Even though the setting of this book is a mere microcosm of an Italian working class neighborhood, the issues of poverty and the role of women are truEven though the setting of this book is a mere microcosm of an Italian working class neighborhood, the issues of poverty and the role of women are truly universal and the emotional turmoils of the teenaged narrator are relatable. Two things prevent me from giving this book a higher rating though--written as a first person narrative from Lenu's perspective, some of the details of the goings-on in Lila's house seemed too detailed, especially given the ebb and flow of their friendship. The other is that the ending is extremely abrupt and does not even hint at explaining the opening scene of the first chapter. I understand that this a trilogy but we all might be better off reading the first chapter last, to tantalize us in reading the next installment rather than scratching our heads at the end of the last chapter....more
I received an egalley of this book from Random House for review purposes.
I am so happy to see the return of this spunky character who radiates kindnesI received an egalley of this book from Random House for review purposes.
I am so happy to see the return of this spunky character who radiates kindness and self-assuredness. Some of Molly Lou's life instructions from her mother may seem a little didactic, but they are breezily paired with artwork that makes the point clear in a way that young readers can easily understand. Examples include "Take responsibility for the things that you do, good or bad," and "Accept people for who they are and listen to their ideas, even if they are different from yours."
The only quibble that I have, and it is a minor one, was the sentence near the end that mentioned her friend Gertie waving her crutch in the air. I noticed the character earlier in the illustrations and thought it was a nice touch to include diverse characters, include several with disabilities. I think that such a detail may be best discovered naturally through observation, as we do in real life. Like I said, it's a minor quibble and does not prevent me from highly recommending this as a read-aloud for Kindergartners up through even the older grades such as third and fourth graders because of its potential for generating thoughtful conversations....more
It wasn't as awful as I had been led to believe. I think the story reflects an adult's more mature perspective on the characters and motivations, versIt wasn't as awful as I had been led to believe. I think the story reflects an adult's more mature perspective on the characters and motivations, versus Scout as a child. As such, the storyline doesn't reach the near-mythic proportions of To Kill a Mockingbird but for me, still stands as solid piece of contemporary fiction....more
Absolute insanity but I enjoyed it! Even though they are worlds apart, Deadpool reminds me a bit of mystery writer Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms characterAbsolute insanity but I enjoyed it! Even though they are worlds apart, Deadpool reminds me a bit of mystery writer Tim Dorsey's Serge Storms character. I think I can stomach Deadpool more because 1) graphic novels = smaller doses of craziness and 2) an easier suspension of disbelief in a universe filled with superheroes....more
I started listening to this audiobook because of the comparisons to Gone Girl, but other than the fact that both books feature wholly unlikable characI started listening to this audiobook because of the comparisons to Gone Girl, but other than the fact that both books feature wholly unlikable characters, there isn't much of a comparison. While I didn't *love* Gone Girl, I was propelled by the plot and the brilliant twists and turns and the brilliance of who is ultimately the antagonist of the story. Thankfully the Girl on the Train was a short book, because I didn't really care whodunnit by the end because the crime was so clumsily committed and any of the characters featured could have committed the crime and they each lacked the moral compass that would have prevented them from doing it. There's a pop psych term called "gaslighting" that has currently been in vogue and this book is the poster child for it.
A lot of my friends and colleagues, whose reading tastes I usually agree with, love this book, so I'll be the first to admit that I may have missed some nuances with my casual listen. Speaking of the audiobook aspect, the narrators for the characters of Rachel and Anna seemed to ring true, but Megan's seemed to have been given production notes to sound as full of ennui as possible to the point of making it seem like the character or narrator didn't even want to be in the book. She mutters and breathes her lines in a way that brings to mind sullen teenagers. And when she reads Kamal's lines, the weird mumbled accent becomes almost laughable.
Finally, what is up with all the books with "girl" in the title? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train, The Good Girl...are publishers afraid that the word woman is somehow offensive? At what point does a female character become a woman vs. a girl?...more
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