untitledlullaby's review against another edition
4.0
It was a good story of a couple of families, nothing too exciting but intriguing nonetheless. Got a bit annoyed at Kate.
chloelockwood's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
joanagsilva's review against another edition
4.0
TW!
gostei muito deste livro, foi mesmo uma agradável surpresa. Não o conhecia nem nunca tinha ouvido falar mas pela descrição e só pelo facto de ser um dramalhão familiar teve logo a minha atençao. A certas alturas até me fez lembrar ligeiramente de a little life, mas de uma forma diferente.
Gostei da evolução das personagens ao logo do tempo e de como ultrapassaram os tempos difíceis e o passado. Gostei da maneira como encaixaram a doença mental, apesar de ter sido um bocado trigger para uma determinada situação da minha vida. Acho que foi bastante real. Gostei de como “enfiaram” o título do livro na narrativa -esse é sempre um momento meio prazeroso para mim.
Manteve-me bastante investida e senti um leque de emoções diferentes
gostei muito deste livro, foi mesmo uma agradável surpresa. Não o conhecia nem nunca tinha ouvido falar mas pela descrição e só pelo facto de ser um dramalhão familiar teve logo a minha atençao. A certas alturas até me fez lembrar ligeiramente de a little life, mas de uma forma diferente.
Gostei da evolução das personagens ao logo do tempo e de como ultrapassaram os tempos difíceis e o passado. Gostei da maneira como encaixaram a doença mental, apesar de ter sido um bocado trigger para uma determinada situação da minha vida. Acho que foi bastante real. Gostei de como “enfiaram” o título do livro na narrativa -esse é sempre um momento meio prazeroso para mim.
Manteve-me bastante investida e senti um leque de emoções diferentes
mobailey's review against another edition
5.0
Magnificent, heartbreaking, beautiful. A look into two families that may look a thing or two like yours.
“I think we’ve been luckier than most people.”
“Yes. Yes.”
“I think we’ve been luckier than most people.”
“Yes. Yes.”
apriljbeckler's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.0
harrietglenc's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed the storyline but my god this is not a page turner
bbboeken's review against another edition
5.0
It's rare for me to become emotional when reading a book, but it's happened a few times in 2020. This is one of those times. More often than I wanted, the book made me almost puke with anxious anticipation for what was to come. I don't recall any other book, these past few years, that had done this to me. Maybe I only get emotional with really good books. Or with books I really like. (There probably is a difference.)
The language, the structure, the build-up, the distance, the familiarity... it's all there. You'll probably need to invest some time to read this book (don't let it linger), but it'll be worth your while. You could consider the first, nearly 300 pages of this book to be an introduction for the next hundred, and if you read this book, you might come to the conclusion that really, this is all we are meant to be, an introduction to a next generation. (This is in no way a spoiler, merely an interpretation perhaps.)
The language, the structure, the build-up, the distance, the familiarity... it's all there. You'll probably need to invest some time to read this book (don't let it linger), but it'll be worth your while. You could consider the first, nearly 300 pages of this book to be an introduction for the next hundred, and if you read this book, you might come to the conclusion that really, this is all we are meant to be, an introduction to a next generation. (This is in no way a spoiler, merely an interpretation perhaps.)
karaklos's review against another edition
1.0
I’m not sure why this book has such great reviews. I disliked it greatly. The story is about two families that are neighbors. The adults are not really friends but two of their kids are best friends. A tragedy happens between the families forever changing the course of their lives.
The kids are separated for years achieving both educational and athletic success in spite of everything. The parents each experience their own crisis. Years go by with minimal, non relevant information provided. We only get to know the characters from a distance and they are very unlikeable.
The book is largely about the mundane details of their lives with a bit here and there about the event and aftermath. So much time is spent describing that a person took a shower and got dressed, drove to work, read a newspaper, made pork chops....mind numbingly dull. It’s a really depressing book. The last few pages basically say “hey look around...life isn’t so bad after all”. It’s a difficult message to accept after the terrible events.
The kids are separated for years achieving both educational and athletic success in spite of everything. The parents each experience their own crisis. Years go by with minimal, non relevant information provided. We only get to know the characters from a distance and they are very unlikeable.
The book is largely about the mundane details of their lives with a bit here and there about the event and aftermath. So much time is spent describing that a person took a shower and got dressed, drove to work, read a newspaper, made pork chops....mind numbingly dull. It’s a really depressing book. The last few pages basically say “hey look around...life isn’t so bad after all”. It’s a difficult message to accept after the terrible events.
alanapool's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful description of life & its troubles.
All the reviews said I’d love this book & I have to admit, the beginning was hard to get through. I had to read & re-read the first few pages to really understand where the characters came from & I am glad I did so! Tragedy, heartache, love, addiction, mental health, persistence, & the bond of a family. This book has it all. I fell in love with the intertwining lives of two families who tried hard to fight against the persistence pull of fate. The tragedy that struck them hard & dared them to become strangers only strengthened their love for one another. This book was so beautiful that I’d read it again.
All the reviews said I’d love this book & I have to admit, the beginning was hard to get through. I had to read & re-read the first few pages to really understand where the characters came from & I am glad I did so! Tragedy, heartache, love, addiction, mental health, persistence, & the bond of a family. This book has it all. I fell in love with the intertwining lives of two families who tried hard to fight against the persistence pull of fate. The tragedy that struck them hard & dared them to become strangers only strengthened their love for one another. This book was so beautiful that I’d read it again.