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jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
Our pasts lurk behind us, filled with things we might not want to remember, but they'll never be forgotten. Karen White's The Night The Lights Went Out follows two women, generations apart, who each have secrets in their past that are resurfacing.
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Merilee Dunlap has moved with her two children to Sweet Apple, Georgia after divorcing her husband and his infidelity. In her new home, a cottage being rented out by 93 year old Sugar Prescott, Merilee finds that starting her life over again will have its challenges, particularly with an anonymous blogger making observations and airing the hidden secrets of residents, but in making new friends with the moms at her children's new school, she's not in it alone. As Sugar finds herself connecting with Merilee, against her initial wishes, she tells stories of Sweet Apple when she was young, allowing Merilee to see the town and the women she's becoming friends with in a new light.
The development of the friendship and story sharing between Merilee and Sugar seemed natural and worked quite well to build their characters and move the story forward. I enjoyed the southern words of wisdom that were provided in the blog entries, as they helped to provide some levity to the otherwise relatively heavy stories being shared. The narrative was an incredibly slow burn, with the culmination as a rapid flash; however, there were plenty of details that were practically bashed upside the head of the reader to point to the culprits, removing a thrill at finally "finding out" who was behind everything.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Merilee Dunlap has moved with her two children to Sweet Apple, Georgia after divorcing her husband and his infidelity. In her new home, a cottage being rented out by 93 year old Sugar Prescott, Merilee finds that starting her life over again will have its challenges, particularly with an anonymous blogger making observations and airing the hidden secrets of residents, but in making new friends with the moms at her children's new school, she's not in it alone. As Sugar finds herself connecting with Merilee, against her initial wishes, she tells stories of Sweet Apple when she was young, allowing Merilee to see the town and the women she's becoming friends with in a new light.
The development of the friendship and story sharing between Merilee and Sugar seemed natural and worked quite well to build their characters and move the story forward. I enjoyed the southern words of wisdom that were provided in the blog entries, as they helped to provide some levity to the otherwise relatively heavy stories being shared. The narrative was an incredibly slow burn, with the culmination as a rapid flash; however, there were plenty of details that were practically bashed upside the head of the reader to point to the culprits, removing a thrill at finally "finding out" who was behind everything.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
kessler21's review against another edition
3.0
I say this book is a solid 2.9. It feels like Big Little Lies Junior Varsity version. I loved BLL. One of my favorites.
It's a good fun read that you might forget about over time. This is my first Karen White book and I'm not blown away with her writing skills. She adverbed me to death. I never knew there were so many ways to say something. She retorted or he expressed venomously. (not actual examples but you get the idea) The foreshadowing is a bit obvious. I want to say Dun dun duuun after some of the cliff hangers as well as the story being predictable.
The story is interesting is a mostly enjoyable read.
It's a good fun read that you might forget about over time. This is my first Karen White book and I'm not blown away with her writing skills. She adverbed me to death. I never knew there were so many ways to say something. She retorted or he expressed venomously. (not actual examples but you get the idea) The foreshadowing is a bit obvious. I want to say Dun dun duuun after some of the cliff hangers as well as the story being predictable.
The story is interesting is a mostly enjoyable read.
perfectly_pintsized's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alikat311's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
savannahldarr's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this novel. It was a fantastic web of Merilee and Sugar's stories told from their perspectives. While Merilee's story was a little too unbelievable at times, it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. Karen White has a way of drawing readers in and keeping them reading until the very last sentence.
chailady's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I knew there was a connection between the past and present, but unsure how the author would connect them. Good solid mystery, with some various obvious hints, and interesting characters.
racheale123's review against another edition
4.0
The Night the Lights Went Out is such a good story about female friendships. I especially loved the character Sugar. The plot was an interesting blend of drama and murder mystery. The story is told in alternating points of view in present, past, and even a "Southern" lifestyle blog format. A very entertaining and engrossing read.
librarylady10's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. The two stories were not as well-connected as some of the author's other works, but still a couple of interesting mysteries. Sugar was an intriguing character. Merilee pushed the boundaries of my suspension of disbelief with her continued naivete in the face of a lifetime of hardships. Overall, an entertaining read.