kthomas4415's review against another edition
4.0
I actually really enjoyed this book. I love the small town vibes of books like this and the sense of scandal in a tiny community. I could give or take the love interest but this was a good read for me.
sarahcoller's review against another edition
3.0
I read Where the Heart Is a lonnnnnng time ago and liked it; so when I found this while looking for some quick and mindless summer reads, I thought I'd give it a shot. It wasn't too bad for a quick, mindless read---but isn't my usual. I loved the setting of the story as I live just 90 minutes from this part of Oklahoma so it was easy to imagine it all taking place in familiar territory. I thought the solution to the mystery was sort of anticlimactic. The killer and the reason for doing so weren't all that shocking. I wondered if I was supposed to be sympathetic about the reasons...I wasn't.
I was put off by the amount of foul language in the story. Like I said---not my normal cup of tea.
I was put off by the amount of foul language in the story. Like I said---not my normal cup of tea.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
4 STARS
"From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Where the Heart Is comes this eagerly anticipated tale of a small Oklahoma town and the mystery that has haunted its residents for years. In 1972, the tiny windswept town of DeClare, Oklahoma, was consumed by the terrifying disappearance of Nicky Jack Harjo. When he was no more than a baby, his pajama bottoms were found on the banks of Willow Creek. Nearly 30 years later, Nicky mysteriously returns in this intriguing and delightfully hypnotic tale, full of the authentic heartland characters that Billie Letts writes about so beautifully." (From Amazon)
I really enjoy Letts' writing - beautiful and entertaining. I love the mystery in this novel and it had me to the last word.
"From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Where the Heart Is comes this eagerly anticipated tale of a small Oklahoma town and the mystery that has haunted its residents for years. In 1972, the tiny windswept town of DeClare, Oklahoma, was consumed by the terrifying disappearance of Nicky Jack Harjo. When he was no more than a baby, his pajama bottoms were found on the banks of Willow Creek. Nearly 30 years later, Nicky mysteriously returns in this intriguing and delightfully hypnotic tale, full of the authentic heartland characters that Billie Letts writes about so beautifully." (From Amazon)
I really enjoy Letts' writing - beautiful and entertaining. I love the mystery in this novel and it had me to the last word.
kandicez's review against another edition
5.0
As always, her characters are so full, round and real to me!!!! I truly care about them.
rebekahology's review against another edition
3.0
Just ok. It was a quick light read and helped pass some time in a waiting room. :-)
silobirdie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
emperorcupcake's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
This is such a beautiful book, I'm so glad I reread it. Totally holds up. One of those stories that's suspenseful and mysterious, but mostly about the characters. I love that kind of book, and I loved these characters. I'm gonna reread more of Billie Letts' books, I think I read them all back in the day.
This is such a beautiful book, I'm so glad I reread it. Totally holds up. One of those stories that's suspenseful and mysterious, but mostly about the characters. I love that kind of book, and I loved these characters. I'm gonna reread more of Billie Letts' books, I think I read them all back in the day.
saraelm's review against another edition
3.0
A quick, easy read - engaging story, though sometimes felt like "fluff"
sdibartola's review against another edition
2.0
I picked up “Shoot the Moon” by Billie Letts because the synopsis on the back cover of the book intrigued me and I was vaguely familiar with her novel, “Where the Heart is.” It’s a “whodunit” and a potent one that kept me reading until I finished the book in a couple of days – not my typical slow reading pace. The women in the novel like Teeve, Ivy, and the murdered girl Gaylene are very strongly drawn, appealing characters. The male characters are evil (O Boy Daniels, Arthur McFadden) or, in the case of Kyle Leander, a burned out relic of the hippy era. Even Mark Albright/Nicky Jack Harjo, the long lost son of Gaylene in search of his identity, comes off as insecure and stuck on himself. The gay lawyer Hap Duchamp and his ex-fireman culinary crazed partner Matthew are appealing exceptions. Letts’ technique of revealing the murdered girl’s personality through her diary entries of the late 1960’s was very effective. Having been a veterinarian for over 30 years, I have to say however that I was disappointed in the way Letts portrayed small animal practice. She apparently didn’t spend much time (if any) researching veterinary medicine. Even though Dr. Albright’s practice is in Beverly Hills, the types of cosmetic procedures he relates performing on rich clients' pets are simply ridiculous and not performed by any veterinarian I’ve ever known. For example, “scrotum tucks on aging dogs, breast reductions on cats that were allowed to deliver too many litters. I’ve performed a nose job on a poodle because the owner thought her precious ‘Pearl’ felt self-conscious about her appearance. I’ve done penile implants on animals more interested in sleep than breeding and eye jobs on Pekingese so they wouldn’t look so Asian.” Is this passage supposed to be a joke? Do veterinarians perform cosmetic procedures? Yes, things like tail docks and ear crops to satisfy breed standards are dubious procedures that are performed regularly, but none of the things Letts describes. Maybe I just over-reacted to what was meant to be a joke, but I found Letts’ portrayal of veterinary medicine offensive. Despite this minor irritation, the question of exactly what happened to Gaylene Harjo and her baby 30 years ago compels you to read page after page until you find out. It was a very enjoyable book that would keep anyone occupied on a long plane ride.
tomaind's review against another edition
5.0
Billie Letts is another one of my favorite authors. This book was a quick read with likable characters and twists and turns in the story that you won't be able to put the book down. This is the third book I have read by Letts and I have enjoyed all of them.