sam_click's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Physical abuse
jonnyereid's review
3.0
I really wanted to like this story that is framed around generational trauma… Another reviewer put it perfectly - “I found this to be a frustrating, repetitive, and overly long read, even on audio. I was intrigued by the description of generational trauma, but found that it felt like essentially the same story repeated again and again-bad men and their victims. I don't mean to oversimplify, but that's why I got frustrated with the lack of nuance to these stories when it seemed like just repeating the same thing over and over. I also really didn't like the writing or narration of Lise's sections, as they felt like long, overly dramatic monologues. Though I appreciate what this book set out to do, it's not a book I'd recommend.”
Tried to finish it - DNFd about 85% of the way through.
Tried to finish it - DNFd about 85% of the way through.
gcampagna's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brennasherrill's review
2.0
I found this to be a frustrating, repetitive, and overly long read, even on audio. I was intrigued by the description of generational trauma, but found that it felt like essentially the same story repeated again and again—bad men and their victims. I don’t mean to oversimplify, but that’s why I got frustrated with the lack of nuance to these stories when it seemed like just repeating the same thing over and over. I also really didn’t like the writing or narration of Lise’s sections, as they felt like long, overly dramatic monologues. Though I appreciate what this book set out to do, it’s not a book I’d recommend.
reikiel's review
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
novelgossip's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve read a few books about generational trauma recently and there is something completely fascinating about this concept to me. This is the part of the synopsis that got me 👇🏻
Spanning five generations of women, Five-Part Invention wrestles with the question—if trauma echoes through generations, can love echo, too? Is the love we transmit enough to undo the trauma of the past that we unwittingly carry with us and often re-enact in the present?
It starts with Lise in the 1920’s and 1930’s the in subsequent chapters you hear from four other women in the next generations. I really liked the way this story unfolded and slowly told a tale. There was something both quiet and intimate about both the writing and the format and it really captivated me. I don’t always mesh well with literary fiction as sometimes it’s too wordy and flowery but this one really worked well for me. It was a complex story with many triggers and some disturbing content but I also found it to be oddly inspiring and at times wise. I loved the focus on art in various forms and found myself forming connections with all five women in some manner. Overall it was profound, deep and really beautifully written.
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