Reviews

The House on Coliseum Street by Shirley Ann Grau

deecreatenola's review against another edition

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3.0

I was encouraged to read this by a writing workshop leader for all the sentient details the author includes. I did enjoy that. You can feel, see, smell, and taste the settings. Living in New Orleans, I knew the places described and it was very real and intimate.

As a reader, I liked the first half to three quarters of the book, although the main character seems a bit distant from the reader (likely by design). I didn't necessarily like her or empathize with her, but I enjoyed her story.

Towards the end, the story takes an unexpected path, something that definitely makes it "literary fiction" rather than romance or just plain fiction. I get that, but that doesn't mean it was satisfying to me. I didn't want everything tied in a bow or neatly finished, but I also wasn't comfortable with where it went.

I did enjoy the disfunctionality of the family. That felt very real.

lacykells's review against another edition

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

zelma's review against another edition

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3.0

Beautifully written story set in 1950s New Orleans. The prose was gorgeous and I felt like I was sitting in a lush garden throughout the book. Very evocative plot and setting. My only major complaint was not relating to the protagonist. I just felt like she was so distant throughout the book. This was purposeful but it still took away from my reading as I want to understand her inner life a bit more.
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