Reviews

The Scent of Pine by Lara Vapnyar

marinaraydun's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

nancidrum's review against another edition

2.0

The writing of this book sometimes made it a bit tricky to follow. It jumped around from past to present and from first person to third person. That could have been well-done, but the story itself left me feeling like it just wasn't complete. It was a fast read, but I was hoping for more of a coming-of-age story. The characters, for the most part, just felt a bit hollow.

nutmegger's review against another edition

4.0

The bittersweet story of a woman's search for love. Vapnyar'a protagonist, Lena, recounts her formative years and her journey from youthful hopefulness to mid-life disappointment to her current lover. Filled with touching experiences described in clear but moving prose, Scent of Pine is enchanting and leaves the reader wishing Lena a happy ending.

writerrhiannon's review against another edition

2.0

I requested this novel because I'm always interested in women's midlife crises. I like that most of these types of novels focus on how the woman has "had enough" and is now "going to put herself first." This novel alternates between Lena discovering her sexuality at camp and having a sexual re-awakening when she steals away for the weekend to a cabin in Maine. Not a comfy, cozy cabin but a cabin with no heat and no toilet. Not exactly condusive to wild romance. As Lena confides her memories of being a camp counselor, there is an undercurrent of fear. Missing soldiers, scared children, and aliens, (yes, aliens) pepper the stories she tells Ben. The climax is expected to be startling and shocking but instead is just a series of sad twists and false memories.

Read my full review here: http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-scent-of-pine.html

kristinaskliffnotes's review

2.0

This was not my cup of tea.

cannonsr's review

2.0

I think The Scent of Pine did a better job switching between the two timeframes of the story than many books. But it's not a story that I expect to stick with me.