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cmasson17's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
booksuperpower's review against another edition
3.0
Girls: A Novel by Frederick Busch is a 2011 Ballantine publication.
This is an older novel, which was recommended to me from a book group I decided to join.
The synopsis sounded different, but promising-
While the book is absorbing in many ways, the focus is mostly centered on Jack and Fanny’s relationship and grief and less on the missing girls for the most part. The last quarter of the book does begin to concentrate on that thread more, but the relationship issues are still overpowering.
As the story progresses, it becomes darker and very disturbing. I found some of the subject matter and thought processes of the main characters very concerning.
Jack and Fanny lost their only child and are trying unsuccessfully to hold their marriage together. Along the way, Jack gets sucked into the disappearance of a teenage girl from a neighboring town. He is asked to help the girl’s family cope with the grief, but he also decides to do a little investigating on his own.
The deep winter climate adds a more sinister and bleak atmosphere to a story that is already pretty gloomy. The mood never lifts, even once the questions are answered.
The personal dramas was drawn out far longer than it should have been which compromised the level of suspense, and the subdued tone may have backfired a little in this case.
Despite that, I still felt exhausted by the time I got to the end of the book. The slow pacing, the agonizingly slow trickle of information, and the desolate note the story ended on left me feeling somber and a little disappointed at some of the personal developments.
The writing is jarring, almost disorganized, if that makes any sense, and took me out the story at times.
I can see why this book would make a good book club read, however, as there are quite a few conflicting characterizations and actions that are slightly controversial and could spark a little healthy debate or conversation, which is the redeeming quality of this book, and is the reason for bumping my rating up a notch.
2.5 stars
This is an older novel, which was recommended to me from a book group I decided to join.
The synopsis sounded different, but promising-
While the book is absorbing in many ways, the focus is mostly centered on Jack and Fanny’s relationship and grief and less on the missing girls for the most part. The last quarter of the book does begin to concentrate on that thread more, but the relationship issues are still overpowering.
As the story progresses, it becomes darker and very disturbing. I found some of the subject matter and thought processes of the main characters very concerning.
Jack and Fanny lost their only child and are trying unsuccessfully to hold their marriage together. Along the way, Jack gets sucked into the disappearance of a teenage girl from a neighboring town. He is asked to help the girl’s family cope with the grief, but he also decides to do a little investigating on his own.
The deep winter climate adds a more sinister and bleak atmosphere to a story that is already pretty gloomy. The mood never lifts, even once the questions are answered.
The personal dramas was drawn out far longer than it should have been which compromised the level of suspense, and the subdued tone may have backfired a little in this case.
Despite that, I still felt exhausted by the time I got to the end of the book. The slow pacing, the agonizingly slow trickle of information, and the desolate note the story ended on left me feeling somber and a little disappointed at some of the personal developments.
The writing is jarring, almost disorganized, if that makes any sense, and took me out the story at times.
I can see why this book would make a good book club read, however, as there are quite a few conflicting characterizations and actions that are slightly controversial and could spark a little healthy debate or conversation, which is the redeeming quality of this book, and is the reason for bumping my rating up a notch.
2.5 stars
flogigyahoo's review against another edition
5.0
For years I have seen Frederick Busch books on bookstore and library shelves and never thought to read him. So this novel, picked up by chance from my daughter's extensive book collection, came as a pleasant surprise despite its being on 2 tough subjects: the death of a baby daughter and the disappearance of a young girl. Busch is a smart, feeling writer. His protagonist, a campus cop at a NY state college, is a smart feeling man, a father who has lost his baby daughter and as a result his wife. He is asked by the college psychiatrist to do some checking up on the disappearance of a 14 year old girl which he tries to do while being campus cop. A very moving double mystery. Frederick Busch is a fine writer, the dialog is original, the characters true. An excellent novel.
brucemcguffin's review
2.0
I liked it, but I probably won't read another. As a mystery it's not too puzzling. The author flagged whodunnit well before the protagonist figured it out. The character was interesting up to a point. By the end I kind of had him figured out too. He's not that different from the good but broken man with a dark past in a lot of other books. Maybe better written than most. I think some of the books appeal was that in my youth I was one of those simple but good-hearted townies portrayed in the book (different college, but not too far from this one). OK, we weren't quite so rural.
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