lbeam's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
kricketa's review
4.0
2nd read 2019: My memory is faulty, because I remember the flooded city having much more real estate in the story and was kind of disappointed in how little it was discussed. Still a good book though.
first read 2006: this book goes back and forth between two stories of a grandmother (her time in a TB sanatorium) and her granddaughter moving into her house years later.
first read 2006: this book goes back and forth between two stories of a grandmother (her time in a TB sanatorium) and her granddaughter moving into her house years later.
nreyno's review
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nursenell's review
5.0
A very good book about an adult grand-daughter making sense of her deceased grandmother's life through her diaries as a young woman. Easy to read and really grabs your interest. Things aren't always what they seem, much as a glimpse of an old town under a dammed lake.
snowmaiden's review
4.0
This is the second novel I've read by Sue Miller. While I didn't like it quite as much as the first, [b: The Lake Shore Limited|7624512|The Lake Shore Limited|Sue Miller|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320458165s/7624512.jpg|12997815], it was still very good. Half of this book is an example of the "middle-aged woman moves to a new town" genre that I seem to be stuck on these days. Catherine, the protagonist, has inherited her grandparents' house in Vermont and decides to stay there for a few months to figure out if she should sell it or keep it. Miller hits all the right notes for this subgenre, but I couldn't help feeling that I'd read this story before.
The other half of the narrative is what drew me in. As Catherine discovers her grandmother Georgia's old diaries and learns more about the true story of her life, we do as well, in chapters written from Georgia's point of view. This story starts in 1919 when Georgia is sent to a sanitarium for her mild case of tuberculosis. These sections are much more evocative than the present-day material, and I wish there had been more of them. Although it was hard at times to figure out how these stories connected or why Miller decided to combine them together in one novel, I enjoyed both of them for what they were, and I'm eager to read more by this superb novelist.
The other half of the narrative is what drew me in. As Catherine discovers her grandmother Georgia's old diaries and learns more about the true story of her life, we do as well, in chapters written from Georgia's point of view. This story starts in 1919 when Georgia is sent to a sanitarium for her mild case of tuberculosis. These sections are much more evocative than the present-day material, and I wish there had been more of them. Although it was hard at times to figure out how these stories connected or why Miller decided to combine them together in one novel, I enjoyed both of them for what they were, and I'm eager to read more by this superb novelist.
jsholmes's review against another edition
4.0
Insightful and beautiful
Well written and motivating. I’m not usually one for literary fiction, but this had enough plot to keep me going. More than that, though, the insights about marriage, death, illness, memory, loss, regret, and more came fast and furious. Really well done.
Well written and motivating. I’m not usually one for literary fiction, but this had enough plot to keep me going. More than that, though, the insights about marriage, death, illness, memory, loss, regret, and more came fast and furious. Really well done.
pepper1133's review
4.0
It was an odd, quiet book. I appreciated Miller's descriptions of the inner lives of women--the scarifices made in particular that no one may ever realize. And who knew TB santitoriums were so wild?
cafo6's review against another edition
2.0
I have to kind of agree with some other reviewers - I saw this on my list for my 2017 Reading Challenge, and was surprised. I honestly did not remember reading it. I looked at my Kindle, and there it was, and I reread parts of it. I remember reading it now, but it still seems rather forgettable. The story idea sounded fantastic, and right up my alley, but I just didn't feel connected to either of the main characters.
menfort's review
3.0
I started off loving this book, I think the plot really registered with me, my mom died when I was young and my grandmother became a very important figure. But as I got deeper into the plot it lost some of its allure. It was still enjoyable and an easy quick read. The ending was predictable but pleasant.