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ashpanda88's review against another edition
4.0
Suspenseful mystery and redemptive tale of two friends who are torn apart by a terrible tragedy, and brought together by a similar tragedy years later. I thought the story was well-written and the characters rich with emotion.
lei15's review
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I appreciate the character development and all but I think that ml is dumb not confessing sooner and Silas like … and after 25 years he tries to amend his actions back then …
papakaii's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
whatsupelisabeth's review
5.0
At around 70% into this, I was consciously resisting the urge to abandon this book. An urge brought on by an ever-building sense of dread. I am mentioning this as a compliment to Franklin's storytelling skills. I don't think I have taken this type of emotional journey with a book since "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" (which is a comparison I never would have expected coming in).
Overall, this to me is a book about struggling individuals, trying their best with the cards they were dealt, and in the process inadvertently failing horribly to do right by each other. As they try again and again, a story unfolds.
Apart from the emotional quality, I did enjoy the slice-of-life Americana setting. There is a notable amount of endearing side characters that feel satisfyingly fleshed out.
I also enjoyed how the mystery gets uncovered throughout the story. There is one particularly pleasing twist in the narrative that was set up thoroughly and still managed to take me by surprise.
In the end, happy I made it through all 100% of Larry and 32's journey.
Overall, this to me is a book about struggling individuals, trying their best with the cards they were dealt, and in the process inadvertently failing horribly to do right by each other. As they try again and again, a story unfolds.
Apart from the emotional quality, I did enjoy the slice-of-life Americana setting. There is a notable amount of endearing side characters that feel satisfyingly fleshed out.
I also enjoyed how the mystery gets uncovered throughout the story. There is one particularly pleasing twist in the narrative that was set up thoroughly and still managed to take me by surprise.
In the end, happy I made it through all 100% of Larry and 32's journey.
holmstead's review
3.0
At my local library there is a section that highlights the staff's picks. As I perused the list, this title caught my eye. After reading the short review from the staff member, I decided to pick it up.
I think I was looking to find a gem to start the new year off, a little too much of an expectation. This was a sweet albeit slow read. Larry Ott is a character I may ponder from time to time. I think his backstory and troubling times are what touched me the most. Nothing else really grabbed me. So as I stated before, I had higher expectations...and minimal satisfaction, through no fault of the author or story. It just came into my hands at not the best opportune time.
So take this review with a grain of salt. One day it might find its way into someone's hands ready to receive and praise. :)
I think I was looking to find a gem to start the new year off, a little too much of an expectation. This was a sweet albeit slow read. Larry Ott is a character I may ponder from time to time. I think his backstory and troubling times are what touched me the most. Nothing else really grabbed me. So as I stated before, I had higher expectations...and minimal satisfaction, through no fault of the author or story. It just came into my hands at not the best opportune time.
So take this review with a grain of salt. One day it might find its way into someone's hands ready to receive and praise. :)
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
5.0
Exquisitely heartbreaking. I kept hoping that the author wouldn't break my heart at the end but then I realized he had broken it right out of the gate. These characters.... They were so real and complicated to me. What an amazing read.
debs4jc's review
4.0
I didn't expect this book to have a missing person, a dead body, and a shooting all within the first couple of chapters! I was reading it for book group, after all, and book group books generally don't have that much excitement. This book bucks the trend, however, since it also has a plot that centers as much on human relationships as it does on action. One of the main characters is Larry. Larry grew up in the small Mississippi town where the book is set, but hes now an outcast. When he was a teenager, he went out on a date with a girl. Who disappeared. No one can prove that Larry had anything to do with it, but his tendency to read horror novels and his quiet nature doom him to a live of solitude. The other major character is Silas. Silas is black and his family moved to Mississippi when he was a boy. Back then his race didn't win him many friends, but now he has returned and is the town's constable. And now there is another girl who is missing, and Silas is helping investigate her disappearance. Everyone else seems to think Larry may have had something to do with it. But Silas seems to know more about Larry than he is telling.
I and our group found this to be an intriguing read, and we enjoyed discussing it. As you can tell, it has a bit of a mystery to it, and it help keep the reader's interest as the secrets were revealed bit by bit. What really made it discuss-able was the treatment of the characters, which lead to us talking about what motivated each one. I highly recommend this to fans of thought provoking mysteries.
I and our group found this to be an intriguing read, and we enjoyed discussing it. As you can tell, it has a bit of a mystery to it, and it help keep the reader's interest as the secrets were revealed bit by bit. What really made it discuss-able was the treatment of the characters, which lead to us talking about what motivated each one. I highly recommend this to fans of thought provoking mysteries.
nicovreeland's review
4.0
Very well-written, but founded on a cheap premise. http://chamberfour.com/2011/03/03/review-crooked-letter-crooked-letter/
vandermeer's review
1.0
Maybe the story is good, but it is so depressing and cliched to me, that I DNF at 5%.