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Fragile Beasts
When their hard-drinking, but loving, father dies in a car accident, teenage brothers Kyle and Klint Hayes face a bleak prospect: leaving their Pennsylvania hometown for an uncertain life in Arizona with the mother who ran out on them years ago. But in a strange twist of fate, their town’s matriarch, an eccentric, wealthy old woman whose family once owned the county coal mines, hears the boys’ story. Candace Jack doesn’t have an ounce of maternal instinct, yet for reasons she does not even understand herself, she is compelled to offer them a home.
Suddenly, the two boys go from living in a small, run-down house on a gravel road to a stately mansion filled with sumptuous furnishings and beautiful artwork—artwork that’s predominantly centered, oddly, on bullfighting. And then there’s Miss Jack’s real-life bull: Ventisco—a regal, hulking, jet-black beast who roams the land she owns with fiery impudence.
Kyle adjusts more easily to the transition. A budding artist, he finds a kindred spirit in Miss Jack. But local baseball hero Klint refuses to warm up to his new benefactress and instead throws himself into his game with a fierceness that troubles his little brother. Klint is not just grieving his father’s death; he’s carrying a terrible secret that he has never revealed to anyone. Unbeknownst to the world, Candace Jack has a secret too—a tragic, passionate past in Spain that the boys’ presence threatens to reveal as she finds herself caring more for them than she ever believed possible.
From the muted, bruised hills of Pennsylvania coal country to the colorful, flamboyant bull rings of southern Spain, Tawni O’Dell takes us on a riveting journey not only between two completely different lands, but also between seemingly incompatible souls, casting us under her narrative spell in which characters and places are rendered with fragile tenderness.
Suddenly, the two boys go from living in a small, run-down house on a gravel road to a stately mansion filled with sumptuous furnishings and beautiful artwork—artwork that’s predominantly centered, oddly, on bullfighting. And then there’s Miss Jack’s real-life bull: Ventisco—a regal, hulking, jet-black beast who roams the land she owns with fiery impudence.
Kyle adjusts more easily to the transition. A budding artist, he finds a kindred spirit in Miss Jack. But local baseball hero Klint refuses to warm up to his new benefactress and instead throws himself into his game with a fierceness that troubles his little brother. Klint is not just grieving his father’s death; he’s carrying a terrible secret that he has never revealed to anyone. Unbeknownst to the world, Candace Jack has a secret too—a tragic, passionate past in Spain that the boys’ presence threatens to reveal as she finds herself caring more for them than she ever believed possible.
From the muted, bruised hills of Pennsylvania coal country to the colorful, flamboyant bull rings of southern Spain, Tawni O’Dell takes us on a riveting journey not only between two completely different lands, but also between seemingly incompatible souls, casting us under her narrative spell in which characters and places are rendered with fragile tenderness.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2010
64 people are currently reading
2117 people want to read
About the author
Tawni O'Dell
12 books590 followersTawni O'Dell is the New York Times bestselling author of Fragile Beasts, Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads, which was an Oprah's Book Club pick and a Book-of-the-Month Club Main Selection. Tawni's screen adaptation of Back Roads is currently in development to be made into a film with Adrian Lyne set to direct. Her work has been translated into 15 languages and been published in over 30 countries.
Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children.
Tawni was born and raised in the coal-mining region of western Pennsylvania, the territory she writes about with such striking authenticity. She graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism and spent many years living in the Chicago area before moving back to Pennsylvania where she now lives with her two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 330 reviews
August 1, 2013
When I read Tawni O'Dell's Coal Run a few years ago, it became an instant favorite. So I was certain that I would love Fragile Beasts. I hate it when I'm wrong. Three stars is probably a little generous. However, parts of it were compelling so I can't quite give it two stars. I guess I'll just settle on 2 1/2.
Set in Pennsylvania coal country, Fragile Beasts tells the story of the wealthy and reclusive Candace Jack, a woman who has tried to recreate the Spain of her youth in the remote mansion where she makes her home. Her obsession for all things Spanish begins as so many obsessions do: with a loss. The love of her life, a Spanish bullfighter, is killed in the ring, leaving Candace to forever mourn what could have been. Understandably, the town sees her as the crazy old spinster lady that nobody ever sees--although, in lieu of cats, she keeps a bull. That's right. A bull. She bought the bull that killed her lover and has always kept one bull from each generation of his progeny.
So, we have an old woman nearing the end of a life created from walling herself off from her own emotions and from other people. We've been here before. There's only one thing to do: create a plot device by which she is forced to interact with a young person who is damaged himself/herself and through this unlikely pairing, both will be forever changed. In this case, Candace agrees to take in two teenage boys who have recently lost their father in a drunk driving accident. Their mother left years ago and is clearly an unfit parent, even though she returns to collect the boys and move them to Arizona. Candace reluctantly agrees to take the boys in mainly to spite the mother, to whom she takes an instant dislike. The rest of the novel follows the uneasy relationship between the two boys, Kyle and Klint, who are coping with the death of their father, and Candace, a woman whose motherly instincts are non-existent.
The main issue with the book is that there is simply too much going on. There are two stories, one set in the past during Candace's experiences in Spain and one in the present. The present day story is narrated from 3 points of view: Candace, Kyle (the sensitive, more emotionally open boy), and her Spanish butler/friend, Luis. However, the "voice" between these three perspectives isn't varied enough. Kyle in particular seems inauthentic as his chapters don't always read like that of a young teenager. Sure, he's mature for his age, but I've never known a teenager to be that insightful. Candace Jack is exactly what one would expect of a wealthy older woman--always concerned with the proper way of dressing, speaking, eating, behaving, etc. If she had been more salty and cantankerous it would have given the novel more energy and perhaps more suspense. She has flashes of humor, but they're sparse. These first person points of view also lead to a lot of telling and not showing. Most of the chapters are presented as internal dialogue in which the character reflects on the progress being made in forming the tentative bonds that may eventually bring them together as a family. Instead of reflections, I would have preferred to see more in the moment interactions between the characters. The Luis chapters serve primarily to explain what happened in Candace's life decades ago.
Despite its predictability and its flaws, there are some compelling moments, some witty dialogue, and I admire O'Dell's refusal to shy away from the dark corners of life. For me, the back story of Candace and the bullfighter are the most interesting, as are Luis's stories about being a boy in Spain. These stories made me wish an entire novel had been dedicated to Candace's youth. As it is, the competing storylines never seem to get the breathing room they need to come alive.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder and at Shelf Inflicted
Set in Pennsylvania coal country, Fragile Beasts tells the story of the wealthy and reclusive Candace Jack, a woman who has tried to recreate the Spain of her youth in the remote mansion where she makes her home. Her obsession for all things Spanish begins as so many obsessions do: with a loss. The love of her life, a Spanish bullfighter, is killed in the ring, leaving Candace to forever mourn what could have been. Understandably, the town sees her as the crazy old spinster lady that nobody ever sees--although, in lieu of cats, she keeps a bull. That's right. A bull. She bought the bull that killed her lover and has always kept one bull from each generation of his progeny.
So, we have an old woman nearing the end of a life created from walling herself off from her own emotions and from other people. We've been here before. There's only one thing to do: create a plot device by which she is forced to interact with a young person who is damaged himself/herself and through this unlikely pairing, both will be forever changed. In this case, Candace agrees to take in two teenage boys who have recently lost their father in a drunk driving accident. Their mother left years ago and is clearly an unfit parent, even though she returns to collect the boys and move them to Arizona. Candace reluctantly agrees to take the boys in mainly to spite the mother, to whom she takes an instant dislike. The rest of the novel follows the uneasy relationship between the two boys, Kyle and Klint, who are coping with the death of their father, and Candace, a woman whose motherly instincts are non-existent.
The main issue with the book is that there is simply too much going on. There are two stories, one set in the past during Candace's experiences in Spain and one in the present. The present day story is narrated from 3 points of view: Candace, Kyle (the sensitive, more emotionally open boy), and her Spanish butler/friend, Luis. However, the "voice" between these three perspectives isn't varied enough. Kyle in particular seems inauthentic as his chapters don't always read like that of a young teenager. Sure, he's mature for his age, but I've never known a teenager to be that insightful. Candace Jack is exactly what one would expect of a wealthy older woman--always concerned with the proper way of dressing, speaking, eating, behaving, etc. If she had been more salty and cantankerous it would have given the novel more energy and perhaps more suspense. She has flashes of humor, but they're sparse. These first person points of view also lead to a lot of telling and not showing. Most of the chapters are presented as internal dialogue in which the character reflects on the progress being made in forming the tentative bonds that may eventually bring them together as a family. Instead of reflections, I would have preferred to see more in the moment interactions between the characters. The Luis chapters serve primarily to explain what happened in Candace's life decades ago.
Despite its predictability and its flaws, there are some compelling moments, some witty dialogue, and I admire O'Dell's refusal to shy away from the dark corners of life. For me, the back story of Candace and the bullfighter are the most interesting, as are Luis's stories about being a boy in Spain. These stories made me wish an entire novel had been dedicated to Candace's youth. As it is, the competing storylines never seem to get the breathing room they need to come alive.
Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder and at Shelf Inflicted
November 24, 2014
I never expected this book to capture me. I'm not even sure why I decided to read it. The thought was in the back of my mind that I might not get through it because bullfighting was in some way involved in the story. But I usually like coming of age stories, so I plowed ahead.
What fabulous characters! Candace Jack, a reclusive spinster with a sizable fortune and a mysterious past; Kyle and Klint Hayes, teenage brothers whose life hits a tailspin after their mother leaves with their little sister and then their dad dies in a drunk driving accident; Luis, a Spaniard who transported himself to the coal country of Pennsylvania along with the majestic bull who killed his matador and Luis's best friend (as well as Candace's lover) Manuel. I was enthralled with all of them, as well as some great minor characters.
The story was alternately told by Kyle, Candace and Luis and alternated in time and place between current day Pennsylvania and the bullrings of Spain over 50 years ago. As the story unfolds, the characters open their past and their hearts in many ways. I surprisingly loved this story.
What fabulous characters! Candace Jack, a reclusive spinster with a sizable fortune and a mysterious past; Kyle and Klint Hayes, teenage brothers whose life hits a tailspin after their mother leaves with their little sister and then their dad dies in a drunk driving accident; Luis, a Spaniard who transported himself to the coal country of Pennsylvania along with the majestic bull who killed his matador and Luis's best friend (as well as Candace's lover) Manuel. I was enthralled with all of them, as well as some great minor characters.
The story was alternately told by Kyle, Candace and Luis and alternated in time and place between current day Pennsylvania and the bullrings of Spain over 50 years ago. As the story unfolds, the characters open their past and their hearts in many ways. I surprisingly loved this story.
January 13, 2014
What an absolutely wonderful book. A pair of teenage brothers living in Western Pennsylvania's coal country, abandoned by their mother and living with their father, find themselves alone after their father's accident. Faced with having to move to Arizona with a mother who has already demonstrated that she wants nothing to do with them, they are eventually taken in by a wealthy elderly spinster whose heart is still captured by her past life in Spain and the love of her life, a matador gored to death during a bullfight. The book explores the developing relationship between the boys and the woman and her motley staff.
The characters are richly drawn, the dialogue is wonderful (especially Candace's comments to the boys' mother), and the book elicits wonderful emotions on all sides of the spectrum. There are references to bullfighting, so if you're offended by that practice, you may take issue with those portions of the book.
I loved it and would wholeheartedly recommend it. I'll definitely seek out more of the author's work.
The characters are richly drawn, the dialogue is wonderful (especially Candace's comments to the boys' mother), and the book elicits wonderful emotions on all sides of the spectrum. There are references to bullfighting, so if you're offended by that practice, you may take issue with those portions of the book.
I loved it and would wholeheartedly recommend it. I'll definitely seek out more of the author's work.
October 8, 2013
I love this book. Aside from getting me through several hours of workouts (yes, the audio version), its quiet humor and character development were subtle and sweet. Because it switches between characters and time periods, those who struggle with more than a linear narrative might not enjoy this, but I loved that it bridged the past and the present to show how lives become entwined and enriched by those around them. This is so much more than a tale about two boys being taken in by an old lonely woman. It's about baseball (who knew I'd like a book about baseball), about brothers and the love they have (who knew that would appeal to me, too), and about the love and respect one can have for an animal that isn't even a pet.
The main narrator--a young boy named Kyle--probably has wisdom beyond his years, and isn't likely to have noticed all that he does (were he a REAL 15 year old boy, rather than a fictitious one), but O'Dell develops his character to offer an honest appraisal of life with a willingness to be vulnerable and forgiving.
The main narrator--a young boy named Kyle--probably has wisdom beyond his years, and isn't likely to have noticed all that he does (were he a REAL 15 year old boy, rather than a fictitious one), but O'Dell develops his character to offer an honest appraisal of life with a willingness to be vulnerable and forgiving.
November 14, 2024
Fragile Family
Update: I read this story as a print book in 2010 and loved it so much that I chose it for my new book club in 2024, this time as an audiobook. Listening to the story made it even richer. I liked Paul Boehmer's narration of Luis better than of Kyle, but it would be tough for one narrator to nail both roles as they are so discrepant. Laural Merlington voiced a wonderful Candace.
Original review:
I love stories about dysfunctional families, and this was one of the best I've read in a long time.
Fragile Beasts opens with the narration of Kyle Hayes, a 15 year-old boy who adores his older brother (Pennsylvania high-school baseball standout Klint) as well as his younger sister, Krystal. Kyle's attended every one of Klint's baseball games, and he has drawn countless pictures for Krystal. Problem is, Krystal now lives far away in Arizona after their mom scooped her up and left their father for another man. An even bigger problem is that Kyle's father just inadvertently killed himself in a drunk-driving accident.
It's quite a dilemma about where Kyle and Klint will live after their father's funeral. Their dad was a blue-collar drunk, but he looks like "Parent of the Year" compared to their cruel, cold mother. Enter the wealthy, childless Candace Jack. Miss Jack agrees to take in the boys on, mostly to spite her nephew (the owner of the local coal company), but also to protect the boys from their mother.
Candace Jack has an intricate history of her own, and her family rivals the Hayes for putting the fun in dysfunction. She has a Spaniard, Luis, living with her, and she decorates her large home in the brilliant colors and bullfighting paintings of Spain. It turns out that Candace had loved one of Spain’s most artistic torreos, Manuel Obrador. His death in the bullfighting ring in 1959 left her bereft, and she’s never recovered. But she did bring back to Pennsylvania the bull that killed Manuel, and the bull’s grandson now lives on her estate.
I adore the character of Kyle. He’s one of the sweetest teenage boys I’ve ever met. He’s inquisitive, artistic, empathic, and kind, but he still maintains the voracious appetite and ogling of girls characteristic of his age and gender.
Klint, on the other hand, is not so sweet. He’s morose and haunted, harboring a life-threatening secret.
Tawni O’Dell is a master of metaphor. Here are some of my favorites:
“All three of the (bulls) are massive coal-black monsters with sharply pointed upturned white horns that look like they’d slide through a grown man’s chest as easily as a power drill through butter” (p. 137)
“…time passes more slowly at the beginning and ends of our lives. As children time is thick and sweet like syrup yet we can’t wait to get older. We enter adulthood and time escapes like water through an open hand. Then it slows again in the twilight years, becoming the congealed consistency of fat skimmed off a stewed chicken, and we have nothing left but to wait for death” (p. 288)
I also loved the author’s exploration of artists, whether they be bullfighters, painters, or baseball players.
“An artist doesn’t create in order to get money, or fame, or acceptance, or love. It’s a force inside him, something he must do or his soul will shrivel up and die” (p. 142)
I’m a former college athlete, and Ms. O'Dell totally nailed what happens to athletes who are depressed or suffering some sort of malaise:
“An accountant can be down in the dumps and still add up his daily figures. A teacher can be concerned about her sick mother and still assign chapters for her students to read. A truck driver can be angry at his spouse and still cover all the miles on his route. But an artist’s self is his work. If something is wrong with one, the other falls into decay. I imagine it’s the same for an athlete and his performance” (p. 152).
My only criticism is that the plot sagged a bit at the end of the second act. While I loved Candace and Luis, I didn’t find their points of view as appealing as Kyle’s.
Brilliant characterization, gripping emotions, a plot with depth and heart – this novel is a must read.
Update: I read this story as a print book in 2010 and loved it so much that I chose it for my new book club in 2024, this time as an audiobook. Listening to the story made it even richer. I liked Paul Boehmer's narration of Luis better than of Kyle, but it would be tough for one narrator to nail both roles as they are so discrepant. Laural Merlington voiced a wonderful Candace.
Original review:
I love stories about dysfunctional families, and this was one of the best I've read in a long time.
Fragile Beasts opens with the narration of Kyle Hayes, a 15 year-old boy who adores his older brother (Pennsylvania high-school baseball standout Klint) as well as his younger sister, Krystal. Kyle's attended every one of Klint's baseball games, and he has drawn countless pictures for Krystal. Problem is, Krystal now lives far away in Arizona after their mom scooped her up and left their father for another man. An even bigger problem is that Kyle's father just inadvertently killed himself in a drunk-driving accident.
It's quite a dilemma about where Kyle and Klint will live after their father's funeral. Their dad was a blue-collar drunk, but he looks like "Parent of the Year" compared to their cruel, cold mother. Enter the wealthy, childless Candace Jack. Miss Jack agrees to take in the boys on, mostly to spite her nephew (the owner of the local coal company), but also to protect the boys from their mother.
Candace Jack has an intricate history of her own, and her family rivals the Hayes for putting the fun in dysfunction. She has a Spaniard, Luis, living with her, and she decorates her large home in the brilliant colors and bullfighting paintings of Spain. It turns out that Candace had loved one of Spain’s most artistic torreos, Manuel Obrador. His death in the bullfighting ring in 1959 left her bereft, and she’s never recovered. But she did bring back to Pennsylvania the bull that killed Manuel, and the bull’s grandson now lives on her estate.
I adore the character of Kyle. He’s one of the sweetest teenage boys I’ve ever met. He’s inquisitive, artistic, empathic, and kind, but he still maintains the voracious appetite and ogling of girls characteristic of his age and gender.
Klint, on the other hand, is not so sweet. He’s morose and haunted, harboring a life-threatening secret.
Tawni O’Dell is a master of metaphor. Here are some of my favorites:
“All three of the (bulls) are massive coal-black monsters with sharply pointed upturned white horns that look like they’d slide through a grown man’s chest as easily as a power drill through butter” (p. 137)
“…time passes more slowly at the beginning and ends of our lives. As children time is thick and sweet like syrup yet we can’t wait to get older. We enter adulthood and time escapes like water through an open hand. Then it slows again in the twilight years, becoming the congealed consistency of fat skimmed off a stewed chicken, and we have nothing left but to wait for death” (p. 288)
I also loved the author’s exploration of artists, whether they be bullfighters, painters, or baseball players.
“An artist doesn’t create in order to get money, or fame, or acceptance, or love. It’s a force inside him, something he must do or his soul will shrivel up and die” (p. 142)
I’m a former college athlete, and Ms. O'Dell totally nailed what happens to athletes who are depressed or suffering some sort of malaise:
“An accountant can be down in the dumps and still add up his daily figures. A teacher can be concerned about her sick mother and still assign chapters for her students to read. A truck driver can be angry at his spouse and still cover all the miles on his route. But an artist’s self is his work. If something is wrong with one, the other falls into decay. I imagine it’s the same for an athlete and his performance” (p. 152).
My only criticism is that the plot sagged a bit at the end of the second act. While I loved Candace and Luis, I didn’t find their points of view as appealing as Kyle’s.
Brilliant characterization, gripping emotions, a plot with depth and heart – this novel is a must read.
April 25, 2012
This is one of the most wonderful books I've read. I couldn't put it down. Tawni O'Dell has the reader choking back the tears one minute and laughing out loud the next. Because that's what the life of her characters is all about, as life is: an ever-tilting balance between tragedy and humour. The adolescent Kyle is extremely convincing in his behaviour and way of thinking. Most endearing, too. But I particularly enjoyed the banter between Candace Jack and Luis. Her quick comebacks and Luis' no-nonsense attitude were brilliant. And what is remarkable about the relationships between the main characters is that they are brought together by "arrangement" rather than blood ties or marriage. The constant reshaping of each of the characters' journey, through their interaction, is masterful.
June 19, 2010
Fragile Beasts is a story of unexpected occurrences, the collision of different worlds and,self preservation and strength. Tawni O'Dell has created wonderfully rich, complicated characters that are both layered and flawed. The author has a gift of bring levity into a story to keep the flow going and the balance beautiful and her writing is crisp. Most interesting is the dual story that occurs in Spain a half century prior that delves deeply in the world of a matador, the bull and the fight. I read the author's book "Back Roads" years ago, and at the time, remember thinking this writer is special.
July 22, 2016
I LOVED this book. It felt like a surprise and an old friend at the same time. The characters were wonderful and the author had a subtle sense of humor that showed up in some unexpected places. I didn't love the content of and reasons for the climax of the book and actually felt it was unnecessary in many ways, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. But overall, it was a pleasure to read and will be a pleasure to think about and remember.
August 24, 2011
I have read Tawni O'Dell's other books but I will say that this is the best of the lot. Beautifully written and merging two cultures that seemingly have nothing in common; Pennsylvania coal country and Spain and the glory of bullfighting. I fell in love with the characters and the wonderfully clever way she twists the story to where it all comes to a tidy close. I love books that clearly end...and this one did in a very satisfying manner.
July 12, 2010
Despite other reviews, this was by far my favorite book by Tawni O'Dell, now a favorite author of mine. Without spoilers, this was well written and thought provoking. When I first read the reviews and description of the book, I truly thought it would not be that good, but was delightfully surprised.
The description doesn't do the book justice. Wonderful novel, compelling characters, just a plain good read. For those who want a book that will touch your soul, this is the one.
The description doesn't do the book justice. Wonderful novel, compelling characters, just a plain good read. For those who want a book that will touch your soul, this is the one.
March 25, 2014
This is a beautiful story about two orphan boys who are given a home by an elderly woman with no family. The characters are so well developed that I became personally attached to them. Although the storyline is originally about loss and loneliness, it moves to a very satisfying conclusion that will remain with me for some time.
September 2, 2012
I loved this book so much! I'm going to recommend it for book club. O'Dell does a wonderful job writing the settings of the book and the characters were unique, funny and poignant. Love it!
April 6, 2016
Great book!! One of my favorites
March 22, 2019
Beautiful story told from several different points of view. It toggles back an forth between present day, small town Pennsylvania coal country and 1959 Spain and bullfighting exploits. Both settings are fascinating and have revelations that surprise, while realistically telling the story of a an old, lonely, wealthy woman and two struggling teenage boys. It also begins with a great first sentence:
"Manuel Obrador knew that he was dead but understood he had not yet finished dying."
"Manuel Obrador knew that he was dead but understood he had not yet finished dying."
January 14, 2019
4.5 Stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
November 15, 2021
7 on 10 scale. Good vacation read.
June 14, 2010
Of all things, Tawni O'Dell is from Indiana, PA, which makes her ok in my book to start with. Recommended by a friend, I loved this book so much I rushed out to the library for "Back Roads" and "Coal Run"! But back to "Fragile Beasts." Tawni deals with consistent locale (western PA coal mining towns) and themes (adversity, becoming an adult) through all of her books and, into that mix, adds well-drawn characters. In "Fragile Beasts," two high school boys are taken in by a wealthy eccentric and the bonds they form are remarkable.... sort of a Caucasian version of "The Blindside." Would highly recommend to all ages and also feel that younger readers would find the material and themes compelling.
August 21, 2010
Yes, I'm lonesome for Western PA, and I find it comforting to read authors who understand the PA landscape. Yes, I know this is an Oprah kind of book (after all, O'Dell's BACK ROADS was an Oprah Book Club selection.) Still, I loved this tale of a pair of abandoned boys and an edgy, aging spinster. O'Dell nails the voices of her narrators, including the Spainard who has transplanted himself to W. PA. Somewhat amazing that my husband also enjoyed this one, though he found it difficult to suspend his belief because the baseball scenes were "totally inaccurate." Me, I didn't notice, caught up as I was in the interplay between engaging characters. I'm hoping the inaccuracy doesn't extend to the bull-fighting scenes, since I found the description of the sport to be eloquent and moving.
June 15, 2014
I didn't like this book as well as the first book I read of hers, "Coal Run". Coal Run was a powerful and touching book about coal miners. So I had really high expectations here and this book didn't do much for me. I didn't think her young men characters of Klint and Kyle were that believable as young men. And I didn't like that the mom was so evil with no redeeming qualities. It was not believable to me that a woman would hold on to a love affair when she was 20 for over 50 years. All in all this book just didn't do much for me.
February 17, 2012
This book was in first person, which is fine, yet it had three narrators. I thought two would be sufficient as there were only two "main" characters I cared about.
I didn't think the prologue was necessary and gave me the wrong feel for the book initially. As I read further, I did enjoy the story and the characterization was very good.
Original storyline.
I didn't think the prologue was necessary and gave me the wrong feel for the book initially. As I read further, I did enjoy the story and the characterization was very good.
Original storyline.
September 26, 2016
A book set in Western PA coal mining country featuring bull fighting? Crazy, huh. But it was a wonderful story about 2 teenage boys and a pack of family troubles. The author fleshed out all the characters so well that it really pulled me into the story where I was so anxious that everything would turn out well for them all.
May 26, 2016
A slow build but a great read. I empathised with the characters greatly. I enjoyed the story and am glad I pushed through the slow parts. I think I would reread it in a few years. looking forward to reading more of her books.
August 16, 2010
loved it, memorable characters, excellent story, hated it to end. and to think i randomly chose it from the "new books" shelf at the library!
July 12, 2013
Seriously one of the best books I've read this year.
I loved it so much, and now I miss Miss Jack and Kyle and Luis.
READ IT, PEOPLE.
I loved it so much, and now I miss Miss Jack and Kyle and Luis.
READ IT, PEOPLE.
September 22, 2014
Another great one by O'Dell. Baseball and bullfighting on a small PA town. Whodaknew. Read it
November 10, 2015
Excellent story! I loved it
September 14, 2018
OK. My least favorite after Back Roads, Coal Run & Sister Mine (in that order).
February 14, 2012
I really enjoyed it.
March 17, 2015
Good story but didn't care for the whole bullfighting aspect.
March 20, 2025
Wow, this book caught me completely off guard. I picked it up thinking, Why did Goodreads recommend this to me? The first few pages didn’t grab me, and I almost gave up. But something told me to stick with it, and around page 50 or so, I was hooked.
This book is full of wonder. The writing, the characters, the depth—it’s one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you and doesn’t let go. The character that completely captivated me was Kyle. At fifteen, he’s wise beyond his years, yet still just a kid trying to find his place in the world. His love for his brother is fierce, and he’s constantly battling to be seen and accepted for who he is. I kept rereading his thoughts and observations, just letting them sink in. He’s one of those rare characters who feels like he has his own soul, with a beauty that’s impossible to ignore.
Then there’s Candace—vulnerable, complex, and impossible not to love. She makes you reflect on your own life, on love, on what it means to truly live. And Luis? What a gem. I found myself wishing I had a Luis in my life—someone who knows how to tease in just the right way, but who is also fiercely loyal and loving.
Something I never expected? To become fascinated by bullfighting. It’s not something I’ve ever had an interest in, but O’Dell has a way of storytelling that made me see it differently. It’s a rare thing when a book can shift your perspective like that—where you walk away feeling changed without feeling like you compromised yourself.
And then there’s Klint. His story is raw and heartbreaking. Without giving anything away, his arc is a lesson in judgment, in compassion, in how much we don’t know about the struggles of others.
This book challenged me, educated me, changed me. And the writing? Some of these passages had me wanting to highlight entire chapters. Just look at this:
“The simple truth is I like to learn things… sometimes when I least expect it, I encounter a new idea or a historical event or a scientific fact that blows me away.”
“People wonder why jerks rule the world. It’s because everyone gets up and goes and sits somewhere else instead of dealing with them.”
“Klint never loses his temper, especially around strangers. He loses it around me all the time, but I don’t mind. I find it kind of flattering. It means he can relax around me and reveal his true emotions.”
“Most people are always pretending to be something they’re not, and I don’t understand why. If you’re going to pretend to be one way, then you must think that’s the right way to be so why not just be that way to begin with? But then there are certain people who are so great and make you so happy that you don’t care about all the jerks. It’s really amazing that a couple decent people can protect you from millions of idiots. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like not to have any good people in your life at all, not even one. I think that’s how psychos are made.”
I could go on forever, but I’ll leave it at this: Fragile Beasts is a book that deserves to be read slowly, savored, and remembered. If you give it the chance, it just might leave a mark on you too.
This book is full of wonder. The writing, the characters, the depth—it’s one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you and doesn’t let go. The character that completely captivated me was Kyle. At fifteen, he’s wise beyond his years, yet still just a kid trying to find his place in the world. His love for his brother is fierce, and he’s constantly battling to be seen and accepted for who he is. I kept rereading his thoughts and observations, just letting them sink in. He’s one of those rare characters who feels like he has his own soul, with a beauty that’s impossible to ignore.
Then there’s Candace—vulnerable, complex, and impossible not to love. She makes you reflect on your own life, on love, on what it means to truly live. And Luis? What a gem. I found myself wishing I had a Luis in my life—someone who knows how to tease in just the right way, but who is also fiercely loyal and loving.
Something I never expected? To become fascinated by bullfighting. It’s not something I’ve ever had an interest in, but O’Dell has a way of storytelling that made me see it differently. It’s a rare thing when a book can shift your perspective like that—where you walk away feeling changed without feeling like you compromised yourself.
And then there’s Klint. His story is raw and heartbreaking. Without giving anything away, his arc is a lesson in judgment, in compassion, in how much we don’t know about the struggles of others.
This book challenged me, educated me, changed me. And the writing? Some of these passages had me wanting to highlight entire chapters. Just look at this:
“The simple truth is I like to learn things… sometimes when I least expect it, I encounter a new idea or a historical event or a scientific fact that blows me away.”
“People wonder why jerks rule the world. It’s because everyone gets up and goes and sits somewhere else instead of dealing with them.”
“Klint never loses his temper, especially around strangers. He loses it around me all the time, but I don’t mind. I find it kind of flattering. It means he can relax around me and reveal his true emotions.”
“Most people are always pretending to be something they’re not, and I don’t understand why. If you’re going to pretend to be one way, then you must think that’s the right way to be so why not just be that way to begin with? But then there are certain people who are so great and make you so happy that you don’t care about all the jerks. It’s really amazing that a couple decent people can protect you from millions of idiots. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like not to have any good people in your life at all, not even one. I think that’s how psychos are made.”
I could go on forever, but I’ll leave it at this: Fragile Beasts is a book that deserves to be read slowly, savored, and remembered. If you give it the chance, it just might leave a mark on you too.
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