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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “Warning: this novel is heavy. Not in the sense of weight, but in the sense of emotion. A guilt-ridden, but not exactly remorseful mother of a teenage murderer examines where she may have gone wrong and uncovers some startling truths about nature and nurture.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “With such an interesting topic and some parts of this book being as gripping as they were, I don't know how Shriver managed to put forth such an otherwise boring book. |
Newest Reviews
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“Ruined story. Forever long run on sentences, paragraphs and pages about completely nothing and entirely absent of the theme. Seemed like a really good novel idea but ruined by bad writing. Was there an editor at work here??? Read like a patchy story as well. Why were the grandparents never mentioned but once in the children's lives. At the births, why wouldn't they have attended?? At Celia's accident/assault? Wouldn't grandparents show up? What would have been the grandparents reactions during these situations? Appeared the author couldn't choose an ending as well. The wording and flow came off as inappropriate and forced.
Bookish Chic wrote this review 3 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I have the feeling the author has never had children as the narrator's responses and actions often ring untrue, especially where Celia's safety is concerned.
Took me a couple of years to muddle through reading it, no kidding. Wanted to like it but just so lacked except in abundance of the run on sentences. Skip this one.”
“Chosen by Eileen
Stirling Book Group wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Score - 81 out of 100
Single word descriptions
Therapeutic, Challenging, Melancholic, Sad, Hopelessness, Confrontational, Balanced”
“I loved this book and recommend it very much!”
Linda W wrote this review 10 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“While this book was extremely disturbing, I found I couldn't put it down. The vocabulary was a bit ridiculous, but I still found it to be very well written. It left me with many unanswered questions about love between parents and children as well as nature vs. nurture. ”
Julie B wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Chosen by Eileen
Book Group wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Score - 81 out of 100”“Liked this book, lots to talk about after, you need to talk as soon as you are finished it. Great book club discussion. Nature vs. Nurture.”
Jane W wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Excruciatingly mesmerizing and compelling. Could not put it down. Like "The Post Birthday World", Shriver has managed to reveal diametrically opposed perspectives on one particular set of circumstances. A triumph in broad thinking and the power of rhetoric, perspective and attitude.”
Deborah P wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“All I can say is WOW - a must read. It may take a little time to get into it - but it's worth it!”
nzchrissy wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A must read!!! Frightening but so interesting too”
Susan V wrote this review Friday, November 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Unsympathetic characters, horrifying story. Probably would not have finished it if I hadn't been reading it with a book club. Because we met weekly and were reading only portions at a time, we kept each other going, but it definitely was not a fun read. On the other hand, it did raise some interesting questions regarding nature vs nurture and what causes evil.”
Ruth P wrote this review Saturday, October 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
