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kstarr321's review against another edition
1.0
The story felt weak. I continued reading just so I could find out about the long-kept family secret that everyone alluded to but were never willing to talk about. Felt annoyed when I finished it. Expected better from the author of The Orphan Train.
cemoses's review against another edition
4.0
The book is a little hard to understand at first. The narration of the book alternates between Cassie and her grandmother Clyde.
In the end I think the book is more about Clyde than Cassie. In fact I was somewhat disappointed that the book did not end up resolving her issues.
However, I found the story about Clyde interesting.
In the end I think the book is more about Clyde than Cassie. In fact I was somewhat disappointed that the book did not end up resolving her issues.
However, I found the story about Clyde interesting.
mschrock8's review against another edition
4.0
"The feel of a new book makes my heart drop."
"The Waltons" reference.
I enjoyed this family story.
"The Waltons" reference.
I enjoyed this family story.
juliardye's review against another edition
3.0
Decent chick-lit page turner (got a free kindle download). Didn't change my life but I enjoyed this quick read.
mawalker1962's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely page-turner about the enduring power of family secrets set in my lush home territory of East Tennessee. Cassie Simon's family must have been chipped from the same stone as my paternal side.
annhenry's review against another edition
4.0
Part of me wants to give it three stars but the first 3\4 of the book kept engrossed. The last part where she meets her cousin N call the secrets come tumbling out lacked something. Still a good read by a compelling author.
hmbb99's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure how to rate this book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but there was so much missing from the story. It seemed as though this was a starter book that wasn't totally fleshed out. There were lots of details mentioned that were not relevant to the plot but seemed like they could have been if the book was written differently. It also ended abruptly. It was somewhat resolved but it could have concluded with more insights into the newly developing family relationships of Clyde and Cassie. It is almost like this was a book or book series idea that was thrown together unfinished for publication which is a shame because it did keep me interested and it had a good premise of rebuilding a broken family. Christina Baker Kline is a good writer but this was not one of her best efforts.
joyejenkins's review against another edition
2.0
Quotes:
"I should have known that death doesn’t end anything, no, not even when you want it to. And memory is funny; it doesn’t do what you tell it."
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"If you can take what you are, what you know, and use it to express what you feel, not what you think—and not in some obvious way, but in a way that’s yours alone—then you have something. Something real.”
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"There’s a way people have of living with lies when the truth is too painful to confront."
"Working with clay, I decided, was like being in a relationship: as you move with and against it, as it moves with and against you, you put part of yourself into it and it takes on part of you and supports you. That’s why you have to work quickly; you need to do it, as my teacher said, without thinking too much."
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"Bravery is something else entirely: a hardening, a defense. It has little to do with choice, with hope. It has little to do with desire."
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"I should have known that death doesn’t end anything, no, not even when you want it to. And memory is funny; it doesn’t do what you tell it."
==========
"If you can take what you are, what you know, and use it to express what you feel, not what you think—and not in some obvious way, but in a way that’s yours alone—then you have something. Something real.”
==========
"There’s a way people have of living with lies when the truth is too painful to confront."
"Working with clay, I decided, was like being in a relationship: as you move with and against it, as it moves with and against you, you put part of yourself into it and it takes on part of you and supports you. That’s why you have to work quickly; you need to do it, as my teacher said, without thinking too much."
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"Bravery is something else entirely: a hardening, a defense. It has little to do with choice, with hope. It has little to do with desire."
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dancearh's review against another edition
3.0
If the ending had been better, I would have given it a 4. It needed at least 2 more chapters.
lovetoread62's review against another edition
4.0
I really love the author's style. I was intrigued and really like how the story was presented. The main characters were very likeable, but I think the dysfunctional family could have been developed a bit more. There wasn't a twist, just a coming together of all the information. Not a lot of depth but it's her first book I believe. The ending felt a bit abrupt. I would definitely recommend this book to others because of the fact that it draws you in and gives you a sense of family and a bit of mystery.