novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 STARS
"For years Helen Knightly has given her life to others: to her haunted mother, to her enigmatic father, to her husband and now grown children. When she finally crosses a terrible boundary, her life comes rushing in at her in a way she never could have imagined. Unfolding over the next twenty-four hours, this searing, fast-paced novel explores the complex ties between mothers and daughters, wives and lovers, the meaning of devotion, and the line between love and hate." (From Amazon)
Maybe I like my mom too much but I could not get into this story at all and only finished it because it was written by Alice Sebold.
"For years Helen Knightly has given her life to others: to her haunted mother, to her enigmatic father, to her husband and now grown children. When she finally crosses a terrible boundary, her life comes rushing in at her in a way she never could have imagined. Unfolding over the next twenty-four hours, this searing, fast-paced novel explores the complex ties between mothers and daughters, wives and lovers, the meaning of devotion, and the line between love and hate." (From Amazon)
Maybe I like my mom too much but I could not get into this story at all and only finished it because it was written by Alice Sebold.
alldaffer's review against another edition
Starts out bad, and gets worse. I put it down about page 80, when the main character starts having sex with someone's child.
nglofile's review against another edition
I was aware of the disturbing premise, but that with other developments just became unbearable.
audiobook note: Joan Allen is excellent, probably the only reason I stayed with it as long as I did.
audiobook note: Joan Allen is excellent, probably the only reason I stayed with it as long as I did.
evawhite's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
thewrappedupreader13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
it’s a very dark and twisted novel. the main character is a very troubled woman, and the book focuses on her strained relationship with her family, particularly her mother. as the book goes on, it’s very clear that both the main character and her mother suffer from serious mental health struggles. they don’t learn to deal with these struggles, however. it’s very weird, and very creepy, and i was not ready for it at all. i wouldn’t want to read it again.
nnastia's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe not the most exciting plot for most but hit me like a ton of bricks.
An exploration of generational trauma like no other.
An exploration of generational trauma like no other.
michalinaw123's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alicerondinella's review against another edition
4.0
Amo lo stile di Alice Sebold, posseggo tutti i suoi romanzi (3) e credo che siano uno più bello dell’altro nel loro essere uguali e diversi uno dall’altro, per il loro essere reali, crudi e cinici.
È un bel libro, da leggere se si è abbastanza cinici e distaccati da poterlo leggere e capire.
È un bel libro, da leggere se si è abbastanza cinici e distaccati da poterlo leggere e capire.