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marathonreader's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
3.25
A wholesome tribute to family and care workers. I knew I would, but I sobbed convulsively at the end. I felt my grandmother and great aunt in this reading. I love them and I miss them.
I also have never laughed harder at a thumbs up.
I also have never laughed harder at a thumbs up.
bookishjesse's review
2.0
This book was recommended to me, and I am sad to say I cannot recommend it to others. I was really surprised that someone of Ann-Marie MacDonald's gifts loved it?!
The book just does not work. I get it. I see what Owens is trying to achieve but it just doesn't work. A first-person narrative from someone primarily limited to witnessing means there are huge gaps in the story. I see the point, which seems to be to illustrate the struggles of a character with a limited ability to communicate and her frustration at the dramatic change in life circumstances. I respect that; I do not respect the novel's format. Is it epistolary? It seems to be a letter, but more of a thought letter? Like an ongoing story Fran would tell to someone? Or perhaps a collection of reminiscences and regret? There are a lot of pieces here and the narrative arc is clear. The execution is deeply flawed. Though I see the point, hanging out in the mind of someone for 200+ pages is not how this book was presented by the publisher. Nor did I find it true that Fran "wants to live!" It seems as though Fran wants to reconcile her past in order to prepare for the end.
We witness the same scene again, and again, and again. Yes, I understand that this is likely to portray the repetition and mundane existence for people living in care. Again, this does not work as a novel. Perhaps a collection of short stories? Or vignettes would have been better? The little leaf markers after almost every paragraph are there to denote a shift. That many shifts is far, far too many. It suggests that there is nothing more to say about a scene, nothing to flush out, or explore.
This is a story in pieces that would work if "the medium is the message." It is not. The medium is not a story in pieces, the medium here is a novel. I was hoping for a fictional story that moves me, not a series of regrets and frustrations where the most interesting people take their stories and exist stage left after every single scene.
I felt so bogged down by the poor writing and really truncated structure that I could not enjoy the characters (many of whom, are of course typecast and representations of whole people with complexities). Indeed, the care workers are the saving grace of this book. Theirs are the stories we long to hear. I would have preferred Owens to write a book about the dedication and true compassion it takes to do her job. That's absolutely I book I would read and recommend. I would happily enjoy a love letter to care workers and their integrity is the only redeeming part of this book. I did not find the book humorous, aside from a few snide remarks that are supposedly there to contradict the cruel past of the protagonist.
Perhaps Owens will turn her hand to memoir or a collection of stories from care workers?
My problem with this book is the structure, not the subject. I wish a great deal more time and energy were spent honouring people who work tirelessly to support our loved ones when we can no longer safely support them at home. The problem is, that is real tangible non-fiction work. If fiction is the medium, then we need a story to carry us and a structure that does not leave readers feeling disjointed, confused, and looking for answers. It's never a good sign when the publisher's blurb is better than the book itself ...
The book just does not work. I get it. I see what Owens is trying to achieve but it just doesn't work. A first-person narrative from someone primarily limited to witnessing means there are huge gaps in the story. I see the point, which seems to be to illustrate the struggles of a character with a limited ability to communicate and her frustration at the dramatic change in life circumstances. I respect that; I do not respect the novel's format. Is it epistolary? It seems to be a letter, but more of a thought letter? Like an ongoing story Fran would tell to someone? Or perhaps a collection of reminiscences and regret? There are a lot of pieces here and the narrative arc is clear. The execution is deeply flawed. Though I see the point, hanging out in the mind of someone for 200+ pages is not how this book was presented by the publisher. Nor did I find it true that Fran "wants to live!" It seems as though Fran wants to reconcile her past in order to prepare for the end.
We witness the same scene again, and again, and again. Yes, I understand that this is likely to portray the repetition and mundane existence for people living in care. Again, this does not work as a novel. Perhaps a collection of short stories? Or vignettes would have been better? The little leaf markers after almost every paragraph are there to denote a shift. That many shifts is far, far too many. It suggests that there is nothing more to say about a scene, nothing to flush out, or explore.
This is a story in pieces that would work if "the medium is the message." It is not. The medium is not a story in pieces, the medium here is a novel. I was hoping for a fictional story that moves me, not a series of regrets and frustrations where the most interesting people take their stories and exist stage left after every single scene.
I felt so bogged down by the poor writing and really truncated structure that I could not enjoy the characters (many of whom, are of course typecast and representations of whole people with complexities). Indeed, the care workers are the saving grace of this book. Theirs are the stories we long to hear. I would have preferred Owens to write a book about the dedication and true compassion it takes to do her job. That's absolutely I book I would read and recommend. I would happily enjoy a love letter to care workers and their integrity is the only redeeming part of this book. I did not find the book humorous, aside from a few snide remarks that are supposedly there to contradict the cruel past of the protagonist.
Perhaps Owens will turn her hand to memoir or a collection of stories from care workers?
My problem with this book is the structure, not the subject. I wish a great deal more time and energy were spent honouring people who work tirelessly to support our loved ones when we can no longer safely support them at home. The problem is, that is real tangible non-fiction work. If fiction is the medium, then we need a story to carry us and a structure that does not leave readers feeling disjointed, confused, and looking for answers. It's never a good sign when the publisher's blurb is better than the book itself ...
saraekaner's review
5.0
An unexpected gem. This book was tough to read at times - it’s bittersweet to think about end of life and what dying may look like - but I found the characters in this book to be highly relatable and enjoyable. While there wasn’t what some might consider a “happy ending,” there was an ending that did every character justice and I really loved that.
sierraknits's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0