Helpful Score: 3
This was one of my first requests as a newcomer to PBS, I awaited this book anxiously & in the days before I recieved it, I looked up reviews on it wherever I could find them. Once I recieved it, I already had 15 books in my TBR pile but I went straight to this one & read it within 2 days. With all the anticipation I had gotten up for this book, I was rather disappointed...I just expected more. I am not sure however if the book disappointed me or if I built it up to let myself get disappointed. It took awhile to get into the book & then once I got real into it, it just kind of dropped me. I didnt like the ending & I esp didnt like the ending between the main character & the sisters boyfriend Wolf. It wasnt a bad book, just not what I had expected it to be. With such a great title, I just was left wanting more.
Helpful Score: 2
Great read! Suspenseful and emotional. Phoebe struggles with the death of her father and then a few years later her sister. Her sister was always daddy's girl and Phoebe's insecurities take her on a trip to find not only the resolution to death's mystery but herself as well.
Helpful Score: 1
A gorgeous, deeply realized novel that I have read twice and have recommended countless times. Dazzlingly authentic.
I really liked this book. Engrossing and sad...highly recommend.
Wonderful book - holds you until the end.
I thought this was just okay, a little odd. I probably would not recommend it.
Having lived in SF for 30 years, including during the Flower Power years, this book brought back many memories for me. Nonetheless, I really struggled with this book for about 2/3's of the way. The ending was very moving and sad. Well written, but a difficult read.
Powerful and intelligent. One reviewer wrote "no one should be allowed to write a first novel of such beauty and accomplishment". Well said.
One of my all time favorites!
Egan is always on my "must read" list, so I went back to her first novel, not expecting much. If only all first novels were so good! Egan has a special talent for describing & defining & illustrating close relationships that are off-kilter, permanently or temporarily. Her characters' actions & emotions are coherent unto themselves. You think you might know & understand them. Dialogue spot on. Situations interesting. Filled with good stuff, not just overlong location descriptions. Wish I wrote that!
