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purplepierogi's review against another edition
4.0
I have wanted to read this book since 2016 when I heard a glowing NPR report on it, and now holy hell can I see why they ate it up! It’s very good writing! I personally liked the intertwined nature of different characters and their conflicts. For the first two-thirds I really enjoyed what seems like a nuanced take on many different actors affected by fracking, but towards the end it seemed like it mocked one side pretty heavily, which reminded me of the endless post-2016 let’s understand conservative rural America better NYT articles. which is funny because some reviewers found her too heavy handed in an anti fracking take, lol. still very good and would recommend
mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
Finished on a road trip to Cincinnati.
Listening length 14 3/4 hr
Listening length 14 3/4 hr
cassandralovesfeta's review against another edition
3.0
Great concept/idea but not very well executed so the agenda fell flat. Difficult to recommend.
geisttull's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting story. Lots of plot lines that all seemed to flow. Don't know if I liked the end.
smallafterall's review against another edition
4.0
I really wasn't sure I would like this one at the outset, but I trust my friend Megan, and knew from her review it was worth it to check it out. Rural Pennsylvania has always held interest for me, and will even more so beginning later this year. I am so impressed with Haigh's writing after reading this book. She ties together multiple characters and plots in a way that's not distracting or overwritten. I've read a lot of books lately that either try too hard or don't try hard enough to do some interesting things with style, tone, and structure. This one strikes the balance of readability and complexity that never know I'm looking for until I find it again. This is a book about fracking, yes, but it's mostly about all the very different characters involved in the industry and the town it affects. Haigh doesn't paint anyone as a hero or winner here: all are culpable in the effects brought on by the desire to find new ways to make a living from the land.
amycrea's review against another edition
5.0
I started thinking of a couple of quibbles, but overall, I tore through this one. And even though it's got a huge cast of characters, they're so well drawn that I had no trouble keeping track of them. This is my first Jennifer Haigh book, but definitely won't be my last.
nixieknox's review against another edition
4.0
So good. Just the right amount of science/social justice in the story to make it interesting. I felt for all the characters - Mack and Rhea especially. I wouldn't mind more of this town. I could have done with a little more closure - not closure, I guess, but justice (for Shelby, for some good for Herc) but other than that, spot on.
manaledi's review against another edition
3.0
I like books that try and address complex issues and questions through a range of perspectives that humanize the various opinions. Fracking in particular is relevant currently, which made it more accessible.