lizandherworldofbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jennywjordan's review against another edition
I'm not sure how I found the Burgess Boys but I have no doubt that I was drawn to the title in that I have a friend who's last name is Burgess and it would have pulled me in from that alone. I was not prepared for the legnth of the books as Stout has divider her novel into four books with one. She pulls us to the Burgess family and a difficult time. However, the story is told as a mother and daughter gossip about a family, a mechanism I found not necessary at all since the story is about Bob and Jim (the Burgess Boys), their sister Susan, nephew Zach, a wife and an ex-wife none of which are our initial narrators.
Somewhat distracting in the story, for me, is the view of the Somalian's world. The story's context is a misunderstood interaction between Zach and a Solalian ahnd that understanding the Somalian culture is important as it does impact the course for the family. The rich details of Somalian culture though began to feel as if I was getting educated on a world crisis rather than reading a story. Bob's recitation of facts and figures within the Somalian culture felt a bit contrived.
What did not feel contrived was the family. Connected by shared experiences--more terrible than not---the Burgess boys and their sister come through life and our story greatly impacted by the past history they believed to be theirs. Their story becomes our question--are we different people if our circumstances are different than we believed. If the life, we led turned out to be built on false truths and the people we shaped ourselves as aren't of reality, are we different than we first believed?
In Burgess Boys, I found reflections of my friends, my neighbors, and myself. Clearly reflected in the story and the characters are hopes and dreams of those I know who much like the Burgess family are catapulted into positions by connections.
A long read worth the investment, Burgess Boys remind us that when we are most dysfunctional we are most a family.
Somewhat distracting in the story, for me, is the view of the Somalian's world. The story's context is a misunderstood interaction between Zach and a Solalian ahnd that understanding the Somalian culture is important as it does impact the course for the family. The rich details of Somalian culture though began to feel as if I was getting educated on a world crisis rather than reading a story. Bob's recitation of facts and figures within the Somalian culture felt a bit contrived.
What did not feel contrived was the family. Connected by shared experiences--more terrible than not---the Burgess boys and their sister come through life and our story greatly impacted by the past history they believed to be theirs. Their story becomes our question--are we different people if our circumstances are different than we believed. If the life, we led turned out to be built on false truths and the people we shaped ourselves as aren't of reality, are we different than we first believed?
In Burgess Boys, I found reflections of my friends, my neighbors, and myself. Clearly reflected in the story and the characters are hopes and dreams of those I know who much like the Burgess family are catapulted into positions by connections.
A long read worth the investment, Burgess Boys remind us that when we are most dysfunctional we are most a family.
jedbird's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The town of Shirley Falls, Maine, has seen a recent influx of Somali immigrants, and it's not entirely comfortable for either long-term residents or newcomers. During Ramadan, a young (white) man hurls a severed pig's head through the door of a mosque, upsetting and frightening the Somali Muslims.
The Burgess boys of the title are Jim and Bob, brothers and lawyers, living in New York. Their sister Susan is the mother of the young man with the pig's head, Zach, who isn't even sure why he did such a stupid thing. Susan asks her brothers to come handle the situation. Jim is famous and successful, and Bob is sort of a lawyer lite, but Jim is leaving on vacation, so Bob goes to Shirley Falls alone, and he doesn't contain things as well as Jim might have.
This story is told from multiple POVs, some of which I'm not sure were necessary, but it's a very readable, engaging story, as Ms. Strout's stories tend to be.
The Burgess boys of the title are Jim and Bob, brothers and lawyers, living in New York. Their sister Susan is the mother of the young man with the pig's head, Zach, who isn't even sure why he did such a stupid thing. Susan asks her brothers to come handle the situation. Jim is famous and successful, and Bob is sort of a lawyer lite, but Jim is leaving on vacation, so Bob goes to Shirley Falls alone, and he doesn't contain things as well as Jim might have.
This story is told from multiple POVs, some of which I'm not sure were necessary, but it's a very readable, engaging story, as Ms. Strout's stories tend to be.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
yaelshayne's review against another edition
4.0
Really nicely written book. Families, current events, community - this book had everything along with likable characters.
sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
A hate crime committed in small town Maine ripples through a family, setting it on an irreversible course. Socially awkward Zack tosses a pig's head into a local mosque. His distant lawyer uncles come to town to defend him.
Bob, is middle-aged, divorced, and an alcoholic. Jim is a high powered lawyer, who isn't as wonderful as he presents to the world. Susan is the mother of Zack and an ice queen. Helen is Jim's husband, who is going through a mid-life crisis, dealing with strong feelings of empty-nest syndrome.
I really couldn't connect with this book. The plot focused on people's inner (boring) emotions, which basically made the plot boring.
Bob, is middle-aged, divorced, and an alcoholic. Jim is a high powered lawyer, who isn't as wonderful as he presents to the world. Susan is the mother of Zack and an ice queen. Helen is Jim's husband, who is going through a mid-life crisis, dealing with strong feelings of empty-nest syndrome.
I really couldn't connect with this book. The plot focused on people's inner (boring) emotions, which basically made the plot boring.
shewritesinmargins's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
pnwlisa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75