kdotreads's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful and moving story. The characters capture the audience and create a truly page turning novel.
jordaneb's review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow wow what a beautiful story. Everyone should read this book.
sheissami's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
carolinerose80's review
5.0
This book mainly surrounds three individuals whose lives were effected by one event. The event begins when Lynnie a young white woman with mental disabilities and Homan a deaf African American man escape from the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded so that Lynnie can secretly give birth. They leave the baby in the hands of Martha, a widow who prefers a quiet lifestyle. Lynnie is caught by officials and sent back to the school, but Homan escapes and is now on the run. Lynnie and Homan understood each other and were deeply in love. Homan called Lynnie ‘Beautiful Girl’. The book changes perspectives from Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and Kate who works at the school. The event occurs in 1968, and their lives are told for the next four decades. The Story of Beautiful Girl truly is a beautiful story how each individual somehow connects and loves each other in their own way. I highly suggest this book.
I listened to The Story of Beautiful Girl and absolutely enjoyed the reading. Kate Reading provides a unique voice to each character and makes the story come alive. Lynnie sometimes has trouble speaking and Reading’s narrative expresses her speech difficulties.
http://passion2read.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/book-review-the-story-of-beautiful-girl-by-rachel-simon/
opheliabedilia's review against another edition
2.0
I am all for a book that can lead you to ask the big questions, about life, meaning, deity, etc. But a really good author can write a story and create characters that lead you to ask those questions without literally asking the questions for you. Simon would list, in detail, every question a character was asking themselves about these topics, for paragraphs on end. I don't want to be told what the questions are, I want to be lead to ask them myself. Simon's style is not particularly artful or poetic, and is probably better suited to non-fiction, which is why I may still read Riding the Bus With My Sister.
Lynnie, the Beautiful Girl of the title, and her story, were by far the best parts of this book and what made it decent for me. Her sad story was based on historical reality, and Simon did a good job of helping the reader see things from a developmentally disabled woman's point of view. I found the other two main characters, Martha and Homan, however, much less engaging. Also, in a story that spans some fifty years, I disagreed with the years Simon chose to focus most of her attention on, and I didn't at all like where the story left off with Martha.
One thing I did appreciate was the theme of late life redemption, of finding new joy and happiness in life while well into the senior years. I also appreciated Homan and Lynnie's uniqueness as protagonists.
Lynnie, the Beautiful Girl of the title, and her story, were by far the best parts of this book and what made it decent for me. Her sad story was based on historical reality, and Simon did a good job of helping the reader see things from a developmentally disabled woman's point of view. I found the other two main characters, Martha and Homan, however, much less engaging. Also, in a story that spans some fifty years, I disagreed with the years Simon chose to focus most of her attention on, and I didn't at all like where the story left off with Martha.
One thing I did appreciate was the theme of late life redemption, of finding new joy and happiness in life while well into the senior years. I also appreciated Homan and Lynnie's uniqueness as protagonists.
sampena16's review against another edition
5.0
"A rainy day can actually be a very important day. And a small hope isn't really small if it makes a lost hope less sad."
What a beautiful narrative! The depth and breadth of this novel is astounding. Spamming over 40 years, we follow the story of 3 people whose lives intersect only once, during a stormy night. The following years are their individual stories - their desires, dreams, and hopes of returning to one another. My only complaint with this novel was that I wished there was a longer ending. The characters were so fully developed throughout the entire novel that when it came to the end, I felt like it was too rushed. I wasn't sure how the characters ended up where they did. Overall though, definitely a great read.
What a beautiful narrative! The depth and breadth of this novel is astounding. Spamming over 40 years, we follow the story of 3 people whose lives intersect only once, during a stormy night. The following years are their individual stories - their desires, dreams, and hopes of returning to one another. My only complaint with this novel was that I wished there was a longer ending. The characters were so fully developed throughout the entire novel that when it came to the end, I felt like it was too rushed. I wasn't sure how the characters ended up where they did. Overall though, definitely a great read.
hlparis's review against another edition
4.0
I got this as audiobook to listen to while I drove to Iowa and at home while folded laundry, etc. the story is great, but each time it got to a critical plot point, the cd would skip! At first I stuck to it and kept going, but eventually returned the cd's and now have the book. I'm hoping the print won't be missing at the crucial points. It's a very compelling story and easy to get sucked into. The writing is eloquent and the characters well written.
I'm glad I ended up reading this and finishing. While the second half is not as strong as the first half, I still enjoyed it. The first half is fraught with drama and conflict and the second half is more about seeking closure and healing. But then, that is how life often is, right? I was very disappointed when one of the characters I was most fond of was pretty much dismissed in one sentence. That portion of the storyline could have been explored and focused on to make the second half stronger. But I understand that the author's inspiration was a book about a deaf African American man who wrongly institutionalized, like number 42. Overall, this was a terrifying and compelling read about the incredibly corrupt mental institutions that used to exist in our country.
"Raising kids isn't carpentry," he'd said. "Forget measuring twice and cutting once. You measure over and over every day."
-Pete to Martha
And Lynnie understood. There were two kinds of hope: the kind you couldn't do anything about and the kind you could. And even if the kind you could do something about wasn't what you'd originally wanted, it was still with doing. A rainy day s better than no day. A small happiness can make a big sadness less sad.
I'm glad I ended up reading this and finishing. While the second half is not as strong as the first half, I still enjoyed it. The first half is fraught with drama and conflict and the second half is more about seeking closure and healing. But then, that is how life often is, right? I was very disappointed when one of the characters I was most fond of was pretty much dismissed in one sentence. That portion of the storyline could have been explored and focused on to make the second half stronger. But I understand that the author's inspiration was a book about a deaf African American man who wrongly institutionalized, like number 42. Overall, this was a terrifying and compelling read about the incredibly corrupt mental institutions that used to exist in our country.
"Raising kids isn't carpentry," he'd said. "Forget measuring twice and cutting once. You measure over and over every day."
-Pete to Martha
And Lynnie understood. There were two kinds of hope: the kind you couldn't do anything about and the kind you could. And even if the kind you could do something about wasn't what you'd originally wanted, it was still with doing. A rainy day s better than no day. A small happiness can make a big sadness less sad.
sha_z's review
3.0
Wow. This book is better than I expected.
I bought this book 8 years ago, drawn in by the intriguing title and cover. The synopsis of a Girl with developmental disability that had a baby instantly captured my attention. However, I tried reading it twice before but could never bring myself to pass the 100th page. Since I'm on this mission to clear out all my old books (to donate those that I won't re-read and make room for new books, ofc) I forced myself to finish this one.
I was instantly captivated with the storyline. This is a very well written story. It was not an easy read, there are parts that I have a hard time to follow (which is during Homan's POV) and parts where it was just difficult to comprehend (how the residents where mistreated in the institution, the abuse, the name-calling, racist remarks). But, I know these are all too real because this institutions really exist in those times.
The expectation that I had for this book was that it's going to be another cliché plot with predictable ending. Well, I'll be honest, this is definitely the case for this book BUT the build up was very well written that it was able to make me feel empathetic and hopeful for the characters. This book was able to make me feel all the emotions; heartbreaks, anger, pity, hope then relief. And let me tell you, the last sentence of this book gave me chills as in I literally have goosebumps because I felt excited and happy that eventually things works out well for Lynnie and Homan.
Overall, I'd give this a 3.5 ⭐ Reason: I was able to guess the ending and I know that I won't be rereading this anytime soon, but still this was a good read.
I bought this book 8 years ago, drawn in by the intriguing title and cover. The synopsis of a Girl with developmental disability that had a baby instantly captured my attention. However, I tried reading it twice before but could never bring myself to pass the 100th page. Since I'm on this mission to clear out all my old books (to donate those that I won't re-read and make room for new books, ofc) I forced myself to finish this one.
I was instantly captivated with the storyline. This is a very well written story. It was not an easy read, there are parts that I have a hard time to follow (which is during Homan's POV) and parts where it was just difficult to comprehend (how the residents where mistreated in the institution, the abuse, the name-calling, racist remarks). But, I know these are all too real because this institutions really exist in those times.
The expectation that I had for this book was that it's going to be another cliché plot with predictable ending. Well, I'll be honest, this is definitely the case for this book BUT the build up was very well written that it was able to make me feel empathetic and hopeful for the characters. This book was able to make me feel all the emotions; heartbreaks, anger, pity, hope then relief. And let me tell you, the last sentence of this book gave me chills as in I literally have goosebumps because I felt excited and happy that eventually things works out well for Lynnie and Homan.
Overall, I'd give this a 3.5 ⭐ Reason: I was able to guess the ending and I know that I won't be rereading this anytime soon, but still this was a good read.
lifeanista's review against another edition
3.25
Definitely on the slower side. The different narrators kept it interesting, but overall I thought it was a tad boring. Pretty predictable ending, at least it was tied up in a nice bow.
yoneb_26's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, the first few chapters had me in tears a couple of times! Although the last part I felt did drag on a little, overall it was a great read, a very moving story.