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katieikewilhelm's review against another edition
4.0
“Maybe you have bad luck, but there is nothing sour in us. We’ve been through shit, remember. Every one of us alive today comes from something bad done to the family that came before us. You being alive is a goddamned miracle, so no more talk about sour blood. Own your mistakes, make amends, and move on. We owe that to those who didn’t make it.”
This is a really remarkable, frustrating story - one that almost seems implausible until you remember the extent to which the native population has been dismissed/stepped on/treated like garbage. Ruthie’s kidnapping feels outrageous to me because I’ve lived a white life in this country, and we have the luxury of outrage and power and resources on our side. The Berry Pickers explores the impact of this imbalance on a young native girl, Ruthie, who is kidnapped by a white woman desperate to have a child of her own and who feels entitled to fill this void by any means necessary. The other storyline follows Ruthie’s brother, Joe, through his life as he shoulders immense guilt for failing to protect both Ruthie and another sibling from tragic circumstances. Both narrators’ accounts are heart wrenching and compelling and deeply traumatic.
I really liked the structure of the novel and the opportunity to follow the ramifications of an event through two different histories. This is a quiet story, for sure, but at times it felt TOO contemplative/slow. Even so, I think it’s an important read and one that effectively sheds light on the forgotten/grossly oppressed people in this country.
This is a really remarkable, frustrating story - one that almost seems implausible until you remember the extent to which the native population has been dismissed/stepped on/treated like garbage. Ruthie’s kidnapping feels outrageous to me because I’ve lived a white life in this country, and we have the luxury of outrage and power and resources on our side. The Berry Pickers explores the impact of this imbalance on a young native girl, Ruthie, who is kidnapped by a white woman desperate to have a child of her own and who feels entitled to fill this void by any means necessary. The other storyline follows Ruthie’s brother, Joe, through his life as he shoulders immense guilt for failing to protect both Ruthie and another sibling from tragic circumstances. Both narrators’ accounts are heart wrenching and compelling and deeply traumatic.
I really liked the structure of the novel and the opportunity to follow the ramifications of an event through two different histories. This is a quiet story, for sure, but at times it felt TOO contemplative/slow. Even so, I think it’s an important read and one that effectively sheds light on the forgotten/grossly oppressed people in this country.
k3lli97's review against another edition
3.0
You already knew what happened based on the description of the book. Very long and anticlimactic.
rouleau4's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So much sadness, but I just loved the way the story was told. It was rich and deep and meaningful. Explores the way families can succeed or fail in their connectedness and how doing something deeply wrong will never work out for you in the end.
kaitlinorrhusa's review against another edition
4.0
Good enough, a sad and compelling story, but it was obvious from the very beginning? Feel like it would’ve been a better book if it was at all suspenseful or like revealed as a plot twist instead of a slow, steady march and you know what’s gonna happen?
vanvicki's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jzoni's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting characters. Very moving at times. And this is one of the few books where I liked both narrators equally.
sheamcmillan's review against another edition
4.0
I found Norma/Ruthie’s narrative really compelling, 5 stars. Thoughtful, tender, yearning. Joe’s narrative was more like 3. I loved the choice of switching back and forth so we get to see her family over time and how they are impacted, but I couldn’t connect with that character very well, especially in his adulthood. Still overall, a great book!
Worth noting, I read the audiobook, and while the actors were good, the audio quality was very noticeably lower than most I listen too. I even had a hard time understanding words from the male narrator pretty frequently because of a muffled quality. I almost didn’t keep going early on, and am glad I pushed through, it ended up being fine. But this may be better to read a hard copy of.
Worth noting, I read the audiobook, and while the actors were good, the audio quality was very noticeably lower than most I listen too. I even had a hard time understanding words from the male narrator pretty frequently because of a muffled quality. I almost didn’t keep going early on, and am glad I pushed through, it ended up being fine. But this may be better to read a hard copy of.
hanvin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Miscarriage, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer and Violence