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A review by bahareads
The House of Plain Truth by Donna Hemans
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The House of Plain Truth is a story of family fractured. Pearline leaves to go to Jamaica to help take care of her father, who soon passes away. THOPT claims to chart the family's past in Cuba, but readers see only bits and pieces of their life in Cuba which told from Pearline's POV make little sense in the overall narrative. I wanted to explore more of the history between Cuba and Jamaican immigrants. It's jarring how the book flips back and forth in the timeline without warning.
THOPT has phenomenal writing. I imagined myself at the family house and on the land. Pearline is a great main character! I loved how she fought for their family home and to know her family history. The exploration of family and family dynamics is so frustrating (in a good way)!! Pearline's sisters feel some way towards Pearline because she has lived in America all this time while they have stayed in Jamaica. The other characters are more one-dimensional. The plot was lacking in spaces. I wondered where Hemans was taking us, it felt like Pearline was going round' and round' in circles while new characters were being adopted into the fold.
I am highly confused at Pearline's father's DEEP anger towards his older children for their refusal to return to Jamaica. It is a slight to his pride and wounding by the fact that he could not make it in that land. However the fact that her mother let communication dead between her and her older children is a little insane to me. EXTREMELY INSANE TO ME ACTUALLY. Something was missing in THOPT which resulted in the 3 stars.
THOPT has phenomenal writing. I imagined myself at the family house and on the land. Pearline is a great main character! I loved how she fought for their family home and to know her family history. The exploration of family and family dynamics is so frustrating (in a good way)!! Pearline's sisters feel some way towards Pearline because she has lived in America all this time while they have stayed in Jamaica. The other characters are more one-dimensional. The plot was lacking in spaces. I wondered where Hemans was taking us, it felt like Pearline was going round' and round' in circles while new characters were being adopted into the fold.
I am highly confused at Pearline's father's DEEP anger towards his older children for their refusal to return to Jamaica. It is a slight to his pride and wounding by the fact that he could not make it in that land. However the fact that her mother let communication dead between her and her older children is a little insane to me. EXTREMELY INSANE TO ME ACTUALLY. Something was missing in THOPT which resulted in the 3 stars.