Helpful Score: 7
Anne Lamott is a wonderful writer, and I have read and loved all her other books. This one suffers from incessant references to church, the bible, prayers, G-d's will, etc-- not that there's anything wrong with that, but they appear disconnected from the story. Perhaps this is an attempt to fit into the category of "Christian fiction"-- which, if you like that genre, you will probably like this book. If you check out the reviews of this book on Amazon you will see a total split among reviewers, where the Christian fiction readers love the book, and almost everyone else hates it.
Even though I experienced this novel as tedious and boring, I still wanted to finish it to see what happened next. The characters were interesting and enjoyable and some of the dialog, when it wasn't between people talking about Christian subjects, was not vapid and formulaic-- but witty and real, as Lamott's other books have been. In this book, it's like Lamott has developed a Christian form of Alzheimer's, and only flashes of herself as a talented writer appear throughout the book.
Even though I experienced this novel as tedious and boring, I still wanted to finish it to see what happened next. The characters were interesting and enjoyable and some of the dialog, when it wasn't between people talking about Christian subjects, was not vapid and formulaic-- but witty and real, as Lamott's other books have been. In this book, it's like Lamott has developed a Christian form of Alzheimer's, and only flashes of herself as a talented writer appear throughout the book.
Helpful Score: 5
Lamott's non-fiction, in my opinion, is better, but this fictional work is a good summer read.
Helpful Score: 5
I bought this book to read with my book club. I probably would not have chosen it on my own.
This is the first book by Anne Lamott I read - or I should say ATTEMPTED to read. And it will be my last. I absolutely hated this book. I'm an avid reader, and I can not remember the last time I started a book and didn't finish it. Normally, I feel compelled to read a book to the end, even if I don't like it, thinking there must be something redeeming about it. I kept pushing myself to finish this one, but just could not get into it. I can't recall another book that I have started and left unfinished in the last 20 years.
This book is about a divorced woman dealing with her family relationships. Her family is highly dysfunctional. Every character in this book is dysfunctional... Beyond that, they are just plain weird. I couldn't relate to any of it. The main character is just the most whiny, awfully depicted person I've ever read about! I could clearly see why this couple was divorced, though. They were a pair of nut jobs. It's a story about nothing... It just goes on and on. I will never be able to read another Anne Lamott novel. This was just so bad!
I'd love to get this book off my bookshelf, but I have to be honest... If you're considering reading this, just choose another novel instead!
This is the first book by Anne Lamott I read - or I should say ATTEMPTED to read. And it will be my last. I absolutely hated this book. I'm an avid reader, and I can not remember the last time I started a book and didn't finish it. Normally, I feel compelled to read a book to the end, even if I don't like it, thinking there must be something redeeming about it. I kept pushing myself to finish this one, but just could not get into it. I can't recall another book that I have started and left unfinished in the last 20 years.
This book is about a divorced woman dealing with her family relationships. Her family is highly dysfunctional. Every character in this book is dysfunctional... Beyond that, they are just plain weird. I couldn't relate to any of it. The main character is just the most whiny, awfully depicted person I've ever read about! I could clearly see why this couple was divorced, though. They were a pair of nut jobs. It's a story about nothing... It just goes on and on. I will never be able to read another Anne Lamott novel. This was just so bad!
I'd love to get this book off my bookshelf, but I have to be honest... If you're considering reading this, just choose another novel instead!
Helpful Score: 3
Couldn't get into this one. The language alone turned me off.
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoyed this book. I really didn't know what to expect and was pleased with what I got. The book is about a woman with two children who gets divorced. It goes through dealing with ex husband's new life and trying to move on and find love of her own.
