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smartymarty111's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
stephaniedh's review against another edition
4.0
It starts off kind of slow and tends to drag. Then towards the end just kicks you in the gut. I haven't recommended it to anyone who hasn't liked it.
lotuschildearthdaughter's review against another edition
5.0
This is not a book I will forget soon. The story revolves around the sisters of one family on Cape Breton Island, from about 1900 to 1950ish. We see their parents meet and marry, watch as the girls are born, and travel with them on their rocky path to adulthood. The book does a fine job of delving into family dynamics, and how secrets kept in the past do damage far into the future. It's kind of heartbreaking at times, occasionally uplifting, but don't read this if you're looking for something light and easy.
beritt's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most beautiful books I have read this year, and ever. Beautiful and terrible, and haunting because of the ways it tells you things without explicitly telling you.
I loved Kathleen from the start, and now I know why.
Also, this exchange:
"She kissed me. And after a while she said, "Actually, you smell like the sea."
"What do you know from the sea, there's no sea in New York, there's a grubby harbour."
"I know you."
"Then what's it smell like."
"Like rocks. Like an empty house with all the windows blowing open. Like thinking, like tears. Like November" (535).
A devastating novel, but so beautiful.
I loved Kathleen from the start, and now I know why.
Also, this exchange:
"She kissed me. And after a while she said, "Actually, you smell like the sea."
"What do you know from the sea, there's no sea in New York, there's a grubby harbour."
"I know you."
"Then what's it smell like."
"Like rocks. Like an empty house with all the windows blowing open. Like thinking, like tears. Like November" (535).
A devastating novel, but so beautiful.
crystalclear0810's review against another edition
2.0
It was just a really hard read. Parts of it got really weird.
nabejero's review against another edition
5.0
Can't recommend it for its story and characters. Loved the technical writing. It's very atmospheric with a keen capture of issues of race, religion, culture, sex. It also weaves seamlessly in and out of different perspectives and times. Great writing.
librarygrrl's review against another edition
3.0
Good writing and compelling characters, but not the best choice for vacation bedtime reading. I chose it because it takes place on Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. Not surprised Oprah chose it. Contains her typical cocktail of abuse and death. But I gave it three stars because of the memorable and complex characters, especially the women.
zsofia's review against another edition
2.0
I really, really wanted to like this book but it just got dumber and dumber and just so SILLY. It did improve at the end but by then I was just trying to finish it. Is there such a thing as a modern family saga that doesn't have an evil patriarch? This was just... ludicrous. No. Don't read it.