Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsThe plot thickens....sort of like a thin white sauce.
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2019
This is my first Ann Patchett novel and I'd heard good things about this writer, so I was very excited to read this. I should have saved my excitement for something more worthy. The plot is plodding and about as deep as a wading pool. Just when you think it will get better it peters out. The characters are thinly developed and if the author meant to leave things up to the readers imagination or was writing a fill in the blanks book, it's well done, as you are left having to supply character depth with your imagination. I kept reading to the end hoping the plot and characters would find their moment of glory, but after the magic trick at the wedding (really, a magic trick at the wedding, how cheesy, why would you do that and steal the brides thunder?) and turning to the next page (electronically) I realized that was the end of the book. Talk about feeling cheated. I never need the author to spell out every little detail and nuance of a book, but I do need to see closure. This book lacks that satisfying closure. I'm not even asking for a HAE ending, but to abruptly leave your reader scratching their heads saying. "And....?" If this book wasn't past it's return by date I would do so. I will probably leave this writer to those that adore the unfinished novel idea.
