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breesk89's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
I was really disappointed in this book, especially after reading an outstanding book by this author. This book seemed to pander to the left crowd (and I'm a leftist!). The characters were not well developed. The plot line was depressing and definitely reflected my life back at me, but not in a realistic way. Despite the miserable situation the characters were in, I just didn't really care about them. Wihs I had stopped reading when I knew it wasn't working out instead of wasting my time.
katiegilley's review
4.0
This was a great book to listen to on audio. It's read by the author and that made it a lot of fun.
This book is set during two time periods: the 2016 primaries and the late 1800s, both in New Jersey. The storylines are tied together by the home that is falling down around them both, as well as the inhabitants' confusion about the lack of social and political progress around them.
You'll probably enjoy this book if your politics are progressive or slightly to the left of moderate. The author tries her hardest to understand how people in the US could have voted the way they did in 2016. I think she's figured it out and did an excellent job portraying it in a respectful and sympathetic way.
This book is set during two time periods: the 2016 primaries and the late 1800s, both in New Jersey. The storylines are tied together by the home that is falling down around them both, as well as the inhabitants' confusion about the lack of social and political progress around them.
You'll probably enjoy this book if your politics are progressive or slightly to the left of moderate. The author tries her hardest to understand how people in the US could have voted the way they did in 2016. I think she's figured it out and did an excellent job portraying it in a respectful and sympathetic way.
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
3.0
My first Kingsolver novel. While I had hoped for something with more connections to Appalachia, given her frequent appearances on Appalachian Studies reading lists, I still appreciated the setting of the book.
Taking place in Vineland, New Jersey, it intersplices two storylines, one from the late Victorian era and the other backdropped by the 2016 Presidential Elections. Considered one of the first major novels to deal with the watershed political moment that was Trump 2016, the rise of Christian Nationalism, and the resurgence of white supremacy, Kingsolver manages to put competing contemporary political viewpoints into dialogue without becoming too cringy or heavy-handed.
I contemplated abandoning the book multiple times before I reached the halfway point, admittedly, at which I became much more invested in the late-1800s narrative revolving around the fictional Thatcher Greenwood (a local science teacher) and the historical Mary Treat (a soon-to-be-not-insignificant scientist), and Charles Landis (visionary developer of Vineland).
Their wrestles of Darwinism, academic freedom, scientific inquiry, religion, and "decency," were the most compelling portion of Unsheltered.
Although I didn't feel particularly moved by or enamored with the novel while reading it, I admit that I'm still reflecting on the characters a few days later--a sign of a successful book, by my standards.
Taking place in Vineland, New Jersey, it intersplices two storylines, one from the late Victorian era and the other backdropped by the 2016 Presidential Elections. Considered one of the first major novels to deal with the watershed political moment that was Trump 2016, the rise of Christian Nationalism, and the resurgence of white supremacy, Kingsolver manages to put competing contemporary political viewpoints into dialogue without becoming too cringy or heavy-handed.
I contemplated abandoning the book multiple times before I reached the halfway point, admittedly, at which I became much more invested in the late-1800s narrative revolving around the fictional Thatcher Greenwood (a local science teacher) and the historical Mary Treat (a soon-to-be-not-insignificant scientist), and Charles Landis (visionary developer of Vineland).
Their wrestles of Darwinism, academic freedom, scientific inquiry, religion, and "decency," were the most compelling portion of Unsheltered.
Although I didn't feel particularly moved by or enamored with the novel while reading it, I admit that I'm still reflecting on the characters a few days later--a sign of a successful book, by my standards.
jrmarr's review against another edition
4.0
Kingsolver has a remarkable way of telling very human stories with a global theme. This one is about science and truth and the way people can fall through the cracks. The lack of a social, medical and economic safety net reads like a horror story from my privileged position as an Australian. I really enjoyed it.
faithemt's review against another edition
5.0
My review is here: https://goldintheclouds-faith.blogspot.com/2020/10/2020-book-review-30unsheltered.html
This was one of the best books I've read this autumn!!
This was one of the best books I've read this autumn!!
hannah_nichols's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alexifronek's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
missyjohnson's review
1.0
this book was a disappointment and a struggle to finish. I did not find the characters developed at all and it was frustrating to try to understand why they even said or did the things that they did. I had a difficult time understanding that if the house was sooooo poorly built and was a shambles, how it had actually stood for 130 years. Why was this a surprise? nothing meshed. Iano was a cardboard cut-out, Zeke was a shallow uninteresting blob, Willa was an ostrich, Tig was the most interesting but still not clearly fleshed out. aaaarrrrrggggg. The Mary Treat sections were ok but the focus on Thatcher was a bore. it seemed as if there was an attempt to cram a ton of history into the story without focus. Mary Treat, Darwin, murder, current political climate mirrored by Landis, suffrage, etc. all in all a sad time spent with this book. I keep hoping that there will be a Poisonwood Bible level offering from Ms. Kingsolver but have not found it so much in the books of hers that I have read.
haroldhv's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Some brilliant mother daughter dialogue. Political agenda rather too intrusive (though I agree with it). Cleverly structured