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hilaryelle's review against another edition
4.0
This is an exquisitely well-written book. I realllly wish the blurb said pretty much anything other than what it does. This is not a creepy story, but rather a sad, intricate one about the bonds that form between the misunderstood.
shantti's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
soubhi's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
serru's review against another edition
3.0
This book has such a strange premise-- a timid and antisocial 26 year old librarian falls in love with the 11 year old boy suffering from gigantism-- which is why, of course, it caught my attention. I thought I'd struggle with accepting and believing the storyline, but I found it wasn't hard at all to believe that something like this could happen. Peggy, as a character, is fully-realized, as is James and the small town they live in. You can almost believe that this is a true story that happened somewhere once.
I really enjoyed seeing the progression of Peggy's and James's friendship, and I really felt for Peggy the whole time. Her longing seeps through the pages, and I could feel just how much she held herself back-- from love, from happiness, from life. She's a pretty tragic character, if you think about it. I have to admit, I was growing a bit frustrated that she wasn't doing much about her feelings, but it's understandable given the incredible age difference of the characters. However, I think it's a testament to Elizabeth McCracken's writing ability that I came to root for this odd couple, despite the taboos and moral misgivings.
McCracken also has a real ability to write about the mundane in a completely enchanting way. The Cape Cod town her characters inhabit emanates a kind of quiet and subtle magic, inviting you into the story with lovely details about its various ongoings. This was just such a wonderfully written book overall, with many quotable parts, and lots of wisdom.
I have mixed feelings about the ending.
I really enjoyed seeing the progression of Peggy's and James's friendship, and I really felt for Peggy the whole time. Her longing seeps through the pages, and I could feel just how much she held herself back-- from love, from happiness, from life. She's a pretty tragic character, if you think about it. I have to admit, I was growing a bit frustrated that she wasn't doing much about her feelings, but it's understandable given the incredible age difference of the characters. However, I think it's a testament to Elizabeth McCracken's writing ability that I came to root for this odd couple, despite the taboos and moral misgivings.
McCracken also has a real ability to write about the mundane in a completely enchanting way. The Cape Cod town her characters inhabit emanates a kind of quiet and subtle magic, inviting you into the story with lovely details about its various ongoings. This was just such a wonderfully written book overall, with many quotable parts, and lots of wisdom.
I have mixed feelings about the ending.
Spoiler
On one hand, I find it entirely appropriate and am satisfied with how things ended up. On the other hand, it was frustrating too, because I wanted Peggy to come away from the experience wanting more of out life and seeking her own happiness, instead of essentially living, existing, on the memories left.eemanbeck's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
grafe_'s review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
alspears's review against another edition
4.0
I was kind of trepidatious about this book since it was labeled "A Romance." I think I'd call it more of a tragic, romantic book, rather than a romance in the sense of what we might think in today's times.
It's a hard book to describe, in that, in strict plot summation, there are some themes which might sound offputting initially; however, in the context of the book they are more sweet, or bittersweet.
I enjoyed this much more than I expected, and would recommend it. The narrator might come off as a little too knowing at the beginning, but by the middle and end of the story, it's clearer why she knows so much.
It's a hard book to describe, in that, in strict plot summation, there are some themes which might sound offputting initially; however, in the context of the book they are more sweet, or bittersweet.
I enjoyed this much more than I expected, and would recommend it. The narrator might come off as a little too knowing at the beginning, but by the middle and end of the story, it's clearer why she knows so much.
charitygholland's review against another edition
4.0
This book seems so close to the history of Robert Wadlow. https://g.co/kgs/vU771E