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celiapowell's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a funny, warm book - it lightly mocks Prudence, and her idealistic dreams of farming, and I worried in the beginning that it was going to be a bit mean. But it's actually lovely - Prudence's mad ideas end up turning out quite wonderfully, in a strange sort of way. It's all very satisfying.
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
I think the best way to describe this book is to call it a 'feel good' book. The basic premise is that a bunch of losers end up in or around a bankrupt, dilapidated farm. Juby alternates between several characters' POVs in a bravura variety of styles varying from an old curmudgeonly banjo player to an 11 year old girl.
The plot relies on some determinedly positive turns and unexplained motivations, but the voices and the incidents are so engaging it doesn't really matter. It kind of reminds me of Harriet Frank Jr's Special Effects in its innate generosity toward the hapless and helpless.
21-year-old drunken metal-head Seth is talking to 11-year-old geeky Sara about her prize chickens, one of whom has begun showing white feathers, which are a disaster for his breed. Seth's solution is to color the feathers with Magic Marker. When Sara thinks that's cheating, Seth says, "There's nothing wrong with assisting nature when it comes to beauty. Just ask anyone working in the porn industry."
"It's cheating," said Sara. "Even if you're selling used stuff."
"Sara, honey. You're referring to pawn. Porn is selling used people . . ."
If that cracks you up the way it did me, then give this one a try.
The plot relies on some determinedly positive turns and unexplained motivations, but the voices and the incidents are so engaging it doesn't really matter. It kind of reminds me of Harriet Frank Jr's Special Effects in its innate generosity toward the hapless and helpless.
21-year-old drunken metal-head Seth is talking to 11-year-old geeky Sara about her prize chickens, one of whom has begun showing white feathers, which are a disaster for his breed. Seth's solution is to color the feathers with Magic Marker. When Sara thinks that's cheating, Seth says, "There's nothing wrong with assisting nature when it comes to beauty. Just ask anyone working in the porn industry."
"It's cheating," said Sara. "Even if you're selling used stuff."
"Sara, honey. You're referring to pawn. Porn is selling used people . . ."
If that cracks you up the way it did me, then give this one a try.
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
I really liked this! A fast, fun, light book with a fantastic cast of characters and animals.
This book superseded my expectations. I got it for $6 at a book sale and what a find it turned out to be. This had a similar charm to Confessions of a Shopholic in some of the wacky characters and the decisions they made. It was just a fun read. There was a really low romance element which made it all the more enjoyable!
I would be keen to read more about the exploits of these characters on the farm!
I really liked this! A fast, fun, light book with a fantastic cast of characters and animals.
This book superseded my expectations. I got it for $6 at a book sale and what a find it turned out to be. This had a similar charm to Confessions of a Shopholic in some of the wacky characters and the decisions they made. It was just a fun read. There was a really low romance element which made it all the more enjoyable!
I would be keen to read more about the exploits of these characters on the farm!
mandyslaw's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-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? No
4.25
rothieee's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
machadofam8's review against another edition
2.0
I'd give this another half star if I could. It started out slowly, but picked up and I cared about the characters at the end.
ewg109's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a wonderful modern comedy of manners with a charming cast of characters. Never delving to deeply but with a surprisingly sharp edge, I was really surprised by this one. And personally, I think Seth made the whole thing worth it.
ank3's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-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
4.5
Dit boek liet me zoveel lachen. Ik vond het hartverwarmend hoe de personages bij elkaar komen en langzaam groeien. Elk personage heeft een eigen verhaal en een uitgewerkt karakter. De situaties waarin ze terechtkomen zijn hilarisch en soms pijnlijk. Interessant om te zien hoe deze door alle personages anders worden ervaren.
Ik kwam soms lastig door de problematische doch realistische manier heen waarop de personages door elkaar worden beschreven. Blubberbuik
Ik kwam soms lastig door de problematische doch realistische manier heen waarop de personages door elkaar worden beschreven. Blubberbuik
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Violence, Vomit, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death
sjj169's review against another edition
3.0
Very cute book. I loved the characters and laughed out loud several times. The reason I only gave it a three was that the storyline kind of wandered off track at times. I would recommend though