Helpful Score: 2
It's been a long time since a book has made me cry and this one ended my dry streak. I wasn't expecting it to do that and it was refreshing to cry tears of joy for a change. Although the plot turned a little too obvious and ended a little too wrapped up I could still appreciate the story because of how real McFadden made it. I could believe that these characters, despite the somewhat dramatic plot (at times) actually exist. If I had to sum this book up in one word I'd call it pleasant. I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end and it didn't slow down in the middle or go through a dry patch.
The characters of Lucy and Ruth both interested me and McFadden revealed just enough about their lives through their alternating narratives to keep me interested and somewhat frustrated.
I loved that the characters drank wine without guilt or abandon. I thought the two or three sentences dedicated to a lost relationship with prayer/god could have been omitted and the story would have been better; that subject was never addressed and it's too heavy to casually introduce and never explore. The subjects it *did* explore were fantastic - the breakdown of a marriage; the loss of a child/miscarriage; the beginning of a relationship while separated; the beginning of a relationship when much, much older; making peace with one's past; the struggle with personal fears and acceptance; and the pursuit of one's dreams. It's beautiful.
The characters of Lucy and Ruth both interested me and McFadden revealed just enough about their lives through their alternating narratives to keep me interested and somewhat frustrated.
I loved that the characters drank wine without guilt or abandon. I thought the two or three sentences dedicated to a lost relationship with prayer/god could have been omitted and the story would have been better; that subject was never addressed and it's too heavy to casually introduce and never explore. The subjects it *did* explore were fantastic - the breakdown of a marriage; the loss of a child/miscarriage; the beginning of a relationship while separated; the beginning of a relationship when much, much older; making peace with one's past; the struggle with personal fears and acceptance; and the pursuit of one's dreams. It's beautiful.
