Reviews

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

rubyabercromby's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious slow-paced

3.0

afoolya's review

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5.0

a novel that moves like water, like poetry!

who_is_using_all_30_characters's review against another edition

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3.25

lots of flowy poetic writing but honestly just not that interesting

jjbug86's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

madalcna's review

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dark funny inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

nguyenht22's review against another edition

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5.0

It's rare that I find a book whose sentences I pause simply to admire their composition. Prevalent in this text is the imagery and symbolism of water, of houses. Robinson explores the idea of nonconformity, maternal and sisterly love, memory, personal identity, transience/wandering, and family history within each and everyone of us. WARNING: Robinson's narrative is woven with allusions, many of which are biblical. Yet the interpretations and usage of these stories in telling the story of Ruth, Lucille, and Sylvie are so beautifully told that I don't think it reads like a didactic piece of Christian inspirational fiction at all.

This piece is slow at times but I was so enraptured in the powerful prose and the voice of Ruth that I continued simply to read. I would highly recommend this piece.

hannahk78's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

gl_mrtnl's review

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3.0

I really wish I understood this book better, but I really didn't. I struggled to get through the descriptive bits (90% of it) and desperately wanted more of the eventful episodes. I suffered through the lack of action and found every outdoor adventure described extremely boring. I enjoyed the action when there was some, but I didn't understand the end and found it confusing.
Overall I give it a tentative 3 stars because I didn't hate or dislike it.

ashleybenbow's review

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ryansjdu's review

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3.75

The story is not dramatic. But this is made up by the detailed and emotional writings. I can sense that it is good literature. I was not in the right mindset to appreciate it. A book to re-read.