No. Also, if the stories that mother/daughter were making up about each other were actually fictional (but believable), do your daughter a service and make her sound more appealing. I had no desire to read about her fictional messed up existence in second person.
Also due to the fact that it was written sort of stream of consciousness/listing of events/etc., there was no relationship developed between the reader and the characters. (At least not on my part.) Which them makes it less likely that I am going to carry on reading about them with all the other distractions/obstacles like formating, etc.
I am surprised at the high ratings for this book. It kind of makes me wonder whether people rated this highly because they *thought* it should be? I don't care how acclaimed the author or this book is supposed to be. It was painful trying to figure out who was talking, whose story was being told (daughter/mother), what time period we were in, etc. The lack of traditional formatting, etc., might be seen as cool/edgy/avant-garde. I found it distracting and pointless.
I feel like this might be a fun writing exercise, but as a novel to publish and inflict upon readers? No. Also, if the stories that mother/daughter were making up about each other were actually fictional (but believable), do your daughter a service and make her sound more appealing. I had no desire to read about her fictional messed up existence in second person.
Also due to the fact that it was written sort of stream of consciousness/listing of events/etc., there was no relationship developed between the reader and the characters. (At least not on my part.) Which them makes it less likely that I am going to carry on reading about them with all the other distractions/obstacles like formating, etc.
caitlinbarasch's review against another edition
3.0
Original premise, warm and engaging voice, memorable characters. I was mesmerized by this novel of autofiction (?) throughout most of its narrative - however, some of the chapters felt unnecessary and/or repetitive and as a result the momentum suffered and my interest dwindled.
Overall, though, a very enjoyable book. I laughed out loud quite a few times (always a plus).
Overall, though, a very enjoyable book. I laughed out loud quite a few times (always a plus).
wanderinggnome's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very quick read. I particularly enjoyed the structure of the novel - a mother and daughter writing and commenting on their versions of each other's stories. Also, it made me laugh out loud several times on the subway.
what_katy_read's review against another edition
4.0
If you liked Lady Bird, you'll probably like this too. interesting take on exploring mother/daughter relationships.
minnejenny's review against another edition
3.0
What an unique way to write a book! If you like clean narratives and linear storylines, this book is not for you. If you like a book that makes you think about relationships in different ways and gives glimpses into personal lives, pick this one up. I've never read a book with this type of dialogue flow: 1) conversations not separated by paragraphs; 2) meta-dialogue between two people (mom and daughter) about the story as it unfolds; and, 3)
The author, Elizabeth Crane, says in the afterword "This book began with a simple idea: if I had the opportunity to sit down with my mom, who died in 1998, and dig into what each of us thought we knew about the other person's life, what would be revealed? My hope was to capture something of the essence of these two real people, reflecting on who they truly were/are/could have been/could be."
Spoiler
all of it made up by one person pretending to talk to her deceased momSpoiler
The author, Elizabeth Crane, says in the afterword "This book began with a simple idea: if I had the opportunity to sit down with my mom, who died in 1998, and dig into what each of us thought we knew about the other person's life, what would be revealed? My hope was to capture something of the essence of these two real people, reflecting on who they truly were/are/could have been/could be."
rnance's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book in a giveaway. I loved the cover, and the title, right away. I didn't realize, because I'm not super smart, that it was a psuedo-memoir. And that actually ended up being the best and most touching aspect of the book for me. I found it innovative and charming and a little challenging, as it was written from the second person as a sort of conversation. Summarization doesn't work for a book like this. You just have to read it, and I encourage you to do so!