julieknut's review
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
eaklemp's review
5.0
I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) of "The Blessings" by Elise Juska. I devoured this book quickly, and am eager to pass it on to my mom, a bibliophile like me, who is the lucky recipient of books I have loved.
The Blessings are a large Irish-American family from Philadelphia. They are your stereotypical big family, with aunts and uncles and large gatherings. During family events or dinners, the men gather around the television watching sports, while the women gather in the kitchen, talking about neighbors and friends and the latest gossip.
What makes "The Blessings" such an enjoyable novel, though, is Juska's brilliant descriptive writing and the multiple points of view that are presented. Each chapter comes from the perspective of a different member of the Blessing family. There is genius in this, in that the reader not only gets an intimate look at each character's thoughts, but also builds empathy and emotional attachments to each one within the course of a single chapter.
The novel encompasses a couple decades, starting with Abby, a freshman in college experiencing the world outside of her close-knit family for the first time, and ending later on with Elena, a young college graduate who has looked up to Abby and is now on her own to experience the world as well. Through the years, the Blessings face the loss of one of their own to cancer, the decline into senility and eventual death of the matriarch, divorce, bulimia, troubled young men, and the temptation of infidelity. While all these themes might normally be too heavy a burden for lesser novels to encompass at once, Juska's presentation as glimpses into different character's viewpoints makes the transition between each event seamless. The vignettes of each character and how they perceive each circumstance allows the book to flow easily through the years. Certain flashbacks enable the reader to see a situation from various point of view, and how each has affected multiple member of the family in one way or another.
I was left cheering for this family and feeling as though I was tied to them through the heartstrings that Juska wove in this novel. It is splendid in its telling. Her descriptive writing is not heavy, making for light yet deeply penetrating reading. I highly recommend this book, especially as a solid summer read. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. It is set to be released at the beginning of May 2014.
The Blessings are a large Irish-American family from Philadelphia. They are your stereotypical big family, with aunts and uncles and large gatherings. During family events or dinners, the men gather around the television watching sports, while the women gather in the kitchen, talking about neighbors and friends and the latest gossip.
What makes "The Blessings" such an enjoyable novel, though, is Juska's brilliant descriptive writing and the multiple points of view that are presented. Each chapter comes from the perspective of a different member of the Blessing family. There is genius in this, in that the reader not only gets an intimate look at each character's thoughts, but also builds empathy and emotional attachments to each one within the course of a single chapter.
The novel encompasses a couple decades, starting with Abby, a freshman in college experiencing the world outside of her close-knit family for the first time, and ending later on with Elena, a young college graduate who has looked up to Abby and is now on her own to experience the world as well. Through the years, the Blessings face the loss of one of their own to cancer, the decline into senility and eventual death of the matriarch, divorce, bulimia, troubled young men, and the temptation of infidelity. While all these themes might normally be too heavy a burden for lesser novels to encompass at once, Juska's presentation as glimpses into different character's viewpoints makes the transition between each event seamless. The vignettes of each character and how they perceive each circumstance allows the book to flow easily through the years. Certain flashbacks enable the reader to see a situation from various point of view, and how each has affected multiple member of the family in one way or another.
I was left cheering for this family and feeling as though I was tied to them through the heartstrings that Juska wove in this novel. It is splendid in its telling. Her descriptive writing is not heavy, making for light yet deeply penetrating reading. I highly recommend this book, especially as a solid summer read. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. It is set to be released at the beginning of May 2014.
cook_memorial_public_library's review
4.0
Recommended by Jane. Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sblessings%20juska__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=pearl
susan_e's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hmonkeyreads's review
3.0
A character driven story about a big Irish Catholic family from NE Philadelphia.
What I liked and did not like about this one are the same: it's very close to my own life. The descriptions of the family and the locations are all things that I can identify with in my own family or in the families of my friends and in-laws. It's all too familiar and in that way it's all too uncomfortable.
This is a simple book and enjoyable enough for me but I wonder if it would resonate with somebody who had different cultural touchstones?
What I liked and did not like about this one are the same: it's very close to my own life. The descriptions of the family and the locations are all things that I can identify with in my own family or in the families of my friends and in-laws. It's all too familiar and in that way it's all too uncomfortable.
This is a simple book and enjoyable enough for me but I wonder if it would resonate with somebody who had different cultural touchstones?
ejmiddleton's review
4.0
I recently picked up Empire Falls, and immediately put it down because I couldn't read another family drama set in New England. And while Philly may not be New England, I was surprised to find myself enjoying a family drama set, of course, out east. Perhaps it is because it is in a city, and not a quaint town where everyone is in the annual town play. Anyway, I loved the characters and their differing life experiences as part of a large family. Very enjoyable.
portcitykt's review
3.0
A lovely old fashioned read that I really enjoyed. Wanted to give it 3.75 stars because it doesn't quite meet me standards for 4 stars. I felt as if I knew each member of the Blessing family at the book's end but wanted more and maybe that's why I left it at 3.75 stars. Maybe a sequel?
jshettel's review
3.0
Lovely story about the many members of the Blessing family. Through thick and thin, our family is the only family we've got.
theobacn's review
3.0
I can't put my finger on why I didn't like this book more...the writing was good throughout and really great at times, making me tear up more than once. The characters were well-developed and felt real to me, and the story felt natural. I also enjoyed reading the book and stayed up later than I should have with new twins to finish chapters, but it just left me feeling unfulfilled at the end. I think because there were several little stories and happenings without one major plot arc, I felt like there wasn't a clear beginning, middle, and an end which was unsatisfying in some way.