Reviews

Absolution by Alice McDermott

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npar6790's review

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Listened to about 1/3 of the book and it just didn't grab my attention.

ouireads's review

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reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I can't put my finger on why I loved this book so much. I have never read Alice McDermott before, but I feel like her writing was exquisite. It was a quiet novel, which I love. And I kept waiting for a "big reveal" and there really wasn't one, but in a way, there were a few, but they were more quiet "big reveals." It was just right up my alley is all I can say, but it was beautiful.

goffjennam's review

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

piranha54's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

georgiahi's review

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I am struggling to decide what to say about this book. I really enjoyed reading it but I am not sure what I am supposed to take away. It focuses on privileged white women in Vietnam and is both generous to them and has you constantly worried about their behavior. The title suggests a bigger moral. But this book is beautiful and uneasy, but leaves you wondering if you’re missed something. Perhaps that is part of the point.