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fran17's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
5.0
This novel revisits some of the characters from "Three Junes" and has its own very moving stories. I haven't connected with Glass' intervening books as much, but this one was great. I may decide to re-read "Three Junes" this summer...
colleengeedrumm's review against another edition
3.0
Where are the half stars and when is somebody going to get on this issue? 3.5 rounded up. I sooooo loved [b:Three Junes|227593|Three Junes|Julia Glass|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924179l/227593._SY75_.jpg|2060095] and maybe because I tried the audio it did not resonate with me as much as her other novel did. But I'll say no, this didn't quite catch any excitement, just another family drama story.
I do have my real life book club to discuss this with so of course will gain additional insight and probably appreciate the book more for it. But I do love Louis Armstrong's song "It's a Wonderful World" and did not make the connection with the song's title -- but still will stay at 3 (3.5) stars overall.
I do have my real life book club to discuss this with so of course will gain additional insight and probably appreciate the book more for it. But I do love Louis Armstrong's song "It's a Wonderful World" and did not make the connection with the song's title -- but still will stay at 3 (3.5) stars overall.
mschrock8's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book a lot, the way the families and generations came together and figured things out. As long as the love grows, the steps and halves and exes don't always matter.
I must have missed the meaning of the title.
I must have missed the meaning of the title.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
3.0
Since this was my first book by Julia Glass, possibly would have enjoyed it better if I had read her previous books to learn more about the characters background. I also listened to audiobook and was not wild about the narrator.
DARK SACRED NIGHT, a family saga, Kit is ordered by his wife, Sandra to find out the identity of his birth father. Kit’s mother, Daphne has withheld the information from him for over forty years. Kit is unemployed, as previous art history professor, experiencing depression since he lost his job and his marriage seems to be in trouble. His wife Sandra thinks finding his father will help him pull out of his depression. They also have twins.
The search leads him back to his stepfather Jasper in Vermont to find an outdoorsman who effectively raised him along with two stepbrothers. Eventually, the journey brings him to Lucinda, the elderly wife of a stroke-ravaged state senator and onward to Fenno (from Julia Glass’s first book) and his husband Walter. The middle section with Walter and Fenno attending therapy was too long and didn’t really add much to the story.
There were too many unnecessary elements going on with back stories, and characters --plot fell flat for me and did not hold my interest. (could not wait for it to be over and kept waiting for a better part, which did not come) Kit’s journey and the meaning of family was somewhat good, but again felt it was lacking. Not very many likable characters, and hard to make a connection, as the novel drags out. A novel of family secrets which are revealed, a big disappointment and unfortunately, would not recommend.
DARK SACRED NIGHT, a family saga, Kit is ordered by his wife, Sandra to find out the identity of his birth father. Kit’s mother, Daphne has withheld the information from him for over forty years. Kit is unemployed, as previous art history professor, experiencing depression since he lost his job and his marriage seems to be in trouble. His wife Sandra thinks finding his father will help him pull out of his depression. They also have twins.
The search leads him back to his stepfather Jasper in Vermont to find an outdoorsman who effectively raised him along with two stepbrothers. Eventually, the journey brings him to Lucinda, the elderly wife of a stroke-ravaged state senator and onward to Fenno (from Julia Glass’s first book) and his husband Walter. The middle section with Walter and Fenno attending therapy was too long and didn’t really add much to the story.
There were too many unnecessary elements going on with back stories, and characters --plot fell flat for me and did not hold my interest. (could not wait for it to be over and kept waiting for a better part, which did not come) Kit’s journey and the meaning of family was somewhat good, but again felt it was lacking. Not very many likable characters, and hard to make a connection, as the novel drags out. A novel of family secrets which are revealed, a big disappointment and unfortunately, would not recommend.
katzreads's review against another edition
4.0
Well defined characters, intriguing story, slightly disappointing ending...after a long read, seemed like a sudden conclusion.
nekreader's review against another edition
2.0
This book is just too long with too many details and underdeveloped plot elements. The prose can be awkward at tmes. It's big and sweeping across time and space, but It would have been more effective with some judicious editing and focusing. I would have cared about the characters more and believed them more. Overall it had an everything but the kitchen sink feel.
tschonfeld's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite as good as Three Junes, but still very we done.
nixieknox's review against another edition
3.0
I loved it. I only wish that I remembered ANYTHING about Three Junes - I thought about re-reading it but I didn't have the fortitude. Kit was a little whiny but he was supposed to be, and wasn't overtly so. All the characters were well-developed, they acted accordingly, all in all, an excellent read.
Like Jasper, I too was a little surprised that Kit waited so long to do any investigating, especially during the age of the internet.
Like Jasper, I too was a little surprised that Kit waited so long to do any investigating, especially during the age of the internet.