nancidrum's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I would end the year by reading 4 of Alice McDermott's books, but my heart just isn't in it. I loved Charming Billy, but this book and the one I read a few days ago, That Night, just aren't riveting enough for me.
McDermott writes about everyday things, but with beautiful prose and such descriptive writing you feel as if you're present in the story.
Child of My Heart is about a very mature 15 year old girl, Theresa, who has a remarkable talent for understanding children and animals. The adults heading up the families of the children, for which she babysits, are for the most part either overwhelmed or neglectful, so lovely Theresa provides care and unlimited love for their children.
The story for the most part is "wash, rinse, repeat". It was just too repetitive for me. There are two major events in the story, near the end, but I didn't find either one would likely have taken place in real life. I'm bumping the rating from 2 stars to 3 stars, due to the quality of writing, but overall the book just left me feeling dry.
McDermott writes about everyday things, but with beautiful prose and such descriptive writing you feel as if you're present in the story.
Child of My Heart is about a very mature 15 year old girl, Theresa, who has a remarkable talent for understanding children and animals. The adults heading up the families of the children, for which she babysits, are for the most part either overwhelmed or neglectful, so lovely Theresa provides care and unlimited love for their children.
The story for the most part is "wash, rinse, repeat". It was just too repetitive for me. There are two major events in the story, near the end, but I didn't find either one would likely have taken place in real life. I'm bumping the rating from 2 stars to 3 stars, due to the quality of writing, but overall the book just left me feeling dry.
hellkitty915's review against another edition
2.0
This is the type of book I would (and did) read on a boring, lazy Sunday afternoon. It's short, lyrical in places and somewhat intriguing. I only gave it two stars because it has obvious flaws.
Some reviewers have said that Theresa, the protagonist, comes across as much too wise and smart for 15. I was like that myself, so I couldn't see it as much. What I could see was Flora, the baby, being extremely articulate and acting like an adult herself. The author puts Theresa's voice into all of the characters and doesn't really distinguish them well after that.
The ending was the other major flaw of this book. It was contrived and rushed at best. I realise the author is trying for that simple, innocent, dream-like quality, but instead the ending is vague and pointless. (Yes, I did catch the extremely obvious part with the baby rabbits. I thought it was overdone.)
I didn't care for this author at all. From this book, I can't see how she won any awards.
Some reviewers have said that Theresa, the protagonist, comes across as much too wise and smart for 15. I was like that myself, so I couldn't see it as much. What I could see was Flora, the baby, being extremely articulate and acting like an adult herself. The author puts Theresa's voice into all of the characters and doesn't really distinguish them well after that.
The ending was the other major flaw of this book. It was contrived and rushed at best. I realise the author is trying for that simple, innocent, dream-like quality, but instead the ending is vague and pointless. (Yes, I did catch the extremely obvious part with the baby rabbits. I thought it was overdone.)
I didn't care for this author at all. From this book, I can't see how she won any awards.
cateleigh76's review
2.0
I feel angry and jipped after reading this book. It began beautifully and was well written. I fell in love with each turning page. But it's as though the author grew tired of writing the book in the last chapter, threw a bunch of ridiculousness in, and called it good. So awful!
kmootz's review against another edition
2.0
lyrical writing that made for a beautiful and easy read...unfortunately, i felt the characters lacked authenticity.
yooperann's review
5.0
The novel takes place over a few weeks in a seaside Long Island town, but it seems to contain the whole world. There are lots of sad and neglected children, and calm, competent, enchanting Theresa to look after them. There's enough foreshadowing that you know pretty early on everyone is not going to live happily ever after. But the characters, especially Theresa, are drawn so compellingly that you don't want to part with them when the book is over.
This would be a great book club book, perhaps even for a mother and teen daughters group.
This would be a great book club book, perhaps even for a mother and teen daughters group.
psalmcat's review
3.0
Had I been reading this book instead of listening to it, I might not have finished it. But listening to it slowed it down to a proper pace, made it much more consistent with the story.
The story: Set in East Hampton, Long Island in the 50s or 60s, the main character is a 15-year-old girl who is very self-contained and sure of herself. She's in great demand not only for her superb babysitting and petsitting skills, but because she is beautiful. Very aware of that fact, somewhat snobby about those less fortunate in the looks area, but sensible and calm about nearly everything. In fact, she's so calm that it's somewhat surreal at times. Her parents have specific designs in moving from the city to Long Island: they recognize their only daughter's beauty and want to give her the best chance to capitalize on it by 'marrying well' which means making her available to the cream of society in whatever manner that is socially acceptable.
The plot revolves around Theresa's cousin Daisy--"poor Daisy"--one of two girls in large working-class family and her visit to spend her 8th summer on Long Island. She's a sweet, generous, kind-hearted child with a wry wit and a big secret. There is a great deal of foreshadowing and that brings a strong melancholic flavor to the hurly-burly dreaminess of everyday life in a summer resort area.
Lovely book. Lovely mood. A little manipulative, which can get a bit cloying, but the ending is just perfectly written.
The story: Set in East Hampton, Long Island in the 50s or 60s, the main character is a 15-year-old girl who is very self-contained and sure of herself. She's in great demand not only for her superb babysitting and petsitting skills, but because she is beautiful. Very aware of that fact, somewhat snobby about those less fortunate in the looks area, but sensible and calm about nearly everything. In fact, she's so calm that it's somewhat surreal at times. Her parents have specific designs in moving from the city to Long Island: they recognize their only daughter's beauty and want to give her the best chance to capitalize on it by 'marrying well' which means making her available to the cream of society in whatever manner that is socially acceptable.
The plot revolves around Theresa's cousin Daisy--"poor Daisy"--one of two girls in large working-class family and her visit to spend her 8th summer on Long Island. She's a sweet, generous, kind-hearted child with a wry wit and a big secret. There is a great deal of foreshadowing and that brings a strong melancholic flavor to the hurly-burly dreaminess of everyday life in a summer resort area.
Lovely book. Lovely mood. A little manipulative, which can get a bit cloying, but the ending is just perfectly written.
katecthompson's review
3.0
Alice why can't I get through your beautifully written books? I believe this time because it was getting too much into children being neglected. So I will pick this up in a few years when I can handle it.
Both this book and Charming Billy are gorgeously detailed and deeply felt, and quite slow moving.
Both this book and Charming Billy are gorgeously detailed and deeply felt, and quite slow moving.