ryc1025's review against another edition
4.0
There has never been a more appropriate book for those with "Imposter Syndrome". This novel about sacrificing everything for your dream and then sacrificing that for family is the ultimate foray into the state of rejection and settling. Set in the beautiful region of rural Montana, the unexpected Shakespearean references, and the utterly human connections are what make this book a joy to read!
bibliochemist's review against another edition
3.0
I was pretty skeptical going into this one, but I actually found the story really relatable even though I’ve never been anywhere close to Montana. Sure, I would have loved to see more secondary characters get developed, and I still have an outstanding question about the title, but I really did enjoy this book.
abel_stacy's review
reflective
sad
slow-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
2.0
toryhallelujah's review
3.0
"The July day was windy as always and the sky expanded over oceanic distances, dwarfing the creatures scuttling on the surface. It was a Jurassic sky, Anthony thought, drawn before known time. Breathing in that sky, becoming part of it, was a form of immortality."
2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 because sometimes the language was fantastic.
I love the setting. Talk about Big Sky Country and I'm set. The character development, however, was shaky at best, disjointed, and shoved into the last couple of chapters. Neal's backstory was rushed and unsettling, and not enough to make up for how villainized he'd been throughout. Anthony was thoroughly unlikable, whiny, petulant, and bratty to all of the people who'd put up with him so long.
2.5 stars, rounding up to 3 because sometimes the language was fantastic.
I love the setting. Talk about Big Sky Country and I'm set. The character development, however, was shaky at best, disjointed, and shoved into the last couple of chapters. Neal's backstory was rushed and unsettling, and not enough to make up for how villainized he'd been throughout. Anthony was thoroughly unlikable, whiny, petulant, and bratty to all of the people who'd put up with him so long.
ramonamead's review
2.0
Two and a half stars. I didn't have strong feelings about this one. A friend who read it at the same time had the best question: What's worse, a neutral book or a bad book? I'm not sure. The best thing about this book is that it takes place near where I live, and I'm familiar with the towns referenced, plus a family friend is mentioned! Otherwise it's a bland novel. The story is interesting at times, but I couldn't figure out what it's truly about. That made it hard for me to root for any of the characters, especially since they're pretty flat. I'm not sure if part of my poor perception of this book is the audiobook narrator, who was also flat. There were times he was obviously attempting a Native accent, but it wasn't consistent so I had a hard time keeping track of which characters were Natives.
The novel's premise is relatable: our protagonist, Anthony, returns home from a failed attempt to be an actor in New York City to his family ranch after his father's death. There was a lot of potential but it fell short for me.
The novel's premise is relatable: our protagonist, Anthony, returns home from a failed attempt to be an actor in New York City to his family ranch after his father's death. There was a lot of potential but it fell short for me.
bobbi's review
1.0
I really didn't enjoy this book. I felt like I should finish it because it was the One Book One Bozeman pick this year, but I kind of wish I hadn't wasted the time. The story didn't grab me, and I found the writing style annoying. The author worked way too hard to put local references in to make it feel extra "Montana" and it just came off as forced.
My overall impression was that she had a point to make rather than a story to tell. She ended up doing neither very well. I won't be reading more books by this author.
My overall impression was that she had a point to make rather than a story to tell. She ended up doing neither very well. I won't be reading more books by this author.
More...