Scan barcode
shhh_imreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
latetotheparty's review against another edition
2.0
I kept waiting for this plot to "get good" but it was never terribly interesting. I felt that the ending was too neatly wrapped up.
milola's review against another edition
4.0
This is the fourth Bohjalian book I have read, and the first one I actually liked.
palliem's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy Chris Bohjalian's books, and this was no exception. I found the character of Terry hard to stomach in many ways, but the story itself was extremely compelling and I enjoyed the story's multiple narrators. Skeletons at the Feast and The Double Bind are still my favorite two Chris Bohjalian books, but this was definitely up there on the list.
wheatengator's review against another edition
3.0
A little better than three stars. I liked the characters. The middle of the book was strong but the beginning and ending is what brought it down to three stars.
dmahanty's review against another edition
3.0
Set in Vermont, this is the story of Terry and Laura Sheldon, whose twin daughters drowned in a flood. Two years later, Laura and Terry foster a ten year old African American boy. This is the story of trust, loss, grief and racial acceptance. Throughout the narrative, the reader uncovers information about the historical Buffalo Soldier of the Civil War. A little disappointed... was hoping to have the aspect of the Buffalo Soldiers more developed.
chaddah's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
stenaros's review against another edition
2.0
I loved the two other books I read by this author: Midwives and Trans-Sister Radio. I liked the way he took an out of mainstream topic (home birth, sex change operations/NPR) and wove that topic into a gripping narrative. This book I didn't love as much as the ones I read before, but I still found myself reading "just a little bit more."
Terry and Laura's twin daughters are killed in a flood. Two years later, they take in a foster child Alfred, an African American, who is not sure what he thinks of rural Vermont. The neighbors, a retired college professor and his wife, take an interest in Alfred and give him a book about the Buffalo soldiers. The other main character is Phoebe, who becomes romantically involved with Terry.
Though I really liked all the other characters, I didn't like Terry for the majority of the book. This made reading difficult as I couldn't figure out how in the world this story was going to end. There was a dramatic event at the end of the story that perhaps sold the ending to me, but it involved a bit too much coincidence for my tastes.
Bohjalian does not use quotation marks. This is incredibly annoying at times, because quotation marks weren't just invented because the printer wanted more work, they were actually needed. At times I couldn't tell who was talking and had to go back and reread. Overall, okay book.
Terry and Laura's twin daughters are killed in a flood. Two years later, they take in a foster child Alfred, an African American, who is not sure what he thinks of rural Vermont. The neighbors, a retired college professor and his wife, take an interest in Alfred and give him a book about the Buffalo soldiers. The other main character is Phoebe, who becomes romantically involved with Terry.
Though I really liked all the other characters, I didn't like Terry for the majority of the book. This made reading difficult as I couldn't figure out how in the world this story was going to end. There was a dramatic event at the end of the story that perhaps sold the ending to me, but it involved a bit too much coincidence for my tastes.
Bohjalian does not use quotation marks. This is incredibly annoying at times, because quotation marks weren't just invented because the printer wanted more work, they were actually needed. At times I couldn't tell who was talking and had to go back and reread. Overall, okay book.
laura_thereflectivebookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
A sad and interesting story about one boy's experience with foster care and the families who raise him.