annawalsh's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
5.0
cestelaine's review against another edition
2.0
A bunch of intensely unlikeable & sordid characters, inflicting wounds onto themselves and one another.
I didn’t enjoy the prose, the details were monotonous and exasperating (we all know what cicadas sound like & what an old dog looks/smells like - no need to keep mentioning it in every other paragraph), and the lean on cliches and ageism was quite frankly offensive.
I could not wrap my head around why these people were ‘friends’. The toxicity made me feel sick.
Can’t recommend this at all.
I didn’t enjoy the prose, the details were monotonous and exasperating (we all know what cicadas sound like & what an old dog looks/smells like - no need to keep mentioning it in every other paragraph), and the lean on cliches and ageism was quite frankly offensive.
I could not wrap my head around why these people were ‘friends’. The toxicity made me feel sick.
Can’t recommend this at all.
quaintrelle_chantelle's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Took me a bit to get into this story. It covers a few days in the life of three out of a group of four women, who come together to clean out the home of their recently deceased friend. My initial reactions were that the characters were old & annoying. It was their behaviors towards each other, their stuck-in-their-ways beliefs, the imagined hostilities & unspoken feelings, which ultimately stood between them, creating unnecessary friction. The back described it as “excruciatingly funny”, but I’m not sure what part they were referring to.
I guess the thing I took away from this book, after all the rest, was the importance of the friendship to each of the women, despite their history. At the end of the day, it’s the people you have around you that get you through. We all need our tribe, whatever imperfect shape or size they come in.
daja123's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
childfreebooks's review against another edition
3.0
We don't often get a book about friendship of four women who are in their 70s and only one of them has children. If women are childless in books they are often young possible future mothers. This book has also queer characters, more than one. And a dog! I was quite excited about the set up. We need role models and stories of us.
I wish they weren't so miserable. It was a heavy read because there is almost no joy or hope in their lives. Their friendship is more resentful than usual. They (or the writer I guess) hold a negative view of aging female body. I didn't find truly positive male characters either. I guess I'm happy I don't know these people :) Off to read something with wider range of emotions
I wish they weren't so miserable. It was a heavy read because there is almost no joy or hope in their lives. Their friendship is more resentful than usual. They (or the writer I guess) hold a negative view of aging female body. I didn't find truly positive male characters either. I guess I'm happy I don't know these people :) Off to read something with wider range of emotions
corla_you's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
fienterest's review against another edition
medium-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
I did not like the descriptions about the old dog, and she is writing a lot about it, so I skipped a lot of text. I expected more of it after all the good reviews
nataliecatalie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
jessicaleeparker's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0