Reviews

Zorrie by Laird Hunt

Only show reviews with written explanations

mattie's review against another edition

3.0

I think I'd seen this hyped a bit too much, leading to inevitable disappointment. Read [b:Etta and Otto and Russell and James|23249706|Etta and Otto and Russell and James|Emma Hooper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1411982760l/23249706._SX50_.jpg|24876024] instead.

ioana_diaconu's review against another edition

Go to review page

slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

bsmith27's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I'm not really sure what this book was about. Seems to be shorter story about a woman and her life. She grows up as an orphan with an abusive aunt and then moves to Ottawa and becomes a radium girl. Then she moves and marries the love of her life. She is pregnant and continues to use the radium powder. She loses the baby and her husband goes to serve and will wear too. He is killed. She continues on with the farm and her in-laws die. She has several friends that live around her and they passed away too. She makes a move to be with her neighbor but he rebuffs her. And in the end it seems like she is slowing down. A cute quaint little story.

madivord's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted 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? No

3.0

Laird Hunt is an expert in communicating the unsaid. It's a slow novel meandering through the life of a woman named Zorrie.

claweddabussyoooo's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

bookishjaja's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

What a great book! It's short but also deeply moving. In just 161 pages I became so attached to our title character that, at times, I had to remind myself that this was mere fiction. The character development was well done, and though it was brief, the storyline was full. Laird Hunt has given us a quintessential example of quality over quantity.

It's a quiet novel, easy and unassuming. It's Americana at its most relatable and most accessible. It feels realistic, a life that could just as easily be mine or yours or someone we know. I can see without effort why it was a National Book Award finalist.

I'll certainly recommend Zorrie to others, to lovers of lit fic and newbies wanting to explore the genre alike.