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mbowman0113's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
3.5***
Twenty-seven years after they graduated from high school, seven former schoolmates meet at an inn in the Berkshires to celebrate a long-overdue wedding. During this reunion some astonishing revelations will be made. Past sins revealed, and possibly forgiven. What-ifs and Might-have-beens are examined and might lead to new choices.
I like character-driven novels that explore human emotions and motives. Shreve does a good job with her four narrators – Nora, Harrison, Agnes and Bridget. Each of them has different motives for being here. For each, the weekend will dredge up memories of a shared experience as well as the path they’ve taken to this point. I did wonder why Shreve even included the other three friends, because we really learn little about them in the book, and their interactions with the group are relatively fleeting.
Shreve also includes a novel / story that Agnes is working on – set in 1917 Halifax. Even more than the story of the wedding/reunion, the story of Innis Finch and the two Fraser sisters completely captured me, and I would really have liked to read THAT novel. I did like the way she finally dovetails the novel-within-a-novel with the story of the seven school friends, contrasting and comparing choices and outcomes, showing that while the circumstances may be different the human emotions are the same.
Twenty-seven years after they graduated from high school, seven former schoolmates meet at an inn in the Berkshires to celebrate a long-overdue wedding. During this reunion some astonishing revelations will be made. Past sins revealed, and possibly forgiven. What-ifs and Might-have-beens are examined and might lead to new choices.
I like character-driven novels that explore human emotions and motives. Shreve does a good job with her four narrators – Nora, Harrison, Agnes and Bridget. Each of them has different motives for being here. For each, the weekend will dredge up memories of a shared experience as well as the path they’ve taken to this point. I did wonder why Shreve even included the other three friends, because we really learn little about them in the book, and their interactions with the group are relatively fleeting.
Shreve also includes a novel / story that Agnes is working on – set in 1917 Halifax. Even more than the story of the wedding/reunion, the story of Innis Finch and the two Fraser sisters completely captured me, and I would really have liked to read THAT novel. I did like the way she finally dovetails the novel-within-a-novel with the story of the seven school friends, contrasting and comparing choices and outcomes, showing that while the circumstances may be different the human emotions are the same.
sam_lovett's review against another edition
3.0
An ok read. Not very much happened. Evoked the place it was set very well, but left me feeling a bit sad about humans and how they treat each other. The reason for them coming together - the wedding of two old friends - felt very contrived.
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
This was okay. It's a Big Chill type story of a reunion weekend 27 years after high school graduation. The characters were filled with angst -- too much for my taste.
mschrock8's review against another edition
4.0
Old friends are brought together to celebrate a wedding between two of the group. Old stories, old hurts, old flames.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
2.0
I put this book down several times so it took me forever to read. I kept thinking I'd start liking it. That never happened. Unrealistic. Unbelievable story line...as in not believable. And the story-within-a-story was just stupid.
katemoxie's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED this book! Hard to put down. The reference to this book being like The Big Chill is accurate.... to a point.
blebbing's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay, but I found the references to 9/11 jarring. Not jarring as in a reminder of the violence. But jarring like “Oh here I am talking about eggplant and how I love it. Don’t you remember grandpa Joe loved eggplant. He made a great pasta with it. The whole world changed on September 11th.” That stuff just didn’t flow. But the rest of the book was okay. I’ve liked other stuff of her’s much better.
zwyrdish's review against another edition
2.0
This was a bittersweet novel, one that I only half believed. Some moments, but overall not particularly satisfying.
ermamac's review against another edition
3.0
Although not terrible, I found myself wanting more from this book. The characters were interesting and intractions always had some twist, but the book lacked a plot. This made it at times somewhat lost. To tell the truth I was almost more interested in the book one one the characters was writing...