From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought
Oh how good this book was! I've come to realize that the "breezy wit" (lifted from the back cover) is truly difficult to come by well done. The mother of this type of humor has to be Jane Austen. Poorly executed and this would be a beach read, but as it is I can totally root for it winning the Booker.
...more
Odd but powerful read about how we define family and the impact that separation has on each member of that family. Rosemary and Lowell had a sister, Fern, who was sent away when Rosemary was 5. Rosemary, who is the narrator of the story, goes into great detail about what happened to Fern and why, and how her leaving the family changed each of the family members in ways that would be life-altering.
Fowler weaves an interesting and unique tale that focuses on family, but deals with the broader issu ...more
Fowler weaves an interesting and unique tale that focuses on family, but deals with the broader issu ...more
Inspired by an experiment in the 1930′s in which a husband and wife research team raised a baby chimp in their home as a member of their family, this novel offers a fictional account of a similar experiment run some sixty years later – and its heartbreaking effects on those involved. Our narrator is Rosemary, a woman who reflects back on her childhood, growing up with a human brother and chimpanzee sister – until the dark day her sister, Fern, was taken away. The loss of their beloved family mem
...more
What started as a really interesting, wholly original book fizzled out a little by the end for me. It raises a lot of questions about sibling relationships and animal rights. The last 15% feels like a really long epilogue which is why it lost a little of its luster. It was still an enjoyable listen for me. Much of the book is set in a town 20 minutes away from my house, and I've been to most of the restaurants and places mentioned in the book. That part was fun.
...more
A somewhat enjoyable quick read. I really liked the parts when the narrator was reflecting on her childhood, didn't like the parts about her adult life so much. Hard to say much without some spoilers.
...more
By now, what with the buzz around this novel's success, compounded by its Booker shortlisting, you've probably already heard of *the twist*. But this is a book that has no problem transcending said twist because the story is about so much more. It makes you think of things that I imagine most of us don't want to think about and for that alone it's worth reading. The book would've benefited from being perhaps 50 pages shorter to make it sharper, but all in all this was a wholly satisfying read.
...more
I really enjoyed this book.
Smart, thought-provoking, & beautiful, all in one package.
Jun 12, 2013
Julie
marked it as to-read
Oct 19, 2013
Becca
marked it as to-read
Feb 03, 2014
Annika
marked it as to-read
Jun 05, 2014
Ching-In
marked it as to-read
Oct 19, 2014
Jessica
marked it as to-read
Apr 02, 2015
Jocelyn
marked it as to-read
May 31, 2015
Jen
marked it as to-read
Mar 11, 2016
Jen
marked it as to-read
