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What Members Thought
Ann Patchett is clearly a "good writer," and initially, I truly enjoyed this book. Then in the end, I almost hated it. And since that feeling of hatred didn't happen until the end, I'm angry... because I don't like dedicating time to reading books I end up hating. There is a very subtle dark tone, a negativity, to the entire story, that I only identified near its climax... and that slow leak of "life is pretty hard and then you die" left me in a bad mood. There is an absence of joy. And there is
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Ann Patchett is a beautiful writer - I have probably said this before but to me it means that reading her book is effortless and every scene is so clear and interesting. This is a book about 2 couples and their 6 children and how their lives intertwine over 50 years or so. It is not always chronological and focuses on some more than others. Some chapters were a bit mundane but others were just so perfect. Not the masterpiece that Bel Canto was and I loved Run more but still an excellent read.
I most liked the description of life when kids roamed free and parents did too. A well woven tale, even if it wasn't the most fascinating of stories.
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Nov 01, 2016
Tanya
marked it as to-read
Dec 07, 2016
Lori Williams
added it
Jan 02, 2017
Carol
marked it as to-read
Jan 18, 2017
Rebecca
marked it as to-read
Mar 11, 2017
Laura
marked it as maybe-not
Aug 10, 2017
silly_soup
marked it as to-read
Sep 14, 2017
Jules
marked it as to-read
Jan 04, 2020
Natasha
marked it as to-read
Aug 30, 2020
Angie
marked it as to-read
Jan 22, 2024
Viviana Martinez
marked it as to-read
