4.5 I enjoyed this quite a bit. A series of interconnected stories told over a span of centuries with the common thread of taking place in the North W4.5 I enjoyed this quite a bit. A series of interconnected stories told over a span of centuries with the common thread of taking place in the North Woods. I loved the characters and that the writing reflected each unique narrative voice and time. I went into the book kind of blind except for the bare bones of the story. But it’s so much more than the sum of its parts. Inventive, surprising, heartbreaking with many characters that felt very well fleshed out despite maybe not being in the story for a lot of the pages, given the structure of the story. I did find that the book lagged somewhat in the last 100 pages, the characters newly introduced not quite as engaging as they had been in earlier stories. But it did end in a way that I found satisfying and tied things together in a creative and compelling way. Had the pacing been consistent, this would have been a full 5 stars, but nonetheless I thought this was an excellent read....more
I liked this just fine. In fact, when I first got this in one of my thrift shop finds, I read the first chapter immediately, as I’m wont to do, and foI liked this just fine. In fact, when I first got this in one of my thrift shop finds, I read the first chapter immediately, as I’m wont to do, and found the narrative voice of Lidie so compelling that I took it up and put it at the top of my very high pile of priority reads. Having read it I find the promise of that singular voice fulfilled. For me it was the first and foremost strength of the novel. Seeing the other characters through the eyes of Lidie, another. I thought the author caught the tone and setting of the United States pre civil war, very well, which I as a reader find an important aspect to historical fiction. Another strength and one I appreciated a great deal because I find it relevant today, is how each side was nuanced and represented, all the good and the bad, on both sides of the issues, showing the differences, but also showing the similarities and that it is a paradox that we are all very alike, even in our differences. I try to remember that in a world that seems to hold to some pretty extreme views on either side of a good many issues today, how alike all are in voicing and defending them. We always seem to lose our way when ideas become more important than the people on the other side that we’re expressing them to. The author caught that paradox very well and showed that there is more nuance to people than first meets the eye. It was interesting to have Lidie experience so much of the things from both perspectives, while not having a clear idea of where she stood to begin with. I loved Smiley’s writing, I loved the characters and would have given this a full 5 stars except that there were lags around the political maneuverings. Otherwise a very fine read....more
Wow. I have read some really negative reviews of this and I’m a little shocked, but so glad I read them after I read the book, rather than before, as Wow. I have read some really negative reviews of this and I’m a little shocked, but so glad I read them after I read the book, rather than before, as I might of thought to pass and miss this wonder of a novel. This came to my attention while watching a book tuber, discussing his less than impressed opinion of Night Watch winning the Pulitzer. I myself don’t pay much mind to that sort of thing, preferring to just read what appeals to me. First off, the cover was very appealing, so when I read the blurb and found out it was about a woman and her child dropped off at an asylum, I was intrigued. I saw it was available on Libby and immediately borrowed it. The first few pages were a little daunting. The writing took some getting used to and there’s no quotation marks used to differentiate dialogue from prose. So it languished unread until the last 2 days before it was to be returned. So feeling pretty crappy from a virus that will not bugger off I had a day to just read and rest. Well, this book took me up and completely enthralled me. The prose had a rhythm to it that I could hear in my mind. The characters finely drawn, were engaging and the world immersive. The pacing was steady and each character’s pov was just as engaging as the other’s. I found the asylum fascinating and the pictures added a level to the story that I enjoyed immensely. It had an interesting perspective of the civil war and the trauma experienced, before, during and after, not just for the soldiers, but the women and children who lost so much as well. Though it had some very deep and painfully uncomfortable things within, there was also a current of uplift as the characters found their own way through strength and resilience, to find a path through and make lives for themselves, through the wreckage of the suffering, post war. I loved this book so much that as soon as I finished I went and ordered a copy as an early birthday present for myself. This is one of those books that will stay with me and I will read again and again. It should be noted that there are trigger warnings for this one and if you’re sensitive realize there are parts that are hard to read and check for those if so inclined....more
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