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avesmaria's review
3.0
Who would have thought that a book about a six-month period of a widowed octogenarian’s life where nothing of import happens could be fascinating or enjoyable to read? Well, folks, it was. O’Nan got into the head of his main character, Emily Maxwell, with real success. His writing carries along a story of pretty much nothing and makes high drama of an old woman contemplating the end of her life and her imperfect relationships with her kids and grandkids. Exceeded my expectations!
katie_killebrew's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sophie883's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
libwinnie's review
5.0
O'Nan's gift for portraying the internal lives of characters is unsurpassable. Widowed, navigating the world as an older adult whose way of viewing life belongs to the past, Emily is righteous, stubborn and in many ways unlikeable, yet she is seen through such tender eyes that the reader can't help but fall in love with this story.
alexiamon's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cassandralovesfeta's review
3.0
Because of Last Night at The Lobster I’ll read anything this author writes. He’s a literary stud. Emily, Alone doesn’t disappoint. Nice little novel that’s worth your time.
jbarr5's review
4.0
Emily Alone by Stewart ONan
All she has left is her friend and neither of them drive well but they do go out once a week.
Emily's friend, Arlene has an emergency with her medical illness and is hospitalized....they are soon back to their normal schedules upon her release,
She hires others to help deep clean the house for the Christmas holidays as the kids will come....
Nothing goes as planned and we hear how she survives all that.....liked this book a lot as it's about a woman
roughly my age and I know I'll be dealing with some of the things she is dealing with soon. Liked how she handled not getting
thank you letters from grandkids when she'd send money. I've dealt with that myself.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
All she has left is her friend and neither of them drive well but they do go out once a week.
Emily's friend, Arlene has an emergency with her medical illness and is hospitalized....they are soon back to their normal schedules upon her release,
She hires others to help deep clean the house for the Christmas holidays as the kids will come....
Nothing goes as planned and we hear how she survives all that.....liked this book a lot as it's about a woman
roughly my age and I know I'll be dealing with some of the things she is dealing with soon. Liked how she handled not getting
thank you letters from grandkids when she'd send money. I've dealt with that myself.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
spinstah's review
5.0
This was a really wonderful book. Like "Songs for the Missing," there's not necessarily a whole lot that happens, plot-wise. We're essentially observing a few months in the life of Emily, a widow, as she goes through some big changes. O'Nan's prose is lovely, and I found the characters compelling. He does skip around in time a bit without necessarily making a big announcement about it, so every so often I was a little surprised buy that, but I don't think it detracted from the book at all. This was really just a wonderful read. It's sort of a sequel - his prior book, "Wish You Were Here," has some of the same characters - but you don't need to have read that first to enjoy this. (I haven't read it yet!)
The NPR review about this book is titled "The Joy of the Mundane," which is a good encapsulation of what you'll get.
The NPR review about this book is titled "The Joy of the Mundane," which is a good encapsulation of what you'll get.
carolpk's review
4.0
I'm a big fan of Stewart O'Nan and have read several of his books. They're not easy reading even though most are not overly long, coming in at a publisher's dream of 300+ pages. O'Nan's stories are slow and complex with a lot of room for perspective of the reader.
Emily Alone left me feeling drained and a bit sad. It's never quite clear, at least to me, exactly what age Emily is. I'd like to think she is way older than me but I don't think that's true. This perhaps is the reason for the emotional pull I felt throughout the story. Emily Alone...a woman struggling with aging and feelings of being all alone and on her own. Children scattered, an empty house, husband gone, alone. Independence is hers even if she doesn't want it. This new life is a struggle and though I know Emily will make it; she still has spunk; I can't help but feel sad too. I think it hits too close to home. I think of my mother who in her 80's lost my dad and found herself in much the same place as Emily. Though I tried to understand her loss, reading Emily's story makes me wonder if I somehow failed to see its complexity. My mother and Emily put up a good front. Emily Alone also confronts some of my own demons, the process of aging and issues that I may have to deal with in my future. Alone, what will that mean to me?
Slow paced, Emily Alone, was thought provoking, humorous at times and a good read. I have not read the book that this was a sequel to, "Wish You Were Here". I think I'll add that to my list. I don't think you can go wrong with O'Nan. Come prepared to think.
Emily Alone left me feeling drained and a bit sad. It's never quite clear, at least to me, exactly what age Emily is. I'd like to think she is way older than me but I don't think that's true. This perhaps is the reason for the emotional pull I felt throughout the story. Emily Alone...a woman struggling with aging and feelings of being all alone and on her own. Children scattered, an empty house, husband gone, alone. Independence is hers even if she doesn't want it. This new life is a struggle and though I know Emily will make it; she still has spunk; I can't help but feel sad too. I think it hits too close to home. I think of my mother who in her 80's lost my dad and found herself in much the same place as Emily. Though I tried to understand her loss, reading Emily's story makes me wonder if I somehow failed to see its complexity. My mother and Emily put up a good front. Emily Alone also confronts some of my own demons, the process of aging and issues that I may have to deal with in my future. Alone, what will that mean to me?
Slow paced, Emily Alone, was thought provoking, humorous at times and a good read. I have not read the book that this was a sequel to, "Wish You Were Here". I think I'll add that to my list. I don't think you can go wrong with O'Nan. Come prepared to think.
amycrea's review
5.0
O'Nan is the master of taking a quiet story where not much happens, and making it such a rich reading experience. It reminded me of his earlier masterpiece, Last Night at the Lobster. Wonderful.