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ftd318's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
3.0
bethanybeyondthejordan's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 (Not 5 only because I reserve those for books I would recommend universally to everyone)
I LOVED this book. It may be a case of the right book at the right time. Like the protagonist, I just turned 40. It's an age where you start to question things: what is the nature of friendships? What kind of maintenance do long time (and long distance) relationships require to survive? What does this look like when your life stage (single) looks different from your friends (married with kids)?
I loved the journey May went on: after going out and around looking for something, she found the true answers right back where she started: inside herself.
The thing that made this book especially wonderful for me was the seamless threads that the author wove. I don't know much about botany or gardening, but I loved learning about trees, and the inclusion of facts felt natural because it connected to the story line. I liked the references to Beowulf/mythology that kept popping up, and to Amber Dwight's story. (I counted three or four such threads.)
The only big question mark for me was the character named Adam. He had been May's friend longer than Neera was (she introduced them). Yet when May saw Adam briefly, there was little recognition of that, and afterward May didn't have any thoughts about it (odd in a book full of thoughts on friendship and neighborliness).
This book was a light read with some surprisingly deep ruminations on the nature of friendship.
I LOVED this book. It may be a case of the right book at the right time. Like the protagonist, I just turned 40. It's an age where you start to question things: what is the nature of friendships? What kind of maintenance do long time (and long distance) relationships require to survive? What does this look like when your life stage (single) looks different from your friends (married with kids)?
I loved the journey May went on: after going out and around looking for something, she found the true answers right back where she started: inside herself.
The thing that made this book especially wonderful for me was the seamless threads that the author wove. I don't know much about botany or gardening, but I loved learning about trees, and the inclusion of facts felt natural because it connected to the story line. I liked the references to Beowulf/mythology that kept popping up, and to Amber Dwight's story. (I counted three or four such threads.)
The only big question mark for me was the character named Adam. He had been May's friend longer than Neera was (she introduced them). Yet when May saw Adam briefly, there was little recognition of that, and afterward May didn't have any thoughts about it (odd in a book full of thoughts on friendship and neighborliness).
This book was a light read with some surprisingly deep ruminations on the nature of friendship.
awilliams409's review
5.0
A quick read and great for contemplation about friendships, community, contentment, legacy and everything in between.
Perfect with a cup of tea
Perfect with a cup of tea
nicolek's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
izzywizzy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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? No
4.75
janejanejane3534's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Entertaining book about friendship and home and lots of cool tree/gardening info!
netsirk's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
juniperd's review against another edition
3.0
a contemplative, internal story about a woman who is most at home in her work, as a gardener on a university campus. her world is small, and revolves around regularly scheduled activities: work, home, a local restaurant. may lives in her childhood home with her widowed father - a professor at the same university where may works. theirs is a quiet existence, yet there is the hint of tension just below the surface. realizing how small she's been living, may reconnects with four friends she has not seen in years, and makes plans to visit each in-person. her visits are a studied exercise on the notion of friendship, and may is particularly interested in how her friends think of her, and remember her from past years. may is trying to grow, i think, and (perhaps) overcome some of her awkwardness or quirks.
as [b:Moby-Dick; or, the Whale|6453877|Moby-Dick; or, the Whale|Herman Melville|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1325275362s/6453877.jpg|2409320] has the whale parts, and [b:Les Misérables|22571706|Les Misérables|Victor Hugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406511094s/22571706.jpg|3208463] has the sewer parts, rules for visiting has tree parts. i found these interludes interesting (generally, anything nature/natural world will grab my attention), but did recognize some readers may tune out at these parts.the only criticism i have - and it's pretty small - is that i would have welcomed a bit more of may's internal dialogue and thoughts, as well as seeing more glimpses of changes in may.
in a world that is now so dependent on technology, this story about human connection is touching.
as [b:Moby-Dick; or, the Whale|6453877|Moby-Dick; or, the Whale|Herman Melville|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1325275362s/6453877.jpg|2409320] has the whale parts, and [b:Les Misérables|22571706|Les Misérables|Victor Hugo|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406511094s/22571706.jpg|3208463] has the sewer parts, rules for visiting has tree parts. i found these interludes interesting (generally, anything nature/natural world will grab my attention), but did recognize some readers may tune out at these parts.the only criticism i have - and it's pretty small - is that i would have welcomed a bit more of may's internal dialogue and thoughts, as well as seeing more glimpses of changes in may.
in a world that is now so dependent on technology, this story about human connection is touching.