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jms's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? Yes
4.0
I got this book through a subscription service so I had no prior knowledge of it or the author. I read the whole book on a flight. Family trauma done well.
acblastin's review against another edition
3.0
I love the intent and respect the title choice for the book. These are a series of ordinary human failings that echoes the dysfunctional bits of family. It’s relatable and because of that i want so much more from Lucy and John’s perspective. GIVE ME MOREEEEEE
jknoxwhite's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.75
Surprised how much I loved this book about such deep, dark sadness. Crisply written, capturing what feels like real people with real stories, ordinary people dealing with extraordinary things.
Also a meditation on how quickly or media and social narratives work to quickly gel and define situations before much is known, driven by people with things to gain, egos to burnish, and pretty local gossip.
Also a meditation on how quickly or media and social narratives work to quickly gel and define situations before much is known, driven by people with things to gain, egos to burnish, and pretty local gossip.
totebagslag's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jaclyncrupi's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this nuanced multi-voice portrait of a family in crisis and its examination of class and societal bias. It’s decidedly and distinctly Irish and I’d argue that Irish writers are the best in the world at exactly this kind of book. I’ll be shocked if it’s not on the @womensprize fiction shortlist. Lucy and her family live inside me now. It’s a huge recommend from me.
scottmacdonald98's review against another edition
3.0
Left me a bit cold, maybe a victim of me reading too many similar books recently. Plot contraption with newspaper journo doesn't really go anywhere major.
cebolla's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I spent many years reading long books and complaining that they should have been shorter; that they could have said everything they needed to say in half or 2/3 the amount of pages. Lately though, I've been reading shorter books and feeling like I would have enjoyed them more had they been longer. That's how I feel about Ordinary Human Feelings. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but there could have been so much more depth.
Reading this book felt like sitting across from the protagonists in a damn, old cafe in some dreary, mountainous, coastal town. It is a simple story of a short period of time in the life of a family. Some bad shit happens and then it sort of gets resolved. The whole thing happens in a few days, but we get glimpses into the years leading up to the event, as well as a few pages at the end about how the dust settled. It felt like I was at the aforementioned bar with this sad, drunk family while a voiceover told me about their lives.
Not really much else to say. Good times were had and I won't remember any of it in like 5 more books.
Reading this book felt like sitting across from the protagonists in a damn, old cafe in some dreary, mountainous, coastal town. It is a simple story of a short period of time in the life of a family. Some bad shit happens and then it sort of gets resolved. The whole thing happens in a few days, but we get glimpses into the years leading up to the event, as well as a few pages at the end about how the dust settled. It felt like I was at the aforementioned bar with this sad, drunk family while a voiceover told me about their lives.
Not really much else to say. Good times were had and I won't remember any of it in like 5 more books.
potmom's review against another edition
3.0
if i could rate this 3.5 i would.
i loved the concept of this book, the format it was written, the complex background of each character and why they are the way that they are, the upsetting topic.
it just didn’t grip me in the way that i hoped it to, therefore something felt like a chore to read. that being said maybe if i had read it at a different time i wouldn’t feel that way.
the conversation at the back of the book though i found really great and beautiful and is worth the quick read.
i loved the concept of this book, the format it was written, the complex background of each character and why they are the way that they are, the upsetting topic.
it just didn’t grip me in the way that i hoped it to, therefore something felt like a chore to read. that being said maybe if i had read it at a different time i wouldn’t feel that way.
the conversation at the back of the book though i found really great and beautiful and is worth the quick read.
amyjayexo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
3.0
genevieve_shanahan's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0