ncrabb's review against another edition
4.0
This was a jarring memorable book for a variety of reasons. Laura Brattan's narration was fabulous! She found tears, she found tension, she drew up anger, and she displayed all of those at exactly the right amount throughout the book to make it even better than merely reading a braille edition.
Lisa is a harried sometimes frazzled mom. She doesn't feel she's as good a mom as her friend, Kate, for example. She tries hard, and she fiercely loves her kids, but she's not always as together as she'd like to be.
When Lisa's daughter's friend goes missing prior to visiting Lisa's house, Kate blames Lisa for not being more careful and thoughtful of the kids, for not knowing where her daughter went.
This is that nightmare book about a missing early teen girl. It's the story of a good mom who is unjustly blamed for something that horrifies the community and severely stresses Lisa and her family. It will stay with you long after the book ends. And things are not what they seem to be for sure.
Lisa is a harried sometimes frazzled mom. She doesn't feel she's as good a mom as her friend, Kate, for example. She tries hard, and she fiercely loves her kids, but she's not always as together as she'd like to be.
When Lisa's daughter's friend goes missing prior to visiting Lisa's house, Kate blames Lisa for not being more careful and thoughtful of the kids, for not knowing where her daughter went.
This is that nightmare book about a missing early teen girl. It's the story of a good mom who is unjustly blamed for something that horrifies the community and severely stresses Lisa and her family. It will stay with you long after the book ends. And things are not what they seem to be for sure.
nothingtoread's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Pretty average but entertaining. It’s a quick read.
dani_weber's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tomallen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
charlove's review against another edition
3.0
As a mother myself, I was drawn to the book description. This was definitely a page turner.
novelbloglover's review against another edition
4.0
Book Review
Title: Just What Kind of Mother Are You?
Author: Paula Daly
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Family
Rating: ****
Review: Lisa Kallisto is an over-worked, under paid, harried mother of three with a full time job caring for unwanted pets whilst running a family home. Her husband, Joe, works as a self-employed taxi driver, and like most people, they spend their days juggling their responsibilities and trying to make ends meet. But their everyday chaotic lives screech to a halt when Lisa overlooks something, and the end result is that a child goes missing. Not her child, but her best friend’s daughter, she disappears on Lisa’s watch
If you like psychological thrillers, then Just What Kind of Mother are You? is a novel you should take notice of. It’s a great read just for enjoyment’s sake (Daly will keep you hooked from beginning to end), but it’s also incredibly thought-provoking. The author balances well between the thriller storyline and introspection and personal development of the characters. This means it’s multifaceted and will intrigue the reader on multiple levels.
Lisa is an incredibly sympathetic character in Just What Kind of Mother are You? There are times the reader wants to shake her because it’s clear she’s overwhelmed and needs help but doesn’t know how to ask for it. As a result, she makes mistakes in her parenting and misses things that, as a mother, she really shouldn’t. However, the reader can’t judge her because it’s understandable; being a working mother is difficult. And when it comes to stress, we’ve all been there. Set in the Lake District in the run up to Christmas, the community arranges search parties in the frozen landscape whilst Lisa desperately tries to make things right. As the festive season approaches, Lisa begins investigating and in doing so, peels away the layers of her town and closest friends and discovers the secrets and dark truths that lurk beneath.
The twist (or at least, the first one)? Sally and Lucinda were supposed to have a sleepover the night prior, but in the whirlwind Lisa knows as life she forgot to call Kate to tell her Sally wasn’t going to be going into school that day. Sleepover off, but do you know where your daughter is? As the search rages on, we learn about the lives of the several families in this small England town, how they intertwine and the secrets they all withhold.
As a result, the reader becomes completely involved with Lisa’s storyline, and when Lucinda goes missing, they can feel her pain, her anger at herself, her disbelief that this could have happened on her watch. She feels responsible—and it’s easy to see why—yet it’s not her fault. The title of the book applies on different levels; readers will be continually revaluating what it means as the novel progresses. There’s also a parallel storyline in Just What Kind of Mother are You: the fact that other girls have gone missing, and the personal story of the woman investigating these crimes. Daly ties these multiple plotlines together very well. It’s well-written, gripping, and provides a lot of discussion points, making this a perfect book club pick for the fall.
It’s almost impossible, if you have a heart of any size, to not get wrapped up right away in Lisa Kallisto’s plight—the overwhelmed parent with a marital secret, too much work, too many pets, three kids, not enough time and not enough money. On the other side of things is Kate (Lisa’s friend, the mom in the neighbourhood that everyone simultaneously is in love with, jealous of, and secretly hates a little bit). The action kicks off when Sally (Lisa’s daughter) calls to inform her mom that Lucinda (Kate’s daughter and Sally’s pal) has gone missing.
But I loved this book. It’s a page turner from the start and one that I struggled to put down. The characters are simply wonderful, totally identifiable and full of snappy dialogue. The narrative shifts between first person and third person, between that of Lisa Kallisto and Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall as she works on the case. It gives the book a rapid pace and a real sense of urgency grips the reader with little time for idyll words.
The story is told from three perspectives, which while strange on a technical narrative level, is necessary for the furthering of the plot. Of course, you get Lisa’s first person account of what’s going on. You also get, just frequently enough to wet your whistle, a perfectly creepy and vague third person account from the perp. Finally, there are third person chapters detailing Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall and the steps taken by the police. And despite all of these enjoyable elements some of my favourite parts of the book were the small asides where Daly took time to consider the minutia of life many authors (myself including) tend to forget. And you know what, you could forgive that in a book spanning only a few days in a harrowing search to find an abducted young girl. Quick paragraphs about how much Lisa’s sons love the Super Mario Brothers or the two female admins at the police station giggling over Christmas decorations in the office keep things from being suffocating heavy, even though that’s all you want the further you get into the story. Perhaps Daly’s greatest feat with this book, despite my internal (and ignorant) issues, is the title. The book’s about a child being abducted, so the answer to the question, “Just what kind of mother are you?” seems fairly obvious, wouldn’t you say?
The combination made the book a complete joy to read. The change in narrative kept me enthralled as the plot unfolded and took me to the very edge of my seat, keeping me gripped right to the very end. But it is the overall theme of this book that resonates most with me, as a working mother myself, with a busy family and home life I found myself sympathizing with Lisa more than once and as desperate as her to find a resolution. I imagine we might well see this on the screen at some point in the future.
Title: Just What Kind of Mother Are You?
Author: Paula Daly
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Family
Rating: ****
Review: Lisa Kallisto is an over-worked, under paid, harried mother of three with a full time job caring for unwanted pets whilst running a family home. Her husband, Joe, works as a self-employed taxi driver, and like most people, they spend their days juggling their responsibilities and trying to make ends meet. But their everyday chaotic lives screech to a halt when Lisa overlooks something, and the end result is that a child goes missing. Not her child, but her best friend’s daughter, she disappears on Lisa’s watch
If you like psychological thrillers, then Just What Kind of Mother are You? is a novel you should take notice of. It’s a great read just for enjoyment’s sake (Daly will keep you hooked from beginning to end), but it’s also incredibly thought-provoking. The author balances well between the thriller storyline and introspection and personal development of the characters. This means it’s multifaceted and will intrigue the reader on multiple levels.
Lisa is an incredibly sympathetic character in Just What Kind of Mother are You? There are times the reader wants to shake her because it’s clear she’s overwhelmed and needs help but doesn’t know how to ask for it. As a result, she makes mistakes in her parenting and misses things that, as a mother, she really shouldn’t. However, the reader can’t judge her because it’s understandable; being a working mother is difficult. And when it comes to stress, we’ve all been there. Set in the Lake District in the run up to Christmas, the community arranges search parties in the frozen landscape whilst Lisa desperately tries to make things right. As the festive season approaches, Lisa begins investigating and in doing so, peels away the layers of her town and closest friends and discovers the secrets and dark truths that lurk beneath.
The twist (or at least, the first one)? Sally and Lucinda were supposed to have a sleepover the night prior, but in the whirlwind Lisa knows as life she forgot to call Kate to tell her Sally wasn’t going to be going into school that day. Sleepover off, but do you know where your daughter is? As the search rages on, we learn about the lives of the several families in this small England town, how they intertwine and the secrets they all withhold.
As a result, the reader becomes completely involved with Lisa’s storyline, and when Lucinda goes missing, they can feel her pain, her anger at herself, her disbelief that this could have happened on her watch. She feels responsible—and it’s easy to see why—yet it’s not her fault. The title of the book applies on different levels; readers will be continually revaluating what it means as the novel progresses. There’s also a parallel storyline in Just What Kind of Mother are You: the fact that other girls have gone missing, and the personal story of the woman investigating these crimes. Daly ties these multiple plotlines together very well. It’s well-written, gripping, and provides a lot of discussion points, making this a perfect book club pick for the fall.
It’s almost impossible, if you have a heart of any size, to not get wrapped up right away in Lisa Kallisto’s plight—the overwhelmed parent with a marital secret, too much work, too many pets, three kids, not enough time and not enough money. On the other side of things is Kate (Lisa’s friend, the mom in the neighbourhood that everyone simultaneously is in love with, jealous of, and secretly hates a little bit). The action kicks off when Sally (Lisa’s daughter) calls to inform her mom that Lucinda (Kate’s daughter and Sally’s pal) has gone missing.
But I loved this book. It’s a page turner from the start and one that I struggled to put down. The characters are simply wonderful, totally identifiable and full of snappy dialogue. The narrative shifts between first person and third person, between that of Lisa Kallisto and Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall as she works on the case. It gives the book a rapid pace and a real sense of urgency grips the reader with little time for idyll words.
The story is told from three perspectives, which while strange on a technical narrative level, is necessary for the furthering of the plot. Of course, you get Lisa’s first person account of what’s going on. You also get, just frequently enough to wet your whistle, a perfectly creepy and vague third person account from the perp. Finally, there are third person chapters detailing Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall and the steps taken by the police. And despite all of these enjoyable elements some of my favourite parts of the book were the small asides where Daly took time to consider the minutia of life many authors (myself including) tend to forget. And you know what, you could forgive that in a book spanning only a few days in a harrowing search to find an abducted young girl. Quick paragraphs about how much Lisa’s sons love the Super Mario Brothers or the two female admins at the police station giggling over Christmas decorations in the office keep things from being suffocating heavy, even though that’s all you want the further you get into the story. Perhaps Daly’s greatest feat with this book, despite my internal (and ignorant) issues, is the title. The book’s about a child being abducted, so the answer to the question, “Just what kind of mother are you?” seems fairly obvious, wouldn’t you say?
The combination made the book a complete joy to read. The change in narrative kept me enthralled as the plot unfolded and took me to the very edge of my seat, keeping me gripped right to the very end. But it is the overall theme of this book that resonates most with me, as a working mother myself, with a busy family and home life I found myself sympathizing with Lisa more than once and as desperate as her to find a resolution. I imagine we might well see this on the screen at some point in the future.
amaryllys's review against another edition
3.0
I got this book via bookcrossing. Thank you, J4shaw!
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/12636612/
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/12636612/
sofia_reading's review against another edition
2.0
This book was only mildly suspenseful and certainly not fiendishly addictive, as claimed by the Guardian on the book's front cover.
It had enough appeal to keep me reading, but the ending was disappointing. An anti climax as everything just neatly feel into place. I had also started to suspect how it was going to end earlier than I imagine I was supposed to.
The characters weren't particularly appealing either. Lisa starts off as a character who would develop well. As a busy mum myself, her earlier dialogue and witty observations on life struck a chord and even made me laugh out loud. But as the story continued she sounded like a broken record! Yes, I get it. You're rushed off your feet. You're tired. You're feeling inadequate. I get it.
The writing style too was very simplistic. And there were far too many instances of the author going off on a tangent. Half way through the book I just started to skim read. That said I think the story had the potential to have been even better and I can imagine that Paula Daly will probably get better as she continues to write more books.
It had enough appeal to keep me reading, but the ending was disappointing. An anti climax as everything just neatly feel into place. I had also started to suspect how it was going to end earlier than I imagine I was supposed to.
The characters weren't particularly appealing either. Lisa starts off as a character who would develop well. As a busy mum myself, her earlier dialogue and witty observations on life struck a chord and even made me laugh out loud. But as the story continued she sounded like a broken record! Yes, I get it. You're rushed off your feet. You're tired. You're feeling inadequate. I get it.
The writing style too was very simplistic. And there were far too many instances of the author going off on a tangent. Half way through the book I just started to skim read. That said I think the story had the potential to have been even better and I can imagine that Paula Daly will probably get better as she continues to write more books.
writerrhiannon's review against another edition
5.0
Just as the above summary states, this novel is a perfect fix for those of us who loved Gone Girl. I was initial drawn to this novel for the fact that the main character is an overwhelmed mother. Lisa Kallisto runs the local animal shelter, is mother to a teen girl and two young boys, and wife to the local taxi driver. She is relatable. She forgets ingredients her daughter needs for a class and feeds her family chicken nuggets, chips, and cereal. She admits she is jealous of the other mothers who don't work outside the home. Being so busy, she misses one phone call and her world falls apart. What parent's mind hasn't gone to the worst scenarios? But Lisa finds herself in the middle of a worst scenario situation. Where is her daughter's friend? What is really going on behind the closed doors of this community?
Paula Daly draws you into a "this only happens to other people" scenario. The story doesn't contain any loose ends, outlandish twists or slow chapters. "Just What Kind of a Mother Are You?" is a pageturner that feeds on a mother's insecurities and peels away the polished exterior of the local perfect family.
READ MY FULL REVIEW HERE:
http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/just-what-kind-of-mother-are-you.html