Rachel’s review of Whistler > Likes and Comments

Enjoy, my GR friend! I’m looking forward to this one soon!!

Terrie wrote: "Enjoy, my GR friend! I’m looking forward to this one soon!!"

Thank you, Terrie!! I must say Ann Patchett sure has a way with words. I hope you enjoy this book as well. 🤗

I appreciate your thoughtful and transparent review. It is hard sometimes to explain why we may not connect with one novel and others do… it might not be just one thing either… even tho it’s a beautiful one just the same, ya know? I just have to go with the idea that some novels aren’t written for us. And that’s ok! Also a 3 stars is still a good rating. I’m sorry it wasn’t a better read for you! I hope the next one is better for you! 🌸🩷

Krickette wrote: "I appreciate your thoughtful and transparent review. It is hard sometimes to explain why we may not connect with one novel and others do… it might not be just one thing either… even tho it’s a beau..."

Thank you so much, Krickette!! 💝 It was hard to explain why this wasn’t a favorite book of mine, even though I did like it. Sometimes, when reading a story, something will trigger me (us), and moving forward, I just can’t seem to connect afterwards. However, I am glad that this book is a winner for many people. I hope you are reading some great books too! 🤗

Thanks so much for sharing your honest thoughts and opinions about this book, Rachel. I agree with you that the painting of the horse is extremely captivating.

Nora wrote: "Thanks so much for sharing your honest thoughts and opinions about this book, Rachel. I agree with you that the painting of the horse is extremely captivating."

You’re very welcome, Nora! And yes, the cover for this book is stunning! 🤗

Not much happens, so I understand your rating. Like you said, we high rating folk love the writing. And sometimes stories don't resonate...it happens. Wonderful review Rachel.

That’s fair! I hope you love your next! Terrific review! 💞

Barbara wrote: "Not much happens, so I understand your rating. Like you said, we high rating folk love the writing. And sometimes stories don't resonate...it happens. Wonderful review Rachel."

Thank you, Barbara!! As you stated, not much happens, but the writing sure was great! I’m so glad you loved this one! :)

Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) wrote: "That’s fair! I hope you love your next! Terrific review! 💞"

Thank you very much, Jayme! 💗

Fair assessment, Rachel. Some books aren't for everyone, and that's okay. I hope you love the next one. 🤗💕

A thoughtful and honest review, Rachel. I could not even finish this one, so I get your three star rating.🤗

Thanks for your honesty. There's so much hype about this one and your review is helpful.

A fair and great review, Rachel!! 💋💖❤️ I hope you love your next read ☺️🫶🏼

Shelley's Book Nook wrote: "Fair assessment, Rachel. Some books aren't for everyone, and that's okay. I hope you love the next one. 🤗💕"

Thank you very much, Shelley! 💗 I’m still not sure how I feel about this book, which is so odd…

Darla wrote: "A thoughtful and honest review, Rachel. I could not even finish this one, so I get your three star rating.🤗"

Thank you very much, Darla!! 💗 I’m glad to know that I’m not alone out there. This is such a loved book, that I keep feeling as if something is wrong with me for not connecting with it and loving it like everyone else.

Tina wrote: "Thanks for your honesty. There's so much hype about this one and your review is helpful."

You’re so welcome, Tina! 🤗

Sarah wrote: "A fair and great review, Rachel!! 💋💖❤️ I hope you love your next read ☺️🫶🏼"

Thank you so much, Sarah!! 💗🤗😘

That sounds fair, Rachel. The book can be great, but it may not work for us. Excellent review. You clearly mentioned what worked and what didn't. 💗

That’s fair! I hope your next read is much better. Excellent review, Rachel🧡

Srivalli wrote: "That sounds fair, Rachel. The book can be great, but it may not work for us. Excellent review. You clearly mentioned what worked and what didn't. 💗"

Thank you very much, Srivalli! 💝

Deeksha wrote: "That’s fair! I hope your next read is much better. Excellent review, Rachel🧡"

Thank you so much, Deeksha!! 💗

I decided to skip this after seeing similar mediocre reviews. I agree, she writes beautifully but if the plot doesn’t work, then the writing doesn’t matter. Sorry this wasn’t a total winner Rachel!

JanB wrote: "I decided to skip this after seeing similar mediocre reviews. I agree, she writes beautifully but if the plot doesn’t work, then the writing doesn’t matter. Sorry this wasn’t a total winner Rachel!"

Jan, you are so right in that she writes beautifully, but the plot didn’t really work. You may have been right on skipping this. On to the next one… :)

That's too bad you didn't quite connect with this one even though you could appreciate the characters and writing!! I've felt that way about books, think they're well-done just not for me. Hope you connect more with your next read!!! : )

Jude wrote: "That's too bad you didn't quite connect with this one even though you could appreciate the characters and writing!! I've felt that way about books, think they're well-done just not for me. Hope you..."

Thank you, Jude! 🤗 I agree, this book was well done, but it just wasn’t for me I suppose. As you stated, that will happen with many readers, with many different books. I hope you are enjoying your next and current reads as well!

A fine review, Rachel! We can't have a connection with them all.

A very fair review, lovely 🥰

Heather Adores Books wrote: "A fine review, Rachel! We can't have a connection with them all."

Thank you, Heather! 💗 You are so very right.

Caz (Underlined) wrote: "A very fair review, lovely 🥰"

Thank you so very much, Caz! 💗🤗

What you said about running into people from the past is so relatable! I'm the same way. I'm sorry this wasn't quite what you hoped for. Wonderful review, Rachel! 💕

Kat wrote: "What you said about running into people from the past is so relatable! I'm the same way. I'm sorry this wasn't quite what you hoped for. Wonderful review, Rachel! 💕"

Thank you so much, Kat! 💗 I’m so glad that you and I can relate about running into people from our past. I mean well (and I’m sure they do too), but we’ve gone on with our lives now…

Great review, Rachel! I get where you're coming from. I've had lukewarm experiences with other AP books exactly for the reasons you described, so I'm not in a hurry to get to this one.

Yun wrote: "Great review, Rachel! I get where you're coming from. I've had lukewarm experiences with other AP books exactly for the reasons you described, so I'm not in a hurry to get to this one."

Thank you very much, Yun! I remember having the same feelings towards “Tom Lake” by this author as well.

Fabulous review. Your insightful comments tell us that you really struggled with your rating. I hope your next book earns all the stars!

Jayne wrote: "Fabulous review. Your insightful comments tell us that you really struggled with your rating. I hope your next book earns all the stars!"

Thank you so much, Jayne! I really did struggle with my rating for this book.

Completely agree. A reviewer for the Boston Globe declared that it's her finest novel, which is absurd.

Michael wrote: "Completely agree. A reviewer for the Boston Globe declared that it's her finest novel, which is absurd."

Michael, I’m sorry this book didn’t work out so well for either one of us. Sometimes I think Patchett’s books are overrated.

Fair points!

Melissa (So Behind) wrote: "Fair points!"

Thanks, Melissa!

I just finished this, closed it, and went "Huh?" Then I came to GR (of course) to see what others were saying.

Your review was the first one I saw. And I thought, that's it. The writing was lovely and so were the characters. But it was just missing that connection for me too. 3 stars from me too.

Lisa wrote: "I just finished this, closed it, and went "Huh?" Then I came to GR (of course) to see what others were saying.

Your review was the first one I saw. And I thought, that's it. The writing was lovel..."

Lisa, we are definitely on the same page with this book! I wanted to love this book, but there was zero connection for me too. In fact, I found it a little odd, if I’m being honest.

I felt the exact same way. I wanted to love this book, but as much as I loved the writing and loved the characters, I felt very little connection. This book just didn’t do it for me. Your review summed up all my feelings.

Susan wrote: "I felt the exact same way. I wanted to love this book, but as much as I loved the writing and loved the characters, I felt very little connection. This book just didn’t do it for me. Your review su..."

Susan, I’m glad that we are not alone with our feelings about this book. I found it so hard to connect to, even though they were all very likable characters. Maybe we will enjoy her next book much better. Happy Reading to you! :)

I just finished the book a few minutes ago and I was left feeling kind of empty at the end. Of course the narration was wonderful and I loved Eddie and Daphne but when I finish a book that I love, I feel true emotion. I just felt that I was missing something when this ended. 3 stars from me.

Rebecca wrote: "I just finished the book a few minutes ago and I was left feeling kind of empty at the end. Of course the narration was wonderful and I loved Eddie and Daphne but when I finish a book that I love, ..."

Rebecca, those were my exact feelings when I had finished reading this. I loved the characters, but I felt like there was something missing, and I felt no connection to this story unfortunately.

Absolutely beautiful writing and great story line. But the ending was just awful. It’s like she just quit writing, unless I’m missing something.

Claire wrote: "Absolutely beautiful writing and great story line. But the ending was just awful. It’s like she just quit writing, unless I’m missing something. "

Claire, like you, I felt that the writing was absolutely beautiful. However, I didn’t feel any sort of connection, and the ending did feel rushed. You are not missing anything as we both are left feeling the same…

I totally agree with the disconnect.

Nina wrote: "I totally agree with the disconnect."

Nina, sorry we couldn’t connect with this story, although the writing was so good.