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novelvisits's review against another edition
4.0
In early December I did a post on Six 2020 Underrated Gems, and a lot of other readers on Instagram shared their own favorite underrated gems. Our Fathers came to me from Cherise Wolas, author of The Family Tabor, I book I loved (my review). This is a dark story of a man returning to the small Scottish island where he grew up, the island where his father shot himself after killing his mother and two siblings. Only Tommy, hiding in a closet, escaped. Tommy goes to his uncle, Malcolm, for what he’s not sure, but his life has been haunted by the questions of why his father did it and why he was spared. This book was a slow, steady exploration of these dark questions and how life can go on after something like that. The writing was simply gorgeous, and I enjoyed the book quite a lot, though it was not easy to read and I don’t think it will be for everyone.
https://novelvisits.com/december-2020-mini-reviews-print-and-audiobooks/
https://novelvisits.com/december-2020-mini-reviews-print-and-audiobooks/
ale_ssandro's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sapphire525's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
emilybneale's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nicky___noo's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amandadingman's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
adventures_of_a_french_reader's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
What does it mean to be the only survivor of a family massacre? How to live with being related to a man capable of such atrocities? How to make sense of such a tragedy? What could have been done differently? How to live with ghosts?
All these questions are present in this beautifully written book. Every word, every sentence rings right, feels true. This novel is a tour de force. It's just perfect.
All these questions are present in this beautifully written book. Every word, every sentence rings right, feels true. This novel is a tour de force. It's just perfect.
theshiftyshadow's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is the 3rd Rebecca Wait book I've read and it's another solid 4 star read.
All 3 of the books I've read deal with pretty heavy subject matter, but Wait does it in such a way that they're never too dark, or difficult to read, but she doesn't go too light with them either. She always seems to strike just the perfect balance in terms of tone and knows where the line is between being a really good read, and being something that's going to leave you emotionally scarred after reading.
Obviously there's a place for those kind of books too, but sometimes I just want to read something that takes it's subject matter seriously but doesn't want to traumatise you. That might sound strange when talking about this book, where everything revolves around this man killing his wife, 2 children, and then himself. But that's what Wait's books are like, there's a dark heart in them, but that's never the focus. I feel like her books are about the people in them, having experienced the worst things, getting to a better place, even if it's only taking the first steps on that journey, the focus is always about how they keep going.
All 3 of the books I've read deal with pretty heavy subject matter, but Wait does it in such a way that they're never too dark, or difficult to read, but she doesn't go too light with them either. She always seems to strike just the perfect balance in terms of tone and knows where the line is between being a really good read, and being something that's going to leave you emotionally scarred after reading.
Obviously there's a place for those kind of books too, but sometimes I just want to read something that takes it's subject matter seriously but doesn't want to traumatise you. That might sound strange when talking about this book, where everything revolves around this man killing his wife, 2 children, and then himself. But that's what Wait's books are like, there's a dark heart in them, but that's never the focus. I feel like her books are about the people in them, having experienced the worst things, getting to a better place, even if it's only taking the first steps on that journey, the focus is always about how they keep going.
lauramac78's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0