DNF after 15 minutes. In a work of fiction, laying out all the issues—repeatedly— in the opening couple of chapters is not the most persuasive, entertDNF after 15 minutes. In a work of fiction, laying out all the issues—repeatedly— in the opening couple of chapters is not the most persuasive, entertaining, or emotionally compelling way to approach things, no matter how important the topic. Particularly in what’s meant to be a mystery. ...more
A few things to note about this short novella: (some spoilers below)
* It takes place 1 month after the events of Aftertime. * It follows the same storA few things to note about this short novella: (some spoilers below)
* It takes place 1 month after the events of Aftertime. * It follows the same story arc with fairly slow events followed by a dramatic climax. * There are two new important characters that show up: a young boy and his dying grandmother. * Cass still does not speak to her long-lost daughter at all, except once near the end when we're told "Ruthie's name on her lips" * A zombie attack results in only a brief thought of Ruthie (see above) but prolonged worry over her boyfriend Not Smoke not Smoke not Smoke several times * We're told this about Smoke: When he did talk, he had a soft-spoken command that could quiet a gathering instantly, everyone straining to hear. When he was wrong he owned it, but that was not often. And he was Cass' own, her heart's solace.
A few things to note about this short novella: (some spoilers below)
* It takes place 1 month after the events of Aftertime. * It follows the same story arc with fairly slow events followed by a dramatic climax. * There are two new important characters that show up: a young boy and his dying grandmother. * Cass still does not speak to her long-lost daughter at all, except once near the end when we're told "Ruthie's name on her lips" * A zombie attack results in only a brief thought of Ruthie (see above) but prolonged worry over her boyfriend Not Smoke not Smoke not Smoke several times * We're told this about Smoke: When he did talk, he had a soft-spoken command that could quiet a gathering instantly, everyone straining to hear. When he was wrong he owned it, but that was not often. And he was Cass' own, her heart's solace.
Enjoyed this at first, but it started losing me in the last third or quarter or so.
The majority of it, the story of a mother and two daughters spanninEnjoyed this at first, but it started losing me in the last third or quarter or so.
The majority of it, the story of a mother and two daughters spanning 40 years, is told in a rapid, often anecdotal style, almost as if you were experiencing a written version of Six Feet Under's signature flash-forward summaries of everyone's future lives. It relies upon memorable characters, distinct plot lines, and decisive word choice and verbiage to seize your attention, and it does so admirably.
Once it starts including more of the granddaughter's story, however, the narratives are diluted and it loses a lot of its focus, especially because it delves more deeply into the minutiae and stated feelings than it previously had. I don't even mind the granddaughter's story, it just isn't as strong to include it structurally or as satisfying, since the other MCs and secondary characters get peripheral treatment. It never really regained it momentum for me and the ending was not nearly as emphatic as it was meant to be.
Stories like this could really use an occasional interjection of wry humor, too. But you can't wish for something like that if it doesn't show up naturally.
Audio Notes: Mostly fine, but towards the end/more expressive parts, it got a little overly emotional, particularly for the content....more
Implausible and illogical, even within a fairly pedestrian setting.
I went through the vast majority of this book pretty indifferent to the charactersImplausible and illogical, even within a fairly pedestrian setting.
I went through the vast majority of this book pretty indifferent to the characters and its many far-fetched, uninteresting subplots and red herrings, until about an hour before the end when one of the two FMCs makes a life-changing decision that made me screech what. And then the rest of the book is spent justifying her massively selfish choice. (view spoiler)[Look, not everyone is cut out to be or wants to be a mother and certainly there are circumstances in which it is the best choice to leave your kid for someone else to raise. But a well-off person abandoning her young child after just after divorcing his father, after raising his older brothers, so she can run off to another continent with her lover? And to LIE TO EVERYONE about it and casually switch places with her twin?! What the actual Parent Trapping fuck. (hide spoiler)] So much time is spent on defending that choice, whereas literally none is given to the deception or potential trauma for her family and friends. If complicated motherhood and other themes had been explored with any depth or skill, or if this were a slick thriller where this decision is presented very differently, or if this was a poignant decision made without deceit, I wouldn’t mind so much. But as it’s served to us, within middling domestic fiction wrapped up in a mystery, this felt unbelievably privileged and awful.
Oh, and prepare yourself for monstrous amounts of wine talk. I live in California, I go to wineries on the reg (I’ve specifically been to Napa and spent a week in the Finger Lakes in upstate New York, both featured in this story), I’ve read other books set on wineries, but jfc. It is endless, tedious, and mostly unrewarding here because of the sheer volume of it.
The ending chapter is minorly interesting when finally you find out what happened to the dead husband. But again, not really a believable scenario and it proves again how ridiculously self-centered, bumbling, and idiotic everyone in this book is. This is not a complex, exciting, or compelling thriller. Just characters not revealing major information for decades and me not caring about any of them.
A short but surprisingly nuanced mystery, with an ending I really enjoyed. The author acknowledges his lifelong love of Agatha Christie and her influeA short but surprisingly nuanced mystery, with an ending I really enjoyed. The author acknowledges his lifelong love of Agatha Christie and her influence on his work, and it definitely shows in this book (structure, narration style, etc) in the best of ways.
Audio Notes: Sam Woolf’s narration is terrific, a good pick for this novel. As a teenager, I used to listen to Agatha Christie audiobooks borrowed from the library, so this was a very pleasant, nostalgic experience.
Eager to read more Jónasson and to seek out more Woolf....more
I enjoyed this so much. Went in not knowing much, so when it became apparent what was happening about 30% in, it was verrry exciting. Various characteI enjoyed this so much. Went in not knowing much, so when it became apparent what was happening about 30% in, it was verrry exciting. Various characters all have agency and I appreciate a male author who writes female internal dialogue well.
Very much influenced by (view spoiler)[
Let the Right One In(hide spoiler)], but it’s definitely its own thing. Kept me captive from its beginning to its terrific ending.
Audio Notes Both Michael Braun and Elisabeth Rodgers were great....more
Light historical fiction with an ill-fated romance--sort of below-stairs Downton Abbey, if Mrs.Hughes was a young woman running from her past3.5 stars
Light historical fiction with an ill-fated romance--sort of below-stairs Downton Abbey, if Mrs.Hughes was a young woman running from her past and one of the footman was hiding secrets that could destroy them.
Best parts for me were the time spent on describing the running of the household and setting the scene for how rigidly the rules kept the staff in check, both physically and in mindset. All those period details were great, though I would have liked more of that. Also mostly liked the characters and the romance, though ultimately I think the plot could have been a bit more exciting, the separation could have been charged with more anguish and longing, and just punching up of emotion in general since there is so much focus on the romance. (It's not volume of description, just focused writing to make me feel empathy vs my brain's sympathy for the characters.) As is, it could have been edited down more for my taste.
Audio Notes: I very much enjoyed the audiobook experience, though. And I'd try another book by this author....more
Liked the writing and mystery. Not overly impressed by the perpetrator of the crime(s). A lot of time was also spent on details I really didn't care aLiked the writing and mystery. Not overly impressed by the perpetrator of the crime(s). A lot of time was also spent on details I really didn't care about or make much difference to the story or characters, such as Ireland to California and all the assorted minutia described.
I would try another one of her books, though.
Audio Notes: I very much enjoyed the audiobook narrated with a lovely Irish accent by Jessica Regan, however. And while I was somewhat taken aback at first by the epilogue with "here's what this character is doing now" style wrap-up, I was rather charmed by it in the end, even though it's not really in keeping with the rest of the story....more
Audio Notes: ...and add that Ariel Blake's voice is a dream to listen to and a perfect matI'm just going to refer you to Richard's excellent review...
Audio Notes: ...and add that Ariel Blake's voice is a dream to listen to and a perfect match to this thoughtful work of speculative fiction. I skipped back multiple times to listen to her short, endearing renditions of a hum's song because I loved it so much. The gentle chimes in the beginning and end are perfect, too, they set the scene without being intrusive....more
Abandoning the audiobook after 90 minutes. I really wish publishers would stop hiring Brittany Pressley for so many thrillers, her voice and style areAbandoning the audiobook after 90 minutes. I really wish publishers would stop hiring Brittany Pressley for so many thrillers, her voice and style are better suited for YA or maybe romance--and she reads every book, every story, every set of characters the same way. I thought maybe I could do this one because the writing is very good so far, but the arch, high strung way she delivers the best friend's lines is aggravating and completely obscures the story. It also ruins the mood.
I liked the book so far despite that, though, so I'm going to try to read it as a regular book....more
So annoyed by the ridiculously implausible plot and villain and absolutely astonished by the painfully earnest, simplistic writing and characterizatioSo annoyed by the ridiculously implausible plot and villain and absolutely astonished by the painfully earnest, simplistic writing and characterization. If you’d handed this to me blind and told me this was the author’s first book I would’ve believed you, whereas of course she’s had a lot of success with a partner and written other books on her own.
Audio Notes: Also hated the way Laura Benanti read this story overall. Okay voice, okay secondary voices, but the way she narrates and interprets the main character’s thoughts and sentences is overly exaggerated and excitable, so much so it made it seem as though it was this lawyer’s first time being duped, disappointed, come across something exciting, etc. Also felt tonally off and way too upbeat for a thriller. It’s not a cozy mystery where someone’s pie recipe has been stolen, ffs....more
Wendy Darling
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