sonia_reppe's review against another edition
4.0
The title is perfect for this because there is tragedy but also hope. This is a tender tale of sisters coming-of-age in the late sixties. The younger one, Lucy, runs away with her high school teacher and the reality is not all she imagined; her older sister tries to find her, and is helped by a college drop-out who is full of regret for a tragedy in his past. Also we get the bittersweet backstory of their guardian, Iris.
I was really enthralled by Lucy's story, and how her oppressed situation became slowly and steadily unbearable. Teacher man is hiding her away in the country until she turns 18. It makes me wonder if he would have been so controlling if she hadn't been underage. My guess is yes.
I was disappointed when the character I really liked was I will overlook the convenient coincidences that Charlotte came upon But I could have done without the octogenarian sex scene. I didn't buy that this woman was content to be celibate her whole life and then want sex when she's 80. Overall, though, this is the type of story I like.
I was really enthralled by Lucy's story, and how her oppressed situation became slowly and steadily unbearable. Teacher man is hiding her away in the country until she turns 18. It makes me wonder if he would have been so controlling if she hadn't been underage. My guess is yes.
I was disappointed when the character I really liked was
Spoiler
taken out with still a third of the book to go.Spoiler
(like finding that postcard which led her to William).hi_miche's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shelf_inspiration's review against another edition
3.0
3 Stars
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
It's 1969, and sixteen-year-old Lucy is about to run away with a much older man to live off the grid in rural Pennsylvania, a rash act that will have vicious repercussions for both her and her older sister, Charlotte. As Lucy's default caretaker for most of their lives, Charlotte's youth has been marked by the burden of responsibility, but never more so than when Lucy's dream of a rural paradise turns into a nightmare.
This is another book that I read last month! Overall, I felt a little so-so about it due to the fact that I went into the book expecting something different. I believe I found out about it from BookTube, and the reviewer described it in a way that was very different from what the book was actually about. This story is a bit slow but does have some mystery to it, which kept me interested. There were some nice reveals, but others were not as moving. However, if you have been wanting to read this, I would give it a go- I could see others really enjoying it.
See more on my Bookstagram: Shelf.Inspiration Instagram
It's 1969, and sixteen-year-old Lucy is about to run away with a much older man to live off the grid in rural Pennsylvania, a rash act that will have vicious repercussions for both her and her older sister, Charlotte. As Lucy's default caretaker for most of their lives, Charlotte's youth has been marked by the burden of responsibility, but never more so than when Lucy's dream of a rural paradise turns into a nightmare.
This is another book that I read last month! Overall, I felt a little so-so about it due to the fact that I went into the book expecting something different. I believe I found out about it from BookTube, and the reviewer described it in a way that was very different from what the book was actually about. This story is a bit slow but does have some mystery to it, which kept me interested. There were some nice reveals, but others were not as moving. However, if you have been wanting to read this, I would give it a go- I could see others really enjoying it.
lsieben's review
2.0
Heard about this book from an NPR interview with the author and it seemed like a worthwhile read. It was not what I expected. The prose and dialogue read like a YA novel, the plot is flimsy and predictable, the symbolism (if you want to call it that) of the '60s and the Manson Family is shallow, at best.
It's a quick read, given the length, in part due to the simplicity of the prose but there's also enough drama to keep you turning the page. Reading this book was sort of like binge watching a season of the Real Housewives: it's easier to keep going than to stop, and it's enjoyable in a very vapid, ultimately unsatisfying way.
It's a quick read, given the length, in part due to the simplicity of the prose but there's also enough drama to keep you turning the page. Reading this book was sort of like binge watching a season of the Real Housewives: it's easier to keep going than to stop, and it's enjoyable in a very vapid, ultimately unsatisfying way.
mcipher's review
4.0
This turned out to be dark in a very different way than I expected, which I was kind of happy about. It was really sad and bleak, though a glimmer of hope came through at the end. The teacher character was something of a cliche, but I loved Iris and her story and relationship with the girls. Warning: if you have low self-esteem and tend to blame yourself for stuff, this book is going to feed that feeling. The characters are all throwing that pity party and beating themselves up, and it brings you down. The end isn't uplifting enough to make up for that so you have to dig your own way out. Really good read, though, I love Leavitt's writing.
marceelf's review
5.0
http://www.anurseandabook.com/2017/01/cruel-beautiful-world-by-caroline-levitt.html
What a book. I've always loved Caroline Leavitt, her "Girls In Trouble" was one of my favorites, but this new book is by far her best. She writes about complicated relationships in all of her books, but this story of two sisters was especially melancholy.
Lucy is seduced by her teacher, she runs away seeking the excitement of a grown up life. But she finds that the life she has run to is actually much more confining than her life with her sister and their loving guardian.
Charlotte is left behind, trying to follow the rules, trying to pursue her dreams of being a vet and being the remaining "good" child. She is sick with worry, but also a little angry with Lucy's immaturity and the selfishness of leaving a loving family and not making any contact.
As Lucy begins to grow tired of her solitary life, she branches out, making secret friends, working a secret job, and beginning to realize that the life she left behind may not have been so bad after all. But her boyfriend is becoming increasingly paranoid, and unhinge - by the time Lucy reaches out to her sister, tragedy strikes.
The story is as much Charlotte's as Lucy's. The bond between sisters is a weird thing - it's a twisty relationship that thrives in chaos as much as in peace. Everything your sister does has a weird ripple effect on you, even when they aren't near you.
Definitely one of Leavitt's best - and I encourage everyone to read all of her books.
What a book. I've always loved Caroline Leavitt, her "Girls In Trouble" was one of my favorites, but this new book is by far her best. She writes about complicated relationships in all of her books, but this story of two sisters was especially melancholy.
Lucy is seduced by her teacher, she runs away seeking the excitement of a grown up life. But she finds that the life she has run to is actually much more confining than her life with her sister and their loving guardian.
Charlotte is left behind, trying to follow the rules, trying to pursue her dreams of being a vet and being the remaining "good" child. She is sick with worry, but also a little angry with Lucy's immaturity and the selfishness of leaving a loving family and not making any contact.
As Lucy begins to grow tired of her solitary life, she branches out, making secret friends, working a secret job, and beginning to realize that the life she left behind may not have been so bad after all. But her boyfriend is becoming increasingly paranoid, and unhinge - by the time Lucy reaches out to her sister, tragedy strikes.
The story is as much Charlotte's as Lucy's. The bond between sisters is a weird thing - it's a twisty relationship that thrives in chaos as much as in peace. Everything your sister does has a weird ripple effect on you, even when they aren't near you.
Definitely one of Leavitt's best - and I encourage everyone to read all of her books.
perry417's review
5.0
Oh, I loved this book so much -- and yes, it made me cry big wet tears at the end.
The brief description on the flap does not do this book justice, as it focuses only on one aspect of a much deeper story about love. On the surface, the story is about Lucy, a teenager, who runs away from home with her thirty-something teacher William.
But throughout the book, the narrators change (Lucy; her sister Charlotte; their mother Iris; William, the teacher; and Patrick, a farmstand owner) and their histories are revealed and interwoven through beautiful, nuanced writing. I didn't expect the chapters devoted to Iris's marriage or Patrick's heartbreak, but they were beautiful and some of my favorite aspects of this book.
I loved the setting in the late 60s / early 70s, with the Manson case always in the background (and because of this, I was reminded a little of Emma Cline's The Girls, which I also really liked). This book touches on love, passion, desire, dreams, family, responsibility, loyalty, companionship... so much. Loved it.
The brief description on the flap does not do this book justice, as it focuses only on one aspect of a much deeper story about love. On the surface, the story is about Lucy, a teenager, who runs away from home with her thirty-something teacher William.
But throughout the book, the narrators change (Lucy; her sister Charlotte; their mother Iris; William, the teacher; and Patrick, a farmstand owner) and their histories are revealed and interwoven through beautiful, nuanced writing. I didn't expect the chapters devoted to Iris's marriage or Patrick's heartbreak, but they were beautiful and some of my favorite aspects of this book.
I loved the setting in the late 60s / early 70s, with the Manson case always in the background (and because of this, I was reminded a little of Emma Cline's The Girls, which I also really liked). This book touches on love, passion, desire, dreams, family, responsibility, loyalty, companionship... so much. Loved it.
shelfimprovement's review against another edition
4.0
I've seen this book compared to The Girls in several places, which strikes me as curious because I think they had very little in common other than the fact that it took place against the backdrop of the Manson trials.
And yet, this is basically the book that I was hoping for when I picked up The Girls.
It begins with Lucy Gold, a sixteen-year-old girl who has made the decision to run away from home with her English teacher, William Lallo. Lucy and her older sister Charlotte have been living with their adoptive mother, Iris, in Waltham, MA, since their parents died with they were four and five. They know very little about Iris, other than that she is much older--into her sixties when they arrive--and that they are told, vaguely, that she is related in some way. Lucy is a daydreamy girl, she wants to be a writer and she struggles in school. For many years she relied on Charlotte to help her get by, but Charlotte is focusing more time on her own needs--getting into Brandeis to study veterinary medicine--and Lucy begins looking for affection and attention in other places. William, whose unorthodox teaching methods have gotten him on the bad side of the administration, praises her writing and she begins to feel drawn to him. By the time the last day of school rolls around, they have hatched a plan to run away to rural Pennsylvania to begin their life together.
As you might expect, Lucy's life in Pennsylvania is significantly less satisfying than she'd hoped. Because she's a minor and she's crossed state lines, William forbids her from leaving their house and from interacting with anyone else. Wait, he tells her. She will be 18 soon and they won't have to hide their love anymore, and that's when their real life will begin. She feels isolated and begins to fixate on news stories about the Manson murders and other violent stories happening closer to her new home.
Meanwhile, Iris and Charlotte are devastated. As Charlotte prepares to leave for college, the two struggle to understand where Lucy might have gone and why. Were there signs that they missed? Charlotte especially wonders if there was something she should have done differently.
The chapters alternate point of view, shifting between Lucy, Iris, Charlotte, and Patrick--a young man Lucy meets in Pennsylvania. As time passes and their lives begin to change, their backstory is gradually filled in. Leavitt does a wonderful job building complex, dimensional characters who are hurting and hoping and constantly growing. All three women are beautifully empathetic, in their own particular ways (I felt like much of Patrick's story could have been excised and we wouldn't have lost much, but that's just me). Even though we don't get William's point of view, he feels like a real person and not just a caricature of a bad guy. Leavitt does a spectacular job building tension, as my heart was in my throat for almost the entire second half of the story, just waiting to find out what would happen next. And the writing is filled with genuine emotion and engagement, not just a lot of supposedly clever metaphors and adjectives. It's a phenomenal book, and I highly recommend it.
And yet, this is basically the book that I was hoping for when I picked up The Girls.
It begins with Lucy Gold, a sixteen-year-old girl who has made the decision to run away from home with her English teacher, William Lallo. Lucy and her older sister Charlotte have been living with their adoptive mother, Iris, in Waltham, MA, since their parents died with they were four and five. They know very little about Iris, other than that she is much older--into her sixties when they arrive--and that they are told, vaguely, that she is related in some way. Lucy is a daydreamy girl, she wants to be a writer and she struggles in school. For many years she relied on Charlotte to help her get by, but Charlotte is focusing more time on her own needs--getting into Brandeis to study veterinary medicine--and Lucy begins looking for affection and attention in other places. William, whose unorthodox teaching methods have gotten him on the bad side of the administration, praises her writing and she begins to feel drawn to him. By the time the last day of school rolls around, they have hatched a plan to run away to rural Pennsylvania to begin their life together.
As you might expect, Lucy's life in Pennsylvania is significantly less satisfying than she'd hoped. Because she's a minor and she's crossed state lines, William forbids her from leaving their house and from interacting with anyone else. Wait, he tells her. She will be 18 soon and they won't have to hide their love anymore, and that's when their real life will begin. She feels isolated and begins to fixate on news stories about the Manson murders and other violent stories happening closer to her new home.
Meanwhile, Iris and Charlotte are devastated. As Charlotte prepares to leave for college, the two struggle to understand where Lucy might have gone and why. Were there signs that they missed? Charlotte especially wonders if there was something she should have done differently.
The chapters alternate point of view, shifting between Lucy, Iris, Charlotte, and Patrick--a young man Lucy meets in Pennsylvania. As time passes and their lives begin to change, their backstory is gradually filled in. Leavitt does a wonderful job building complex, dimensional characters who are hurting and hoping and constantly growing. All three women are beautifully empathetic, in their own particular ways (I felt like much of Patrick's story could have been excised and we wouldn't have lost much, but that's just me). Even though we don't get William's point of view, he feels like a real person and not just a caricature of a bad guy. Leavitt does a spectacular job building tension, as my heart was in my throat for almost the entire second half of the story, just waiting to find out what would happen next. And the writing is filled with genuine emotion and engagement, not just a lot of supposedly clever metaphors and adjectives. It's a phenomenal book, and I highly recommend it.