heyyyther's review against another edition
5.0
The kind of book that needs to be read in one sitting. A beautiful collage of love and loss and grief and memory. Overwhelming emotion that feels familiar and also very distant.
emmylib's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
dannb's review against another edition
2.0
Recommended by CML. Not so much....very little about happiness.
stacey987's review against another edition
2.0
As the book begins we realise that the narrator is a very recent widow, having just found her husband dead, and we are hearing her thoughts and reflections upon their marriage and life together. There are no actual chapters, just fairly short paragraphs and page breaks. To begin with, I found this format really interesting; with each paragraph we jump with the narrator to another memory or back to the present. Its not always clear straight away if the current memory is before or after the last, but although at first confusing I felt that it reflected someones mind when they are grieving well with thoughts all over the place, jumping from one memory to the next, going through various emotions, not always making sense etc. However, towards the end of the book I felt that this wasn't working for me anymore as I didn't feel like I had 'got to know' any of the characters very well and despite getting an overview of their many tears together, I felt as though I didn't really know anything about them and that there wasn't really much plot.
I've been left in two minds about this novel. I did find it fairly enjoyable to read and whilst I won't be going out of my way to recommend this to people, I wouldn't tell anyone not to read it either. If you have this book then give it a go, I feel that the author does manage to reflect a grieving mind very well - but if you like a 'plot heavy' book with lots going on then you might find this is not for you.
I've been left in two minds about this novel. I did find it fairly enjoyable to read and whilst I won't be going out of my way to recommend this to people, I wouldn't tell anyone not to read it either. If you have this book then give it a go, I feel that the author does manage to reflect a grieving mind very well - but if you like a 'plot heavy' book with lots going on then you might find this is not for you.
gracecsmith's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kairakaira's review against another edition
4.0
I liked sisters more, this is one of those audiobooks where I wish I would have read the print version instead.
rebbles's review against another edition
5.0
This is a haunting novel, rich in detail - I read it quickly but would read again more slowly to absorb more of its nuances. After her husband dies suddenly one evening after work, the main character spends the rest of that night in a solitary vigil by his bedside, tracing in a semi-delirious and yet strangely lucid state her memories of the life they built together over 40 years.
leerazer's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable but probably forgettable quicker read. Plot is nothing original of course: woman's spouse dies after a long marriage and she reminisces about their past together. You've seen this in memoir and fictional forms plenty.
Tuck has not made the wife character here very compelling or sympathetic, aside from being deeply shaken by finding her husband passed away. She's a painter, though she has only ever sold a few paintings to friends. She was raped by her husband's cousin, but never says anything about it. She has had an affair for unclear reasons but that may have had to do with resentment over her husband's professional success. He's the far more interesting character. A mathematics professor, Tuck works in references and explanations of some mathematical and philosophical topics into the book which for me were something approaching its saving grace.
Tuck has not made the wife character here very compelling or sympathetic, aside from being deeply shaken by finding her husband passed away. She's a painter, though she has only ever sold a few paintings to friends. She was raped by her husband's cousin, but never says anything about it. She has had an affair for unclear reasons but that may have had to do with resentment over her husband's professional success. He's the far more interesting character. A mathematics professor, Tuck works in references and explanations of some mathematical and philosophical topics into the book which for me were something approaching its saving grace.