Maine

I finished this book a few days ago and have been trying to decide how I feel about it, and how to convey that without spoilers. It’s rough sometimes, amirite? Let’s start with the good. Characters! I’m swooning. Each of the protagonists was so well crafted. I found myself sympathetic to and frustrated with each one multiple times—there was no clear heroine or villain. Each one was so real. I found myself wanting to give them a good shake and good advice, or persuade them to go to therapy, or hug them, just like real people I know. Another interesting thing was how well the author described the interpersonal ties, specifically how differently they all perceived each other versus how they perceived themselves (sideye Ann Marie and Kathleen/Maggie). It reminded me a lot of me and my own sister and some of the conflicts we’ve had over the years—it all stems from assuming intent behind action. This is family. Alice, the matriarch, is probably the most frustrating character to me. For most of the book, I found myself wondering about fundamental aspects of her life why did you even HAVE children, since you so clearly didn’t want them . There’s a story there, and it teases you throughout the book, but not so much that you get overly frustrated—it’s not a cheap gimmick. About the ending: I wasn’t counting pages or anything, so I wasn’t prepared for any ending at all, and it caught me off guard and then kind of pissed me off. The whole thing seemed so unresolved. (Assuming she dies—it certainly seems that way, though I guess you can choose to believe that or something else.) But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed pretty realistic. These things don’t happen when we’re ready; they happen when they happen. It took me a few days to process this book and be able to form opinions. I don’t know that I’d want to read it again soon, but maybe someday. I appreciate craft, and this book is well-written. It was a little long and heavy for a quick beach read, but maybe I’d take it on a week-long solo vacation.