Taylor again proves himself to be a master of creating recognizable, fallible humans, but the novel’s unvaried tonal character becomes wearisome and smothers too many of its virtues of canny observation.
May’s observant, moving essays are a balm for souls wearied by the nonstop pulse of contemporary life, and an invitation to reconnect with the outside world. A masterpiece of mindfulness in action; recommended for all libraries.
Ausubel grounds the seemingly far-fetched plot by having the characters themselves express wonderment and skepticism as the events unfold. Worldly-wise and cynical, Eve and Vera navigate their unconventional lifestyle by alternately clinging to each other and setting their own boundaries. The family works toward healing in an emotionally authentic way, while the unique plot keeps the pages turning. Recommended for most collections.
Here, truth really is stranger than fiction--or in this case, more “novelable”--and the retention of the photos and excerpts of Marianella’s diary from the Spanish text contributes to the veracity of an engaging work.