Rosie
by Anne Lamott
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 606)
Read in February, 2008
I have not been so wholly engaged in the life of a character in a long time. Elizabeth is so flawed, smart and funny, but so desperately alcoholic, that I was constantly worried about her and her daughter. I cared about these characters so much that I literally lost sleep over them, and finally had to limit my reading to daytimes and not before bed. I don't think I can give a work of fiction higher praise.
As a writer, I found the way Lamott presents dialogue almost revolutionary. She often w...more
As a writer, I found the way Lamott presents dialogue almost revolutionary. She often w...more
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Read in June, 2008
Still, the inadvertently fertilized blob of embryonic tissue had survived to grow into a brilliant and consumed little person with dignity, humor, and frequently poor judgment.
The writing style seemed awkward and frank, in a way that fit the characters perfectly. There was a realness to the voice, in the way the description and conversation was set, in the details that were given and the ones that were not. At times the book felt like an intimate portrayal of all the characters, and other...more
The writing style seemed awkward and frank, in a way that fit the characters perfectly. There was a realness to the voice, in the way the description and conversation was set, in the details that were given and the ones that were not. At times the book felt like an intimate portrayal of all the characters, and other...more
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Read in April, 2008
I love Anne Lamott's spiritual books, so I was interested to see what her novels were like. In no way would you ever know the author was a Christian by her writing, so don't expect that when you read her fiction. However, she is an excellent writer and "Rosie" is no exception. The story is about a young girl named Rosie, but moreso about her mother, her best friend, her mother's boyfriend, and how Rosie affects all of their lives. She goes though the ups and downs of childhood and ...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
character fiction fans
I'm always nervous reading literature from renowned "writing advice" authors; Lamott was no exception. I was afraid I'd feel draaaaagged into this book, but the pace was quick and I felt naturally drawn in to the life of the main characters.
The mother's, Elizabeth's, alcoholism is poignantly portrayed. Her fear of intimacy is realistic and her daughter Rosie is as tough as you would expect, but she is also realistically portrayed (she "saves" her mother, but not in any ou...more
The mother's, Elizabeth's, alcoholism is poignantly portrayed. Her fear of intimacy is realistic and her daughter Rosie is as tough as you would expect, but she is also realistically portrayed (she "saves" her mother, but not in any ou...more
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Read in October, 2007
First I have to say that Anne Lamont is a great author and I do like her very much.This book "Rosie" was quite disturbing to me.I understand that alcohol dependency is considered a disease 'and is some what genetic,but I could not find the patience to excuse the mother Elizabeth in this book.The little girl Rosie was a gem and it certainly shows one what strength and smarts a child has to learn at a young age.I tried to put the book down and not finish it as I got so upset with Elizabe...more
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Read in June, 2008
I loved, loved, loved this book. The characters of Elizabeth and Rosie are so original, honest and flawed. I could not get enough of them. The synopsis on the back makes it sound like a Ramona Quimby book; "that kooky Rosie with a BIG heart" but this is a nitty gritty, engaging story of a widowed, alcoholic mom who is holding onto reality by a thin thread. Anne Lamott's writing makes a such a bleak story readable and fresh. I didn't want this book to end.
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Make sure you read this one before Crooked Little Heart. I made the mistake of starting CLH before I realized that Rosie was supposed to go first so I had to stop and switch. Anyway, they are both great books, I especially love that this has a sequel. I love Ann Lamott- shes a complete nut but her writing is what she feels and her use of metaphor is awesome.
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Read in January, 2004
I love Anne Lamott's nonfiction, but I'm not as big a fan of her fiction. Her voice and personality are very clear in her fiction, and her characters are amazingly well developed. But the story, the plot, isn't always very strong.
Rosie made me laugh, and I was engaged with the characters, but in the end the story was a little weak.
Rosie made me laugh, and I was engaged with the characters, but in the end the story was a little weak.
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I bought this book because I heard a recording of Anne Lamott reading one of her short stories and loved it. This book, though, was not great, all about a woman who's miserable despite her wealth, intelligence and freedom and her precocious daughter, Rosie. Definitely weighed down at the end with some self-righteous preachiness.
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Read in January, 2003
The first time I tried to read this book I stopped, but I went back to it a few years later and was glad I did. It's an idiosyncratic tale of a pre-teen girl named Rosie, whose mother is an alcoholic. Lamott goes deeply into Rosie's psyche and comes up with a story of realistic redemption that is true, and beautifully realized.
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Read in July, 2007
I love how Anne Lamott can actually make you feel like you are somebody else. I totally felt like I WAS Elizabeth in this book....I even found myself wanting a drink when she was craving one. I still have such a clear image in my head of her house in Marin. Slightly predictable at times but a wonderful one.
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Still slightly clumsy as a writer, Lamott nonetheless really pulled it off for the first time in this novel about a young widow mother and the family that builds around her and her daughter (the titular character). I adore this book and its sequel. Strange that Lamott later became a single mother.
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Read in May, 2007
This book is odd. The characters are odd. Still, it was kind of like adding some new members to my family or circle of friends for a bit. Quirky members, of course. I wanted everything to work out for them. Not a bad read but odd, very odd.
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Read in May, 2005
Every time I read this book I feel like I'm coming home to dear friends or relatives. Elizabeth is a mess. Rae is a mess. James is a mess. The Thackerys are a disaster. And yet it is an absolutely perfect, brilliant, beautiful book.
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Read in March, 2008
Another semi-autobiographical work from Anne. This writer really knows how to reveal all the messy mercy and grimy grace that loving, yet neurotic, humans can create. She inspires me to keep going when it really gets dark.
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Read in May, 2004
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
women/mothers
anne captures this uniques mother-daughter relationship with humor and whit. i appreciated the tension of a mother wanting things in her own life, while constantly being reminded of full life from her daughter.
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to amy by:
Carrie Evansrecommends it for: friend's of bill
This is one of my favorite books - while rereading it, I realized how many times I've quoted different passages to people over the past 10 years. Reading Anne Lamott is like talking to an old friend.
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Read in September, 2007
Elizabeth is a single mom struggling with alcoholism and depression as she raises her daughter Rosie. The book really pulled me in, but I found the ending a little too predictable.
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Read in July, 2008
Anne Lamott is so wonderful. Her characters are always essentially true and yet still capable of surprising, and her prose is just incredibly crafted without being precious.
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