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skynet666's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is a 3.5 - it was a an interesting story and I always enjoy historical fiction. I think it's so funny that so many reviewers commented on the use of "thee and thou" - ....I guess I read more for enjoyment than some others ;-)
rstockin9's review against another edition
2.0
I spent most of this book having a flashback to reading the struggles of American immigrants in The Shoemaker's Wife, and I was just as disappointed with the ending, though I liked the majority of that book much better. The story had interesting characters but they felt really disjointedly put together and everyone's motivation seemed really unlikely given the situation or they change given the situation, which made them inconsistent and unbelievable. Also, some characters would just pop up for no reason but to awkwardly continue the story. In addition, the events of the story have a weird timing, sometimes nothing happened for a longtime then something happened quickly then some nothing or another is randomly mentioned then major plot points happen in great detail followed by a letter to a character we have never met that recaps everything that just happened and/or tells us some game-changing fact that has never been discussed. It just felt all over the place. Finally, I don't know what I would have liked to happen but the anti-climatic ending just killed it for me. Some characters do 180s, nothing really gets resolved and the main characters has a pseudo-enlightened 'let's forget all the awfulness this book just chronicled and start over in a possible but probably not great future'. Bah.
cassowary_and_sachertorte's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
laurapoulosky's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the protagonist Honor and learning about some Quaker traditions and values. While Honor mostly seemed isolated from her new family, I enjoyed her friendship with Belle the milliner and how they helped people who were escaping slavery, but weren't portrayed as their "saviors."
begquilter's review against another edition
3.0
A book about finding ones self through the eyes of a quaker English women who has moved to American in the early 1800s. She helps runaways but that view clashes with her new in-law family. This book talked about how she finds herself in a time period when America was also trying to figure out it's identity.
heartandsoulbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down. It was incredible, the strength and tenacity of the protagonist is palpable.
bethsandford's review against another edition
3.0
The Last Runaway is a story is the story of a young Quaker woman named Honor Bright who traveled from England with her sister to start a new life in America. After rough travel on the seas, and the death of her sister Honor finds herself very misplaced in a new land surrounded by a new family who does not relate to her. She finds her calling in her work with the underground railroad helping slaves escape to Canada.
I found this work a little predictable and the characters not as developed as they could have been. But it was a good summer read and even had a little surprise ending at the end. I also loved to read all the references about quilts.
I found this work a little predictable and the characters not as developed as they could have been. But it was a good summer read and even had a little surprise ending at the end. I also loved to read all the references about quilts.
amengelking's review against another edition
4.0
A good read. I never could quite understand what she saw in Donovan, but otherwise I thought it was good.
fulyao's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't really expecting to like it as much as I did, especially as the religious based plot is dominant throughout the book. But the writing and story were so good I flew through it. Highly recommend.
knit_and_purl's review against another edition
2.0
I hoped I would enjoy this novel, but sadly it fell flat. Chevalier's character is interesting enough, but much of the story involves her judging new American values against old British ones, and I just felt as though this story was a message about how self-absorbed Americans are and how well-mannered and perfect the Brits are. I have my own opinion on the matter, but I found it tiring in the book.
As other reviewers have commented, Honor's first love scene seemed entirely out of character and really threw the whole story for me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Belle, but otherwise, the rest of the characters were dull and cookie-cutter. Not impressed with this one.
As other reviewers have commented, Honor's first love scene seemed entirely out of character and really threw the whole story for me. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Belle, but otherwise, the rest of the characters were dull and cookie-cutter. Not impressed with this one.