
When I was preparing to read this book, I had not idea that it was going to be such a emotional and human story, filled with longing and regret, but also hope. I had been under the mistaken belief that this book was going to be somewhat more impersonal and more focused on specific groups of people, rather than individuals and the emotional loads they carried. It was beautiful and heartrending, and in a way, reading this book opened my eyes to the ways in which people wound each other, both intentionally and accidentally. I found myself caught up in the heartaches and struggles of the people that filled these pages, and Leegant’s prose had a way of reaching deep down into my soul and resonating in hollows I didn’t know I had.
This trifecta of stories intertwines around each other like a particularly inclement vine. As each protagonist deals with their very different circumstances, there are similar themes of alienation, absolution and restiveness that permeate them all and gently pepper the narrative with touches of naked vulnerability and heartbreak. Leegant has a perfect handle on her characters and story, never letting the pertinent points fade, but keeping them at the surface, where the reader can see not only the wounds but the scars of past experience as well. It's a heady balance of past and present that makes this book such a successful and emotional read. As I read, I was steadily grieving for the characters who had lost so much, yet remaining open to the possibilities of redemption that seemed to creep from the page.
I also think that Leegant mixes her characters well. There were some who were repugnant and some who were extremely sympathetic, but in this book, no one is totally flat and one dimensional. In what I think is a stroke of genius, Leegant makes her more difficult characters swell within their confines and become not villains, but horribly damaged people. It’s hard to hate the boy who's not loved, or to scorn the man who doesn’t know how to accept his family. Leegant gives us the whole picture and reflects through her plot permutations why they may have ended up like this and how they might still grow. She makes us see that it’s never black and white, although the darkest shade of gray may manifest itself as such, and places her characters in situations where it's impossible for them not to react and grow.
Though some aspects of this book left me with a heavy heart, there was indeed a lot of hope within the conclusion of the story, and for most of the characters, there was reason to be joyful. It must have been a sticky wicket to write about such controversial issues without being inflammatory and accusatory, but Leegant manages that and more. If you haven’t gotten the chance to read this book yet, I would recommend it to you. Its humility and energy were dark but very elastic and impressive. This is a story that I won’t soon forget and was glad to have read.
This book was provided as a complimentary review copy.
16 comments:
I think that it is always difficult to write about issues such as religious divides without appearing to support one side or the other, but it appears from your comments like the author succeeds nicely on that point.
I get the feeling from your review that these characters are really outsize, without being caricatures, also a difficult feat to pull off. The fact that as the reader you felt such emotion, even for the villanious ones, makes me think that this is something I should try, even though I am not much for the short-story, vignette, type format.
I've heard many good things about this book, but the idea of voluntarily reading a book that leaves me with a heavy heart is not appealing to me! Lovely review.
As always, such an incredible, specific review...this sounds like one of those books we all "should" read...and set aside the time to let it meld in our thoughts and hearts.
I have this one on my shelf. Definitely need to get to it soon.
Certainly a book for the holidays -family and religion, from different points of view. Perceptive review.
I had no idea what this one was about. It sounds as though this book really touched you deeply. When an author can do that, I applaud their talent.
Happy reading in 2012!
This sounds like a very emotional book. Whenever you review a book you've loved, you make me want to drop everything and read it. Great review, as always!
I agree with Kathy--your reviews are always so compelling. And I am also amazed by the sheer number of books you read! This book sounds like it would affect me greatly as well.
When you first described the three different plot lines, I wasn't sure it'd be a book for me -- perhaps too much going on? But by the end, you've made me interested. I don't mind books that leave me thinking and with heavy emotions. The character development is what caught my attention.
Oh shoot. I meant to add Merry Christmas and happy new year.
I've seen this book around but this is the first review I've read. This sounds like such a thoughtful book. What a great review.
I read this one earlier in the year and also really enjoyed it. I think I enjoyed Yona's story so much more than the others, which diminished my love of the book as a whole for me somewhat. Still, I adored Leegant's prose throughout. I'm glad you liked this one too!
I am clearly behind because this is the first I've heard of this one. It certainly sounds compelling though.
I am in the middle of reading this. I think I started reading it during a difficult reading phase which is why I never finished. I definitely plan to go back to it soon and am glad it is worth the read. I agree with Carrie that I am more interested in Yona's story though.
This is such a terrific book, and Joan is a great writer and a very nice person too!
I was quite impressed by this one as well; I really appreciated the fact that there was such a variety of characters (particularly in terms of the diverse ways in which they approached -- or avoided -- their faith) and yet there were so many similarities between them as well. I'm surprised there hasn't been more chatter about this one: it's definitely a worthwhile read!
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