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anniewill's review against another edition
3.0
I guess I might give this 3 1/4-1/2 stars, if that was an option.
I spent the first half to two- thirds of the novel irritated with the style of writing- annoyed with the flat, dry tone that lacked a lot of detail, which I typically enjoy. Throughout the entire novel I really disliked all the main and minor characters. Yet despite my irritation with the tone and annoyance with the characters, I still found myself sucked into the story and completely invested in the outcome.
I spent the first half to two- thirds of the novel irritated with the style of writing- annoyed with the flat, dry tone that lacked a lot of detail, which I typically enjoy. Throughout the entire novel I really disliked all the main and minor characters. Yet despite my irritation with the tone and annoyance with the characters, I still found myself sucked into the story and completely invested in the outcome.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
3.0
A sly, well-constructed novel that sneaks up on you with its subtly dark heart. Deceptively ordinary plot: It’s 1981 & a floundering young woman retreats to her parents’ Sierra cabin to finish her long overdue dissertation. Welcoming distractions, she allows herself to be swept into the lives of the locals, including some poor-decision affairs. We watch her willingly ignore her moral compass & embrace driftlessness--even when it’s clearly leading her off a cliff. A parable for Reagan’s America, maybe? An absorbing read, a little heavy on the manzanitas and spruce for my taste.
the_old_gray_cat's review against another edition
5.0
A PhD candidate struggles to finish her dissertation about the economic issues of art pricing, and she decides to stay at her parents' remote and rugged cabin in the mountains. She becomes rooted in the tiny mountain community, and it becomes clear that she has gone off course.
In this review, I am being careful not to reveal too much about this wonderful book. I found it so absorbing; reading it was like running a fever and having vivid dreams. Huneven is so good at writing realistic characters in all too believable dilemmas. Sometimes a person can feel like walking away from what they have built over years; we can fall so easily into obsessions which can mark us for the rest of our lives. Huneven is so good at writing the emotional messiness of human existence.
In this review, I am being careful not to reveal too much about this wonderful book. I found it so absorbing; reading it was like running a fever and having vivid dreams. Huneven is so good at writing realistic characters in all too believable dilemmas. Sometimes a person can feel like walking away from what they have built over years; we can fall so easily into obsessions which can mark us for the rest of our lives. Huneven is so good at writing the emotional messiness of human existence.
nixieknox's review against another edition
3.0
A solid read. The author totally captured the self-absorption of the post-college years. The slow fade from one man to another made it all the more realistic - you don't always get the kind of closure you hope for.
michellekmartin's review against another edition
4.0
After reading (and loving) her 2022 release, SEARCH, I read this book. This backlist novel equally delighted me. In it, Cress is stuck at the tail end of her dissertation. So she moves to the mountains to her family's cabin in a community of other mountain dwellers. She hopes to find the peace and quiet she needs to finish her dissertation and decide what will come next for her.
She quickly becomes entangled in messy love affairs and the day-to-day goings on in the community. The story progresses as she carries on a relationship with Quinn.
I loved this novel, and it really reminded me of two other favorites: WRITERS & LOVERS by Lily King and EARLY MORNING RISER by Katherine Heiny. So if you also enjoyed those two, I think you'll enjoy this one, too.
She quickly becomes entangled in messy love affairs and the day-to-day goings on in the community. The story progresses as she carries on a relationship with Quinn.
I loved this novel, and it really reminded me of two other favorites: WRITERS & LOVERS by Lily King and EARLY MORNING RISER by Katherine Heiny. So if you also enjoyed those two, I think you'll enjoy this one, too.
whatsbookinjenni's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This kind of lost the plot a bit towards the end, but the vibes were pretty solid for the first 2/3 of the book I would say--definitely makes me want to read some of Huneven's other work
melissakuzma's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible. I also loved Michelle Huneven's last novel, Blame, so I was very excited for this one. However, it got off to such a slow start that I almost gave up on it. But thanks to the good reviews here and my faith in the author, I kept going and I'm so glad I did. I came to genuinely care about these characters and what happened to them in a way that very, very few writers can make you do. Even when they (the characters) are being total idiots! The ending of this book was devastating and I doubt I will forget it any time soon.
meganriley's review against another edition
4.0
For the first 100 or so pages, I didn't think the book or the characters were that relatable. But the author has a beautiful way of writing and I liked the episodic style of the plot, so I continued to read and discovered that the main character, Cress, is more relatable than I imagined. It has a heartbreaking ending but given the plot and the circumstances, I'm glad it ended this way as opposed to some alternatives.
It's a quick read, too--I finished in about 3 days.
It's a quick read, too--I finished in about 3 days.
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
Felt very much like Anna Quindlen's Still Life With Bread Crumbs, written with a younger protagonist. I didn't quite buy Cress as a character, but this would be a solid vacation read.
abigaillhuff's review against another edition
3.0
I have no argument for the writing. It was differently a well written book and the author kept the story moving.
The problem I have with the book is the characters. Do people like this actually exist? I mean come on I am 28 and believe me my life has not always been the course I have set but I really wanted to shout OUT LOUD for everyone in the book to move on.
The list of things that characters did in this book that I couldn't get over:
1. Hooking up with a married man for literally years.
2. Cheating on a wife for years
3. Leaving the wife and then going back to her and continuing to cheat.
4. Saying you will marry a married man.
5. Sliding into a depression because the married man decided he wanted to stay married.
6. Dumping a man because he was cheating on you then continue to have sex with him.
7. Lusting over a married man then getting together with his married brother.
8. Continuing to be unhappy because it was the only thing you knew.
The problem I have with the book is the characters. Do people like this actually exist? I mean come on I am 28 and believe me my life has not always been the course I have set but I really wanted to shout OUT LOUD for everyone in the book to move on.
The list of things that characters did in this book that I couldn't get over:
1. Hooking up with a married man for literally years.
2. Cheating on a wife for years
3. Leaving the wife and then going back to her and continuing to cheat.
4. Saying you will marry a married man.
5. Sliding into a depression because the married man decided he wanted to stay married.
6. Dumping a man because he was cheating on you then continue to have sex with him.
7. Lusting over a married man then getting together with his married brother.
8. Continuing to be unhappy because it was the only thing you knew.