hmorgz11's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kylietokar's review
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
The story follows a year in the lives of a couple who find that they cannot afford to get divorced. Instead, they move out of their expensive home in London, into a cottage in the countryside, much to the chagrin of their two young daughters and adult son. Little do they know, this property and the surrounding community are fraught with local gossip, bizarre characters, rampant unemployment and poverty, and a mysterious death...all of which make for a terribly depressing story. As the perspective oscillates between the heartbroken wife, the adulterous husband, their struggling son, and a local carer with a series of challenging life circumstances all her own, there is no reprieve from the melancholy. Everyone is SO SAD.
I was also irritated by the writing style; the switching between the past tense and present tense read more like a student paper with verb tense errors, rather than an intentional choice to weave past events in with current ones. I could not find a character I liked.
In the end,
I was also irritated by the writing style; the switching between the past tense and present tense read more like a student paper with verb tense errors, rather than an intentional choice to weave past events in with current ones. I could not find a character I liked.
In the end,
Spoiler
all the loose ends are tied up, between the interpersonal conflict and the local tragedies, but it wasn't nearly as satisfying as it needed to be in order to make the first 350 miserable pages worth it.daisyblan's review
- felt like it took a long time to get ANYWHERE
- felt very whiney, and centred around rich people and their ‘problems’ but I guess that could have been the point but it isn’t for me
- felt very whiney, and centred around rich people and their ‘problems’ but I guess that could have been the point but it isn’t for me
jackiefranklee's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cate_ninetails's review
3.0
I found this book genuinely engaging immediately because for the most part, the characters felt very real. Having just left London for the countryside myself, I certainly felt a kinship in a lot of ways, and laughed several times as I found musings on changing city life amongst my own circle of friends echoed in the dialogue of the text. I wish that the strong start had continued, as I do believe my interest began to wane by the second act.
Even though the setting and observations are current and astute, I did feel that the characters, and women in particular, felt a little dated which is unfortunate. Especially from a female writer, I wish that we could have seen stronger central figures, but every single one serves as only a downtrodden counterpart to an overbearing, selfish man. Particularly as the book progressed I did feel the plot went a little off the rails, with a strange to me ending that seemed out of place.
A solid effort, with some bright spots, keen insights and even a few laughs.
Even though the setting and observations are current and astute, I did feel that the characters, and women in particular, felt a little dated which is unfortunate. Especially from a female writer, I wish that we could have seen stronger central figures, but every single one serves as only a downtrodden counterpart to an overbearing, selfish man. Particularly as the book progressed I did feel the plot went a little off the rails, with a strange to me ending that seemed out of place.
A solid effort, with some bright spots, keen insights and even a few laughs.
hilarymak's review
2.0
The first two thirds dragged..... with a plodding vaguely social commentary on rural v urban Britain today. The last third was a ludicrous completely unrealistic series of plot twists that made me want to scream!
ladyr's review
3.0
Whaaaaat?!!! Seriously what just happened.... I HATE it when authors/editors do that.
This was a seriously good read - a voice that was very fresh and original dealing sensitively (whilst at the same time being a page-turner) with family relationships, love, marriage & modern-day Britain.
It was definitely a solid 4 or even 4.5 stars.
Then the last 70 pages descended into a farce with everything thrown at the plot and requires some ridiculous far-fetched stretches of the imagination.
It’s as if Craig got towards the end of this novel but wasn’t sure how to wrap it up and someone else came in who hadn’t read the rest of the book and finished it off - I actually threw the book across the room at the end!!!
This was a seriously good read - a voice that was very fresh and original dealing sensitively (whilst at the same time being a page-turner) with family relationships, love, marriage & modern-day Britain.
It was definitely a solid 4 or even 4.5 stars.
Then the last 70 pages descended into a farce with everything thrown at the plot and requires some ridiculous far-fetched stretches of the imagination.
It’s as if Craig got towards the end of this novel but wasn’t sure how to wrap it up and someone else came in who hadn’t read the rest of the book and finished it off - I actually threw the book across the room at the end!!!
wtb_michael's review
3.0
A novel about middle class struggles in post-financial crisis England. This was entertaining enough, but not entirely satisfying.