book data
41 ratings,
3.05
average rating, 16 reviews
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published
July 8th 2008
by Random House
binding
Hardcover, 256 pages
isbn
1400063744
(isbn13: 9781400063741)
description
From the bestselling author of Jewel and The Difference Between Women and Men comes a haunting novel of home, family, and the pursuit of lost dreams. ...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 72)
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5 stars (3)
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4 stars (13)
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3 stars (11)
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2 stars (11)
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1 star (3)
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avg 3.05
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
I am still pondering this book. I didn't really like any of the characters, and I actively disliked several of them! Also, it was about three generations, so while I learned about their lives in different 'seasons', I still feel like there were gaps in my understanding of what brought them to the final resolution. How did they all get so messed-up? It was really depressing to see how much hurt and confusion resulted from selfish behavior.
I read this right after seeing the movie...more
I read this right after seeing the movie...more
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Read in December, 2008
I liked this book for the strong voices of each character and for the realistic details of life for would-be actors in 1930s Hollywood versus their lives in present-day Pacoima. The writing was evocative and elegant and in places downright lyrical ("...I also know hope, though it is a kind of scuffed up and scarred hope, a kind of hope that's had an eye gouged out and lost an arm and has only the clothes on its back an no hope for anything other than the hope of itself, because no one out t...more
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Read in January, 2009
If you flip to the back cover of Bret Lott’s, latest novel you might notice that though the College of Charleston professor and bestselling author has been praised by a variety of book reviewers, the jacket of Ancient Highway boasts no notation from the New York Times. Upon release on July 8, Times book reviewer, Lisa Fugard, wrote, “Brett Lott’s seventh novel, “Ancient Highway,” explores the failed dreams and rifts of the Holmes family… these winning characters often mired in less t...more
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I have this method of finding books, walking by the new book section of the library and picking up whatever jumps out at me. After a number of duds I have thought about giving up this method, but then I find a book like this and decide my method isn't so bad.
Ancient Highway goes back and forth between three generations of individuals focusing in on a short period of their lives. Earl the grandfather we get to know as a teen and young adult, his daughter Joan we follow when she is ...more
Ancient Highway goes back and forth between three generations of individuals focusing in on a short period of their lives. Earl the grandfather we get to know as a teen and young adult, his daughter Joan we follow when she is ...more
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Read in June, 2009
I am almost two thirds of the way finished with this book and I am struggling to finish it. It provides the story line by skipping back and forth from character and from various points in time. It's very wordy with lots of discriptions that provide nothing to the story so it moves along very slowly.
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02/13/09
Kristen
is currently reading it
I found this book on the "librian's choice" at my library. Now that I'm home, have already read about 50 pages, and am reading the goodreads reviews I'm not sure I want to keep reading it. So far, it's unnecessarily wordy. I keep getting slowed down by some awkward lengthy sentences.
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Read in December, 2008
A good book but the characters were sometimes smothered by the words. Each of the characters seemed round, but spare, and I think their story might have been told better with fewer words.
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Read in November, 2008
Unique style of writing. Wasn't sure of the book when started reading it, but it was worth finishing. A quiet story; no big "AHA!" moments. Enjoyed it!
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Read in July, 2009
The premise, the three wandering lives in three generations, is interesting, and the voices of the characters are consistent. It falls short of delivering all the details to which it alludes...you feel a little disappointed at the end.
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Read in April, 2009
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Read in August, 2008
Bret really digs deep into family's and family dynamics (particularly the struggles), gracefully steering clear of stereotypes, perfecting the real life language, and presenting his characters and their situations with intention and focus. His style defines good writing.
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Read in August, 2008
Although it took me a few chapters to get interested in this book, it turned out to be very good. I liked how the story intertwined between the main character, his daughter, and his grandson.
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Read in September, 2008
Wonderful portrayal of our longing for family. Lott's characters are very real, dysfunctional people, but unlike most Oprah picks, there's an element of hope in Lott's writing.
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I just could not get into this book at all. I loved Jewel. However, this book just seemed so disjointed to me. It was hard to make any conection with the characters.
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Read in August, 2008
I am really striking out this summer. I read over 100 pages of this and no plot was at all evident. The characters were boring and repetitive.
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08/01/08
Susannah
added it
Read in October, 2008
seeing as brett lott ripped my heart out with "jewel", i can only imagine what this book will be like. i can't wait to find out.
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