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how can i put this? this was a horrendous book, painfully targeted to the oprah book club readers of the world and oh so politically-correct, with one-sided characters that can be summed up with one adjective (tip was the serious one, teddy the sweet one) and who are allowed to express contrary thoughts only once to show there may be more to them than is shown by patchett ("shut the fuck up about the coffee," as kenya thinks out of the blue, to show she is a human after all). after reading "bel
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I did not want this book to end. I loved these characters. They are all the kind of people I would want to know...smart, caring, interesting people. They are all human with real human flaws, but they make up for their flaws with their hearts. I loved all of them.
I also envied them the kind of family they had. How wonderful to have a father who would read the story of the Beagle at night to his kids; who challenged them to memorize politcal speaches; who would ruin his career to protect them. Or ...more
I also envied them the kind of family they had. How wonderful to have a father who would read the story of the Beagle at night to his kids; who challenged them to memorize politcal speaches; who would ruin his career to protect them. Or ...more

Everything was much too sweet and lovely. Everybody was perfect. The boys loved their adoptive parents and never thought about the possibility that they didn't fit together in most people's eyes. They loved each other. The father loved the kids. Everybody loved everybody. Nobody had problems with adjusting, or problems with the way outsiders saw the family, or problems with anything much for that matter.
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I learned, from this book, to resist the temptation to buy books after reading reviews of them! This would have quickly ended up in my recycling box had I actually purchased it, but fortunately I was broke so read the library copy.
I found it difficult to keep going, but I had to try and figure out what some people had found to recommend in it. I couldn't find much. It was laboured prose, stulted characters, preachy tone, and boring plot. I am unable to understand what it has to recommend it.
I be ...more
I found it difficult to keep going, but I had to try and figure out what some people had found to recommend in it. I couldn't find much. It was laboured prose, stulted characters, preachy tone, and boring plot. I am unable to understand what it has to recommend it.
I be ...more

OK, very much a fairytale, not as good as Bel Canto. She's a good writer, though.
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Not quite as riveting as Bel Canto, but still very good. Some beautiful characters, again, brought together through very unlikely circumstances, again. Patchett's talent is making the story seem believable.
I loved Tip's fascination with fish and all the descriptions related to fish. The scenes in Tip's office and at Tip's graduation contain my favorite descriptions.
I cried at the end. I'm still not sure why. I'll be re-reading this one.
(From 2007 recommended books.) ...more
I loved Tip's fascination with fish and all the descriptions related to fish. The scenes in Tip's office and at Tip's graduation contain my favorite descriptions.
I cried at the end. I'm still not sure why. I'll be re-reading this one.
(From 2007 recommended books.) ...more

I liked this better than Bel Canto which seems to put me in the minority. Patchett dealt with the family relationships and characters in a way that felt real. I didn't like the endings in Bel Canto or Run. They felt contrived, but I'll forgive her that. It seems to be the failing of a number of good, not great, authors.
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Reminded me of Ian McEwan's Saturday in that it takes place in one 24 hour period and explores the relationships between family members in light of a crisis incident.
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Aug 30, 2007
Natalya
marked it as to-read

Dec 27, 2007
Nicole
marked it as to-read

Aug 29, 2008
Sarah
marked it as to-read