agmaynard's review against another edition
3.0
Many of these fairly short (a few could be called "flash" or short-short) pieces are character sketches or a snapshot of a moment in time. Mostly prosperous people, with nature, gardening, neglected children, heartache minor or major common themes. Ideal for reading one or two at a time at lunchtime at work.
elisendemeter's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
currentlypurring's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-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
3.0
natbmuser's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
In the first story of this collection, a young widow hides from a gardener waiting to be paid. The narrative moves away from this conflict when the woman decides to search for her mother's old house with a cactus garden in the yard, but for me the presence of the forgotten caretaker remains throughout the rest of the short story and throughout the rest of this collection. The prose is snipped. The language fragrant. People are neglected plants. This is certainly a book I'd recommend to gardeners. Although I liked it and was impressed with how much each story seemed to haunt the next, I couldn't quite picture it all. It muddled together in the end.
nagornaya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lovesfromlindsey's review against another edition
3.0
*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review*
I really wanted to like this book because I was so intrigued by the title and blurb, but I had the hardest time staying interested in the separate "snapshots" of each character's life. I think the individual stories were well written and interesting to a certain extent, but I was thrown off by how disconnected the novel felt as a whole. I do recommend this book however if you are someone who likes your fiction a little darker and can read without needing the entire cast of characters to connect.
I really wanted to like this book because I was so intrigued by the title and blurb, but I had the hardest time staying interested in the separate "snapshots" of each character's life. I think the individual stories were well written and interesting to a certain extent, but I was thrown off by how disconnected the novel felt as a whole. I do recommend this book however if you are someone who likes your fiction a little darker and can read without needing the entire cast of characters to connect.
kickpleat's review against another edition
2.0
Tiny book of short stories. I love LA but couldn't get into these at all.