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lori_reads_everything's review
4.0
I'll admit, I was a bit confused while reading this book that more of the subject matter wasn't about Gwen's medical condition, as the title and synopsis had implied. However, I also really really enjoyed this book and how it followed this family through crises and healing. It was beautifully written, and I felt it was very realistic in how the author described the many ways people curate what their family sees - and what they keep private.
settingshadow's review against another edition
4.0
An extremely engaging read about the defenses that we have to protect us when dealing with others. It is ultimately about each person's condition -- the bits of them that keep them from being completely fulfilled and the fundamental weaknesses that define personalities.
Simultaneous to the extremely moving emotional story is an extremely well-researched scientific one. In my career I have met several girls & women with Turner's syndrome & every bit of Gwen's story rang true. Similarly, I have met several scientists and doctors & the personalities of Billy and Frank and the details of their professional lives down to the minutia was done sincerely. Each character is well-rounded, likeable, flawed and ultimately believable, which is the true strength of the novel.
Simultaneous to the extremely moving emotional story is an extremely well-researched scientific one. In my career I have met several girls & women with Turner's syndrome & every bit of Gwen's story rang true. Similarly, I have met several scientists and doctors & the personalities of Billy and Frank and the details of their professional lives down to the minutia was done sincerely. Each character is well-rounded, likeable, flawed and ultimately believable, which is the true strength of the novel.
introvertedacademician's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This book was in conclusion quite a good family drama book. On the other hand, from the title, I expected something else. When I picked this book I believed I would mostly read about Gwen and her life with her condition from her perspective. How she learned about it and how she managed her diagnosis through the years. I didn't expect this book to be focused so much on other family members. It was a book about a family with one member having a medical condition. Not a book about a person with a medical condition and her family.
llynn66's review
3.0
The Condition is my first experience with Jennifer Haigh. I came very close to reading Mrs. Kimble last year, but a friend told me she was not as impressed with that title as she had anticipated. Based on The Condition, I will now probably put her other titles back on my reading list.
Although I did not find this book quite as moving as some of the readers who have posted very positive reviews, it was certainly satisfying and rather well written "family drama/soap opera" fiction. The members of the McKotch family are dysfunctional satellites revolving around Gwen, the daughter who was born with Turner's Syndrome -- a condition that prevented her from ever going through puberty and acquiring the physical characteristics of an adult woman. This rare medical condition freezes Gwen in time physically and traps her in a prepubescent body. Slowly and painfully, however, Gwen finds the strength to develop in other ways. Conversely, the rest of the family is frozen psychologically and trapped by various memories and conditions of their past.
The New England setting...so often a metaphor for uptight and upright behavior is apt. The story proceeds in an orderly form and the reader's questions are neatly resolved at the end. I generally prefer a story that is messier and more opaque. But, from time to time I am in the mood for an entertaining melodrama. The solid writing kept me interested in the trials and tribulations of the McKotches.
Although I did not find this book quite as moving as some of the readers who have posted very positive reviews, it was certainly satisfying and rather well written "family drama/soap opera" fiction. The members of the McKotch family are dysfunctional satellites revolving around Gwen, the daughter who was born with Turner's Syndrome -- a condition that prevented her from ever going through puberty and acquiring the physical characteristics of an adult woman. This rare medical condition freezes Gwen in time physically and traps her in a prepubescent body. Slowly and painfully, however, Gwen finds the strength to develop in other ways. Conversely, the rest of the family is frozen psychologically and trapped by various memories and conditions of their past.
The New England setting...so often a metaphor for uptight and upright behavior is apt. The story proceeds in an orderly form and the reader's questions are neatly resolved at the end. I generally prefer a story that is messier and more opaque. But, from time to time I am in the mood for an entertaining melodrama. The solid writing kept me interested in the trials and tribulations of the McKotches.
gglazer's review
3.0
For most of this book, I was thinking "mediocre at best," for many of the same reasons I wasn't crazy about Mrs. Kimble. A favorable review had talked me into this book, and I was regretting it... I felt like Haigh just repeats herself over and over, showing instead of telling, and it was really bugging me. (The fact that I was reading this during a lengthy and frustrating delay in the Boston airport and throughout multiple flights probably didn't do it any favors, granted.)
Until the end. I loved, loved, loved the ending of this book, which obviously I am not going to describe in much detail. But my hat goes off to Haigh now. The last 10 pages were worth the first few hundred.
Until the end. I loved, loved, loved the ending of this book, which obviously I am not going to describe in much detail. But my hat goes off to Haigh now. The last 10 pages were worth the first few hundred.
larabobara's review
5.0
This book involves a young girl (and her family) who is diagnosed with a condition called Turner’s Syndrome, which prevents her body from ever maturing into or beyond puberty. When I started reading this, I did so with the notion that girl with Turner’s was the center of the book, and that the rest of the story focused on how her family dealt with (or failed to deal with) her condition.
In some ways, I was right. In actuality, though, the book is not really about the condition of Turner’s Syndrome so much as it is about a condition that afflicts us all: the human condition. Some of the characters’ flaws and/or mistaken actions made me wince with discomfort, and their sense of regret went against my basic philosophy of life (which is pretty similar to Mike Damone’s advice in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, if you take out the “act like” part: “..Wherever you are, that’s the place to be. Isn’t this great?”). At the same time, though, these same flaws/mistaken actions/regrets were almost comforting in a weird way.
Haigh gives each character such depth that I truly felt like I knew them all by the time I finished reading, and although the book was laced with melancholy, it left me feeling warm and wishing there was more of it to read. I suppose I’ll have to settle for reading her previous books instead.
In some ways, I was right. In actuality, though, the book is not really about the condition of Turner’s Syndrome so much as it is about a condition that afflicts us all: the human condition. Some of the characters’ flaws and/or mistaken actions made me wince with discomfort, and their sense of regret went against my basic philosophy of life (which is pretty similar to Mike Damone’s advice in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, if you take out the “act like” part: “..Wherever you are, that’s the place to be. Isn’t this great?”). At the same time, though, these same flaws/mistaken actions/regrets were almost comforting in a weird way.
Haigh gives each character such depth that I truly felt like I knew them all by the time I finished reading, and although the book was laced with melancholy, it left me feeling warm and wishing there was more of it to read. I suppose I’ll have to settle for reading her previous books instead.
dannafs's review
3.0
I picked up The Condition immediately after finishing Faith, Jennifer Haigh's latest novel. Faith was one of the best books I've read in a while, and I wanted more of this author's unique style and brilliant characters. However, right away, I felt The Condition was not as readable and wonderful as Faith.
The story centers around another Massachusetts family with three children--2 boys and a girl. Each child and parent gets his or her own lengthy development, but Gwen, the daughter, seems to be the most central character. In some aspects, the players in The Condition are similar to those in Faith: a loving and overbearing mother, a more distant father, a wealthy and successful son. But in other ways, these two novels are entirely different.
I wasn't enthralled with the writing, I did not find rich descriptions or enticing protagonists. I have no favorite quotes. I finished this book because it was interesting enough and easy to read, but not because I was attached to the storyline. Nonetheless, I will say, I enjoyed the ending and how Haigh pulled things together.
The story centers around another Massachusetts family with three children--2 boys and a girl. Each child and parent gets his or her own lengthy development, but Gwen, the daughter, seems to be the most central character. In some aspects, the players in The Condition are similar to those in Faith: a loving and overbearing mother, a more distant father, a wealthy and successful son. But in other ways, these two novels are entirely different.
I wasn't enthralled with the writing, I did not find rich descriptions or enticing protagonists. I have no favorite quotes. I finished this book because it was interesting enough and easy to read, but not because I was attached to the storyline. Nonetheless, I will say, I enjoyed the ending and how Haigh pulled things together.
brookeygira's review
4.0
I really liked this story. The author is wonderful at creating imperfect characters that seem to find a way to come together in a perfect way. I'd like to read another book from this author.
booksandbosox's review
4.0
In the late 1970s, Gwen McKotch is diagnosed with Turner's Syndrome. This novel explores the impact her diagnosis has on all the members of her family in the years that follow.
Haigh is an exquisite writer. This book is so simple - very character-driven, not a whole lot of action happens throughout the novel. But the characters are beautiful. Haigh's prose is gorgeous and exquisitely executed. It's such a pleasure to read her novels. I felt deeply involved with the entire McKotch family and their drama. I really cared about what was going to happen to them. One reason I like Haigh so much is that, though there is little action, her books read much faster than normal character-driven novels. They are deeply engrossing and 400 pages fly by. I especially loved the ending of this one - everything came together perfectly and believably. Another excellent read from Haigh.
Haigh is an exquisite writer. This book is so simple - very character-driven, not a whole lot of action happens throughout the novel. But the characters are beautiful. Haigh's prose is gorgeous and exquisitely executed. It's such a pleasure to read her novels. I felt deeply involved with the entire McKotch family and their drama. I really cared about what was going to happen to them. One reason I like Haigh so much is that, though there is little action, her books read much faster than normal character-driven novels. They are deeply engrossing and 400 pages fly by. I especially loved the ending of this one - everything came together perfectly and believably. Another excellent read from Haigh.
penser's review
4.0
3.99 on my nook!
I love how Haigh writes her characters. She gives them such rich personalities. This is really a story about a family that learns about all of their own conditions, not just Gwen. She may have the medical condition, but the rest have their own conditions that keep them from being able to be happy and live their lives well. I loved mrs Kimble and I really liked this one. I look forward to more by her.
I love how Haigh writes her characters. She gives them such rich personalities. This is really a story about a family that learns about all of their own conditions, not just Gwen. She may have the medical condition, but the rest have their own conditions that keep them from being able to be happy and live their lives well. I loved mrs Kimble and I really liked this one. I look forward to more by her.