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bella_zaga's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the beginning. It gave me the creeps but it felt like such an immersive world and I love the author’s writing style. The last 70 pages felt a bit blurry but I loved how it felt like an exploration of lot of different kinds of love between the three women.
blueberrydahlia's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mschrock8's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite authors, from way back in LOLA days. Eager to dive into her latest.
Caroline Leavitt has done it again. Sucked me in with a sad but real story. Love, family, forgiveness, heartbreak. All found here.
Caroline Leavitt has done it again. Sucked me in with a sad but real story. Love, family, forgiveness, heartbreak. All found here.
lamom77's review against another edition
3.0
This is more like 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the first 2/3s of this book, I appreciated how the author used the different POVs to tell the current story as well as the backgrounds of the characters. It was after the
e_clair301's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
3.0
lindamooreauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Carolyn Leavitt creates characters that live on in your imagination. I read this novel sometime ago and there are parts of it that haunt me especially Lucy. A memorable story of a chaotic time.
mmc6661's review against another edition
4.0
Cruel Beautiful World takes place in the late 60's in a time of changes. It begins with Lucy and Charlotte orphans being raised by Iris an older woman who stepped forward to raise them. We are quickly pulled into the stories and lives of these three women who as close as they are know so little of each other. Lucy the youngest soon leaves home leaving only a note saying not to worry. What follows is a heartbreaking story about family, coming of age and loss. Leavitt weaves a very human story with deep characters that stay with you long after the last page.
bookish_blonde's review against another edition
5.0
What an emotional read. The characters were so real and close to my heart. I went in thinking this was more of a thriller about cults for what ever reason.. its not it is a contemporary about family and sisters. Great read. Highly recommend!
marceelf's review against another edition
5.0
http://www.anurseandabook.com/2017/01/cruel-beautiful-world-by-caroline-levitt.html
What a book. I've always loved Caroline Leavitt, her "Girls In Trouble" was one of my favorites, but this new book is by far her best. She writes about complicated relationships in all of her books, but this story of two sisters was especially melancholy.
Lucy is seduced by her teacher, she runs away seeking the excitement of a grown up life. But she finds that the life she has run to is actually much more confining than her life with her sister and their loving guardian.
Charlotte is left behind, trying to follow the rules, trying to pursue her dreams of being a vet and being the remaining "good" child. She is sick with worry, but also a little angry with Lucy's immaturity and the selfishness of leaving a loving family and not making any contact.
As Lucy begins to grow tired of her solitary life, she branches out, making secret friends, working a secret job, and beginning to realize that the life she left behind may not have been so bad after all. But her boyfriend is becoming increasingly paranoid, and unhinge - by the time Lucy reaches out to her sister, tragedy strikes.
The story is as much Charlotte's as Lucy's. The bond between sisters is a weird thing - it's a twisty relationship that thrives in chaos as much as in peace. Everything your sister does has a weird ripple effect on you, even when they aren't near you.
Definitely one of Leavitt's best - and I encourage everyone to read all of her books.
What a book. I've always loved Caroline Leavitt, her "Girls In Trouble" was one of my favorites, but this new book is by far her best. She writes about complicated relationships in all of her books, but this story of two sisters was especially melancholy.
Lucy is seduced by her teacher, she runs away seeking the excitement of a grown up life. But she finds that the life she has run to is actually much more confining than her life with her sister and their loving guardian.
Charlotte is left behind, trying to follow the rules, trying to pursue her dreams of being a vet and being the remaining "good" child. She is sick with worry, but also a little angry with Lucy's immaturity and the selfishness of leaving a loving family and not making any contact.
As Lucy begins to grow tired of her solitary life, she branches out, making secret friends, working a secret job, and beginning to realize that the life she left behind may not have been so bad after all. But her boyfriend is becoming increasingly paranoid, and unhinge - by the time Lucy reaches out to her sister, tragedy strikes.
The story is as much Charlotte's as Lucy's. The bond between sisters is a weird thing - it's a twisty relationship that thrives in chaos as much as in peace. Everything your sister does has a weird ripple effect on you, even when they aren't near you.
Definitely one of Leavitt's best - and I encourage everyone to read all of her books.
machadofam8's review against another edition
3.0
I started reading this and before I knew it I was 3/4 of the way through. Then it felt apart a bit towards the end. All in all a good read.