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erpedraja's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book, but I found the narrator to be a bit boring- it made it harder to get into the book.
lambsears's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book because it was on the Man Booker long list, but then left it sitting dejectedly on my TBR pile as I wasn't sure I was up to reading a book about such devastating loss. However, once I put my nose in it, I barely took it out until I finished.
It's not a difficult read, but that doesn't detract from the eloquent prose and careful construction of the various family stories of members involved and/or impacted by the tragedy which, fortunately, we don't have to witness.
This is Clegg's first novel and the small town it is set in is just like the one he lives in, according to an interview with him I listened to. The lead up to, and aftermath of the tragedy are underpinned by all the simmering undercurrents of familiarity, gossip, malice, family ties and old or new resentments that come with small-town life. Each chapter is spoken in a different voice - in this way Clegg effectively chronicles the overwhelming pain and grief of the main characters and concludes with themes of guilt and redemption.
That all makes it sound a little trite, but while it's not earthshaking literature, it has much to offer in the way of food for thought about family relationships, how we deal with them and how we are affected by them.
Great reading group material here.
It's not a difficult read, but that doesn't detract from the eloquent prose and careful construction of the various family stories of members involved and/or impacted by the tragedy which, fortunately, we don't have to witness.
This is Clegg's first novel and the small town it is set in is just like the one he lives in, according to an interview with him I listened to. The lead up to, and aftermath of the tragedy are underpinned by all the simmering undercurrents of familiarity, gossip, malice, family ties and old or new resentments that come with small-town life. Each chapter is spoken in a different voice - in this way Clegg effectively chronicles the overwhelming pain and grief of the main characters and concludes with themes of guilt and redemption.
That all makes it sound a little trite, but while it's not earthshaking literature, it has much to offer in the way of food for thought about family relationships, how we deal with them and how we are affected by them.
Great reading group material here.
sctittle's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointing, fragmented story told through different points of view, many of which feel identical. Read through almost an entire section thinking the voice was a mother, but turns out it was the father. Some sloppy copy editing, paper cut-out characters and a wisp of suspense that puffs out like a dud firework.
amberjackonski's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
takeahike's review against another edition
4.0
This debut novel was long-listed for both the Man Booker Prize and National Book Award. It is a contemporary literary fiction told from several points of view.
The night before her daughter’s wedding, June Reid watches as her house explodes in flames with her daughter, her daughter’s fiancé, her ex-husband and her boyfriend, Luke all inside.
“Before now she would have felt exhilarated by the idea of existing without obligation or consequence, but the experience is nothing like she once imagined. This is a half-life, a split purgatory, where her body and mind coexist but occupy separate realities.”
June loses her entire family in one fell swoop. Hers isn’t the only loss; Luke’s mother loses her only child and her daughter’s fiancé’s family must deal with the loss of their son.
“We talk less now. There are car rides and Sunday mornings and entire meals when Mimi and I don’t speak a word to each other. Not out of anger or punishment, but we’ve learned that grief can sometimes get loud, and when it does, we try not to speak over it.”
With each chapter, the story unfolds from the point of view of a different character. These characters are flawed people dealing with profound loss, grief, guilt, regrets, and finally forgiveness and acceptance.
“Rough as life can be, I know in my bones we are supposed to stick around and play our part. Even if that part is coughing to death from cigarettes, or being blown up young inside a house with your mother watching. And even if it’s to be that mother. Someone down the line might need to know you got through it.”
This is mostly a sad story, but it ends with hope.
The night before her daughter’s wedding, June Reid watches as her house explodes in flames with her daughter, her daughter’s fiancé, her ex-husband and her boyfriend, Luke all inside.
“Before now she would have felt exhilarated by the idea of existing without obligation or consequence, but the experience is nothing like she once imagined. This is a half-life, a split purgatory, where her body and mind coexist but occupy separate realities.”
June loses her entire family in one fell swoop. Hers isn’t the only loss; Luke’s mother loses her only child and her daughter’s fiancé’s family must deal with the loss of their son.
“We talk less now. There are car rides and Sunday mornings and entire meals when Mimi and I don’t speak a word to each other. Not out of anger or punishment, but we’ve learned that grief can sometimes get loud, and when it does, we try not to speak over it.”
With each chapter, the story unfolds from the point of view of a different character. These characters are flawed people dealing with profound loss, grief, guilt, regrets, and finally forgiveness and acceptance.
“Rough as life can be, I know in my bones we are supposed to stick around and play our part. Even if that part is coughing to death from cigarettes, or being blown up young inside a house with your mother watching. And even if it’s to be that mother. Someone down the line might need to know you got through it.”
This is mostly a sad story, but it ends with hope.
kristianawithak's review against another edition
5.0
Clegg does an excellent job with a heart wrenching tale. June's home explodes the night before her daughter's wedding killing everyone inside. This incident is the spinning off point of a novel that delves into the past of everyone affected by the loss. Weaving together separate characters and separate family histories the broken pieces of these lives and what transpired come to a beautiful conclusion. With a subject so bleak, it's hard to not fly off the rails into tragedy, but Clegg writes a compact, mesmerizing story. Nothing is wasted. The story ebbs along and talks of family, loss, and pain in a well crafted way.
kirstenrose22's review against another edition
5.0
This is stunning. About redemption and grief and moving on with your life when there's *nothing* to live for. The last 2 pages were just amazing.