Reviews

Five-Part Invention by Andrea J. Buchanan

brookb812's review against another edition

5.0

Absolutely incredible. One of the best books I’ve read so far this year. A stunning book about generational trauma told through the lives of 5 women, a lineage of abuse. The writing is lyrical and like a waltz, an ode to the musical nature of Lise and the piano. Though each girl is given only a 5th of the book, you so quickly come to love and feel for these characters. It hurt to witness the abuses they each suffered and how their relationships formed based on that abuse. The ending had me crying, it was beautiful and a perfect bittersweet ending to a hard but necessary book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

sam_click's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Physical abuse

jonnyereid's review against another edition

3.0

I really wanted to like this story that is framed around generational trauma… Another reviewer put it perfectly - “I found this to be a frustrating, repetitive, and overly long read, even on audio. I was intrigued by the description of generational trauma, but found that it felt like essentially the same story repeated again and again-bad men and their victims. I don't mean to oversimplify, but that's why I got frustrated with the lack of nuance to these stories when it seemed like just repeating the same thing over and over. I also really didn't like the writing or narration of Lise's sections, as they felt like long, overly dramatic monologues. Though I appreciate what this book set out to do, it's not a book I'd recommend.”

Tried to finish it - DNFd about 85% of the way through.

gcampagna's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

brennasherrill's review against another edition

2.0

I found this to be a frustrating, repetitive, and overly long read, even on audio. I was intrigued by the description of generational trauma, but found that it felt like essentially the same story repeated again and again—bad men and their victims. I don’t mean to oversimplify, but that’s why I got frustrated with the lack of nuance to these stories when it seemed like just repeating the same thing over and over. I also really didn’t like the writing or narration of Lise’s sections, as they felt like long, overly dramatic monologues. Though I appreciate what this book set out to do, it’s not a book I’d recommend.

reikiel's review against another edition

reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

novelgossip's review

4.0

I’ve read a few books about generational trauma recently and there is something completely fascinating about this concept to me. This is the part of the synopsis that got me 👇🏻

Spanning five generations of women, Five-Part Invention wrestles with the question—if trauma echoes through generations, can love echo, too? Is the love we transmit enough to undo the trauma of the past that we unwittingly carry with us and often re-enact in the present?

It starts with Lise in the 1920’s and 1930’s the in subsequent chapters you hear from four other women in the next generations. I really liked the way this story unfolded and slowly told a tale. There was something both quiet and intimate about both the writing and the format and it really captivated me. I don’t always mesh well with literary fiction as sometimes it’s too wordy and flowery but this one really worked well for me. It was a complex story with many triggers and some disturbing content but I also found it to be oddly inspiring and at times wise. I loved the focus on art in various forms and found myself forming connections with all five women in some manner. Overall it was profound, deep and really beautifully written.