Helpful Score: 4
This is a book about an ordinary BBQ on an ordinary day. In attendance were 6 adults (3 couples) and 3 children. Then something happened that day that changed it from ordinary into horrible. It became a horrible day.
This book is pretty slow. The narrative goes back and forth touching on all the people that were at this BBQ and some additional people as well. The author does a great job of writing different voices for all of these narratives, so it flows smoothly and does not seem forced. The book also jumps back to the BBQ and then to present day (I can't remember how far in from the BBQ but I want to say like 4-6 months or something). In the past the relationships of some of the characters are so different from how they are in the present. The author slowly tells the story of the BBQ, the same time she is telling about the fallout from that day. It is kept a big secret what happened, and when you find out it was something terrible, but you thought it was going to be something much, much worse. The present day shows the strength and weaknesses of the couples and how one event can alter so many people's lives. Even at the very end of the book, one last secret is told, but we do not know the effects that that secret will have in the future.
It was a good book, but I guess I expected more. It built up so slowly to this event, that even though it was horrible, it didn't seem horrible enough to justify all the tension she had built up (if you have read this, don't judge me. I am not saying it wasn't a horrid event). I kind of felt like, what that's it? Maybe I am used to books that have a stronger thriller quality to them or something.
The characterization in this book was amazing though. Everyone had so many dimensions and seemed like solid humans, flawed but trying. She really knows how to write people.
I am definitely going to keep reading this author, I just felt like she wasted an opportunity for a little something more here.
This book is pretty slow. The narrative goes back and forth touching on all the people that were at this BBQ and some additional people as well. The author does a great job of writing different voices for all of these narratives, so it flows smoothly and does not seem forced. The book also jumps back to the BBQ and then to present day (I can't remember how far in from the BBQ but I want to say like 4-6 months or something). In the past the relationships of some of the characters are so different from how they are in the present. The author slowly tells the story of the BBQ, the same time she is telling about the fallout from that day. It is kept a big secret what happened, and when you find out it was something terrible, but you thought it was going to be something much, much worse. The present day shows the strength and weaknesses of the couples and how one event can alter so many people's lives. Even at the very end of the book, one last secret is told, but we do not know the effects that that secret will have in the future.
It was a good book, but I guess I expected more. It built up so slowly to this event, that even though it was horrible, it didn't seem horrible enough to justify all the tension she had built up (if you have read this, don't judge me. I am not saying it wasn't a horrid event). I kind of felt like, what that's it? Maybe I am used to books that have a stronger thriller quality to them or something.
The characterization in this book was amazing though. Everyone had so many dimensions and seemed like solid humans, flawed but trying. She really knows how to write people.
I am definitely going to keep reading this author, I just felt like she wasted an opportunity for a little something more here.
Holy cow did this author make a meal of getting to point! The story begins with a hint that something dramatic took place at a barbecue and that this event had deeply impacted the lives of all those who had attended in very painful and solemn ways.
Flash backs from that particular event to the present occur throughout story providing teasing glimpses of how each individual had been personally transformed. What actually took place at the barbecue, however, is not revealed until chapter 47. And at this point, one of the characters - who cannot recall an important detail of what happened on that day- remembers all on chapter 78.
The characters are very much believable, and the storyline is extremely interesting, but the road to get to the meat of the story was long and winding - almost causing me to cheat and look for spoilers on more than one occasion!
What kept me going was how the story unfolded through the point of views of each individual character. Because they are so realistic and believable, one gets invested in their journey. A solid read overall that could've done without a bit of the past-to-present ping pong.
Flash backs from that particular event to the present occur throughout story providing teasing glimpses of how each individual had been personally transformed. What actually took place at the barbecue, however, is not revealed until chapter 47. And at this point, one of the characters - who cannot recall an important detail of what happened on that day- remembers all on chapter 78.
The characters are very much believable, and the storyline is extremely interesting, but the road to get to the meat of the story was long and winding - almost causing me to cheat and look for spoilers on more than one occasion!
What kept me going was how the story unfolded through the point of views of each individual character. Because they are so realistic and believable, one gets invested in their journey. A solid read overall that could've done without a bit of the past-to-present ping pong.
I did not enjoy this book at all. I found most of the characters very unlikable. Almost didn't finish it -which i rarely do. In hindsight, i should have quit less than half way through. Only my 2nd Moriaty book and may be my last.
Women and their husbands Women and their friends. Women and their children. It's complicated. This book delves into all these relationships . All the women have some 'secret' they'd just as well like being kept as such. Until a horrible event changes everyone, the women, their husbands, their friends and their children. Well written, and readable, Liane Moriarty writes with a clever abandon and foresight into the conflicted relationships we all endure.
This was a fun read!
I always love Liane Moriarty books. This one was not her typical tongue-in-cheek humor that I love, but it held my attention and was a quick and pleasurable read!
I always love Liane Moriarty books. This one was not her typical tongue-in-cheek humor that I love, but it held my attention and was a quick and pleasurable read!
This book has great character development to where I felt like I lived on then same street and really knew these people. Very entertaining.
Not impressed with this one, terrible slow. Too much back and forth. Got a little interesting about half way through for a few chapters. Not her best read.
I've read all of Liane Moriarty's books. "Truly Madly Guilty" is one of her best.
Another fabulous story by Moriarty! I love her characters and the way they interact and the way each chapter approaches from a different character's point of view. It all starts the day of a neighborhood barbeque...you must read to find out what happens....
Moved slowly, and I felt like at times I had to force myself to finish it.
Very slow, I kept waiting for the big "event" of the barbeque, it was a huge let down. I had to force myself to finish this one. I felt it was lacking a meaty story line that I could sink my teeth in to. This one wasn't it.
This book was weird. It started out as a psychological thriller, and ended up being a mushy feel-good story. Most of the book leading up to the mystery of what happened at the BBQ was very slow, though the chapters were short and switched time and perspective enough to keep from being monotonous. The BBQ revelation was something of a let down, and the rest of the book veered into an Aussie version of "This is Us."
Truly Madly Guilty was the first book I have read by Liane Moriarty, and if not for her popularity (implying that this book is a fluke), it would be my last. 3 stars because I read it in 2 days, so it must not have been that bad....... or it could be that my knee is sprained so all I can do is sit on the couch. (Shrug).
Truly Madly Guilty was the first book I have read by Liane Moriarty, and if not for her popularity (implying that this book is a fluke), it would be my last. 3 stars because I read it in 2 days, so it must not have been that bad....... or it could be that my knee is sprained so all I can do is sit on the couch. (Shrug).
Odd story, started out like a great thriller and ended up all soft and squishy. The bite went right out of it when you found out what happened on "The day of the BBQ".
Interesting at times but not enough to really keep your interest peaked.
Not her best by far.
Interesting at times but not enough to really keep your interest peaked.
Not her best by far.
over 100 pages in and still not to what happened at the barbecue to cause all the problems ~ reading is going sooooo slowly, losing interest. Back and forth from the 6 characters point of view before the barbecue and the day of the barbecue. Trying to finish or at least get to the event but it is not easy. Cannot recommend this book. They are talking about the day and how everyone is distant now and how it changed their lives but what has happened is not clear. I don't like books written this way. you start to expect something and are usually disappointed. I want her to get to it already. I am about to go online and find a spoiler just to get to it already! save yourself some frustration and skip this book or save a credit and get it from the library - you won't want to read it again! (I liked her other books so this one must be an exception)
