ktcarlston's review
4.0
Ann Patchett has a way of writing that draws me in. I listened to this book and originally thought it would take me a long time but from the beginning this book drew me in and I raced through it. Such an interesting, life story. Not everything worked out for everyone and not all the loops were always closed but that's what made me like it.
espaileen's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katdid's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Kind of went through phases with this book -- I think it's less than the sum of its parts to be honest, although maybe I'm not being fair. My favourite stuff was twenty-something Frannie (and also Fix screaming, "Fuck that!" about the film. And also the name Fix as a contraction of Francis Xavier).
misslezlee's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn’t keep the ex-wives straight in this five decade spanning family drama. In fact, apart from the first section which sets up the story that follows, all the adults were hazy figures. But that was ok because it’s really about the six children (two from one marriage, four from the other) and how they cope when their lives are upturned not once, but twice. Three times if you count the result of Franny’s relationship with a famous author.
There’s a lot that goes untold and the reader has to piece together the fragments quite a bit. But that doesn’t detract from the narrative at all. I waited a long time for this novel to become available at my library and it didn’t disappoint.
There’s a lot that goes untold and the reader has to piece together the fragments quite a bit. But that doesn’t detract from the narrative at all. I waited a long time for this novel to become available at my library and it didn’t disappoint.
prosiaczekk's review against another edition
3.0
Ta książka zdecydowanie nie jest tym, czego się spodziewałam po przeczytaniu blurbów na tylnej okładce.
kjboldon's review
5.0
Really a 4.5 because it slowed down in bits, but I loved spending time with these two families, and was impressed by how Patchett moved around in time, spinning out the story like a web.
Second read: loved this book, the families, the characters. Such a rich, rewarding read.
Second read: loved this book, the families, the characters. Such a rich, rewarding read.
mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
I am not convinced of the "beauty" of this novel or of the novelists art. For me it had too many cut off endings and changes of perspective / scene / setting to keep up with. I thought it was brittle and lacked flow in the main. There were some parts that really took you into the moment being described but it just did not fit together as a whole for me
kirstensu04's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0