thecozyrogue's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Classism
abrswf's review
4.0
This is one of those books that will always be better than any movie video version, though the HBO series did make a serious effort to track the book as written, and though I do have a lasting soft spot for the Joan Crawford film version, which barely tracks the book as written. The reason no film can compete is that Mildred herself, like all the characters as written, is only human, not a film-friendly super mom whose daughter betrays her. This does not detract a whit from the poignancy and appeal of the book. The underlying story is fascinating,a great modern riff on the classic wheel story strcture (person loses all, gains all, and loses all again) and the characters ring true. And Cain's sparing prose and perfectly pitched dialogue takes us right back to Depression era California. Reading this book is like living in a film noir. Great stuff.
thebookofdanny's review
5.0
I pray to Mildred Pierce, the Patron Saint of loving someone who doesn’t deserve an ounce of your time, but you know what? To hell with her, to hell with that damn bitch of a daughter.
Let's eat pies and get smashed. Superb!
Let's eat pies and get smashed. Superb!
literatetexan's review against another edition
4.0
The best of the three James M. Cain books I've read lately--the other two were Double Indemnity and The Postman Always Rings Twice. The main character, Mildred Pierce, is a fascinating, three-dimensional, tragic character.
mschmug's review
4.0
Love this - the characters were really something else. Veda was completely evil! Moral of the story - never, never spoil your children!
chazaloo's review against another edition
5.0
I've read the book, seen the movie (starring Joan Crawford) and the mini-series (starring Kate Winslet), all excellent. All the audiobooks I wanted to read were on a waiting list through my library, so I thought I'd listen to this. It's wonderful to revisit the story and Cain's writing. Cain, one of my favorite authors, is so under-appreciated, perhaps because he largely wrote genre fiction (noir-ish murder stories, etc.). This is a straight novel, and in it, as in all his work, his understanding of human nature and psychology is so deep yet matter of fact, compelling, yet stripped of sentiment. His writing, too, is so clear and un-busy, so terse and to the point. "Yes, let's get stinko."
dwhite1174's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
trankin's review
4.0
4 stars for a well-crafted tragic story with an O'Henry ending. However, the characters have many traits that are less than admirable and are hard to identify with. Not a feel good book by any means.
ladyofthelakes's review against another edition
dark
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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
srash's review
5.0
I first read this book as a teenager when I first discovered James M. Cain. And coming off his other books, I almost put Mildred Pierce down because it was so unlike the very stereotypically noir/hardboiled The Postman Always Rings Twice and Double Indemnity. Like, I wanted noir, not some sad 1930s housewife.
But I'm glad I stuck with it because I've often found myself thinking about this book, way more than any of Cain's other work, and I'm glad I finally reread it again. It's an odd duck. A psychological study of a deeply unhealthy mother-daughter relationship that is also rooted in a very detailed but weirdly fascinating 1930s Southern California restaurant (and opera!) setting while also featuring some interesting examinations of class and gender that is still relevant today.
Mildred's a great character, not really likable but very compelling and understandable. I recently watched the HBO miniseries adaptation for the first time, and though it was competently made, I thought it really suffered from stripping away some of Mildred's more complex motives. The Mildred of the book isn't exactly bright, but she is savvy. The miniseries tried to make her more innocent, but a lot of what makes her fun is that she knows exactly what she's doing but does it anyway.
But I'm glad I stuck with it because I've often found myself thinking about this book, way more than any of Cain's other work, and I'm glad I finally reread it again. It's an odd duck. A psychological study of a deeply unhealthy mother-daughter relationship that is also rooted in a very detailed but weirdly fascinating 1930s Southern California restaurant (and opera!) setting while also featuring some interesting examinations of class and gender that is still relevant today.
Mildred's a great character, not really likable but very compelling and understandable. I recently watched the HBO miniseries adaptation for the first time, and though it was competently made, I thought it really suffered from stripping away some of Mildred's more complex motives. The Mildred of the book isn't exactly bright, but she is savvy. The miniseries tried to make her more innocent, but a lot of what makes her fun is that she knows exactly what she's doing but does it anyway.