Saturday I was able to spend the beautiful afternoon finishing up another book! My great friend Alycia had actually recommended this book so I was definitely intrigued. She just absolutely loved it, you can read her review here.
I have to say that I really didn't get into this book until I was over halfway through! I didn't love any of the characters right from the get go and it was almost a struggle to read it. I was super bummed that I was not that interested in it because Alycia had RAVED about it so I thought for sure we'd be on the same page. But I couldn't connect with any of the characters and the story line seemed pretty depressing.
It centers around a Miss Julia Bennett who leaves her extremely abusive fiancee and heads to Oregon to move on with her life and live with her Aunt Lydia, who is quite the character. The whole story takes place in a super small town where everyone has their own problems. It doesn't seem like anyone is content with their life but throughout the book they all seem to find themselves. Overall I think the book was somewhat of a downer but I will say that I was suprised that near the end I found myself more interested in it.
Overall grade is a C. I found it to be average and not super exciting. If the storyline's of Julia and also two small children weren't so depressing I think I would have liked it more but it was just too sad for me because people actually live the way they had to live, dealing with abuse for most of their life!
I have several of Cathy Lamb's books on my to read list. I just finished one called "How to Bake a Perfect Life" and enjoyed it. Now I'm currently reading "Deep Dish: A Novel" and I'm having trouble getting in to it. Not sure I'll be able to finish it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Amanda!! That's too funny that both How to Bake a Perfect Life and Deep Dish are on my list! I'm glad you enjoyed How to Bake A Perfect Life. I'm looking forward to that one :)
ReplyDeleteSad day! Well I am sorry you didn't like. I immediately fell in love with whacky aunt lydia and she pulled me through the downer parts. Good with the next book! What's on the docket?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review. I love hearing which books you like or don't like. Plus Love that you don't give away the whole story.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I am about 1/4 of the way through, and now it is getting somewhere. I only have time to read it during waiting times, like at doc appointments and such.