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A review by insearchof_wonder_
All She Left Behind by Jane Kirkpatrick
3.0
This book was difficult to read because it deals with some pretty distressing and depressing subjects, like substance abuse and addiction. And given that it's based on a true story, happy endings are not in store for everyone. I had a harder time with it than I expected.
I never really got to the place where I was really invested in the main character, and I'm not sure if it's because of the way she was written or because of who she was. Truth is stranger than fiction, and if I hadn't known this was a true story, I would have thought it extremely far-fetched, especially for the era in which it was set.
My other complaint was that we waited for so long for Jennie to become a doctor, that when she does, it's anticlimactic. That part of the story felt rushed and a little dry. There was a lot about her accomplishments as a doctor, but little about her actual experiences.
The writing itself was lovely. I loved the character Aariyah, and the thread of musical insights she brought into the narrative. That was a beautiful touch that added a lot to the story.
I never really got to the place where I was really invested in the main character, and I'm not sure if it's because of the way she was written or because of who she was. Truth is stranger than fiction, and if I hadn't known this was a true story, I would have thought it extremely far-fetched, especially for the era in which it was set.
My other complaint was that we waited for so long for Jennie to become a doctor, that when she does, it's anticlimactic. That part of the story felt rushed and a little dry. There was a lot about her accomplishments as a doctor, but little about her actual experiences.
The writing itself was lovely. I loved the character Aariyah, and the thread of musical insights she brought into the narrative. That was a beautiful touch that added a lot to the story.