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amn028's review against another edition
3.0
The writing of this book pulled me into the story right away, and kept me interested until the end. The way each character deals with the loss and grief was very interesting. A good read in all ways
wendoxford's review against another edition
2.0
Rather a case of fur coat and no knickers! Promising so much more than it delivered. A week following the death of the character who glues family together could have been a fantastic slice of life in this narrow focus but I found all the characters lacking. One dimensional and too reliant on a narrative pulling them along.
syren96's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free as a Goodreads Firstread in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this story of a family dealing with a sudden death, and the way that this magnifies the relationships between the members. I was definitely not a fan of Laverne, though I did understand to some extent how she would become the person she was in the book. Every time the story focused on her though I felt a little bit angry for the way that she treats everyone around her.
This was an interesting character study, which reminded me somewhat of Anne Enright's The Gathering. I can see that some people may not be happy with the lack of a clean wrap-up in the ending.
I enjoyed this story of a family dealing with a sudden death, and the way that this magnifies the relationships between the members. I was definitely not a fan of Laverne, though I did understand to some extent how she would become the person she was in the book. Every time the story focused on her though I felt a little bit angry for the way that she treats everyone around her.
This was an interesting character study, which reminded me somewhat of Anne Enright's The Gathering. I can see that some people may not be happy with the lack of a clean wrap-up in the ending.
malvina4321's review against another edition
2.0
While I thought that this book had some good elements, ultimately I was disappointed.
I've been wanting to read more Canadian authors lately so I was pleased when I was sent this book for review. It looked like a short literary novel that would pack some punch.
The story is about Lily's death, and her husband and her sister Laverne dealing with the death.
I thought that the descriptions of East Coast Canada were lovely and I flew threw them. What I wasn't impressed with were the three main characters (even though Lily died early in the novel, she is still an important character). The characters were obnoxious and incredibly shallow. I expected more depth and understanding of the characters but was left with reading about shells in place of human beings. Not very interesting to me.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I've been wanting to read more Canadian authors lately so I was pleased when I was sent this book for review. It looked like a short literary novel that would pack some punch.
The story is about Lily's death, and her husband and her sister Laverne dealing with the death.
I thought that the descriptions of East Coast Canada were lovely and I flew threw them. What I wasn't impressed with were the three main characters (even though Lily died early in the novel, she is still an important character). The characters were obnoxious and incredibly shallow. I expected more depth and understanding of the characters but was left with reading about shells in place of human beings. Not very interesting to me.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
eileen9311's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written, this novel captures the shock waves which ripple through a family stunned by a sudden death. What a keen eye Joan Clark has for the subtleties of human interaction!
‘‘Not that Hal stops for a chat exactly, because only one of them is talking, and it sure isn’t Corrie. He doesn’t seem to notice that by taking both sides of the conversation he carries on talking a long time by himself’.
Siblings are thrown together as they must deal with their grief and also with the practical demands of such a time. Regrets and reminiscences, long buried resentments and rivalries surface during the telling of this poignant tale. And I was struck repeatedly by how well the novel is imbued with a sense of place! In a small town in New Brunswick, the roots run deep and peoples’ memories go way back. The author pierces the reader’s heart at times.
’Hearing the old man howling over the dead body of his wife………… is a howl the old woman first heard on her grandfather’s farm. Eleven years old she was and lying in her spool bed when she heard the wolf howling for his mate, the mate her grandfather shot after she had been caught in a leg-hold trap near the sheep pen.’
Rich, understated and powerful!
‘‘Not that Hal stops for a chat exactly, because only one of them is talking, and it sure isn’t Corrie. He doesn’t seem to notice that by taking both sides of the conversation he carries on talking a long time by himself’.
Siblings are thrown together as they must deal with their grief and also with the practical demands of such a time. Regrets and reminiscences, long buried resentments and rivalries surface during the telling of this poignant tale. And I was struck repeatedly by how well the novel is imbued with a sense of place! In a small town in New Brunswick, the roots run deep and peoples’ memories go way back. The author pierces the reader’s heart at times.
’Hearing the old man howling over the dead body of his wife………… is a howl the old woman first heard on her grandfather’s farm. Eleven years old she was and lying in her spool bed when she heard the wolf howling for his mate, the mate her grandfather shot after she had been caught in a leg-hold trap near the sheep pen.’
Rich, understated and powerful!
marysues's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nanajo's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the plot of the book, the final hours of a woman's life and the effect of her death on her loved ones and community, very thought provoking. My difficulty was that I was challenged making a connection with some of the characters. I presume the author felt she had explored the relationships thoroughly but I found holes that detracted from the novel.
jsimple's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
penny_literaryhoarders's review
It's a firm 3.5 stars. It was good, but it was not excellent - you know? Kind of dry overall, with some pockets of loveliness. A quiet, simplistically written story about the aftermath of a beloved, yet kind of distant wife, mother and sister. The character of Laverne - the sister to Lily - was a frustrating, annoying, sad, spiteful woman that left a rotten taste in your mouth. A good read, but not a splendid one as was anticipated from the author of "Latitudes of Melt".
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