I loved this book from the first time I read it; since then, I have taught it for 4 semesters, rereading and rediscovering each time. Winn's deft handling of characterization is breathtaking; the shifting POV in the book never ceases to amaze me. She masters the art of creating "voice" in fiction; I am especially impressed by the child narrators, each of whom is strikingly drawn and real. A terrific read! Chosen to read by my book group because it was set in Lowell, Massachusetts and supposedly interwoven stories live "Olive Kitteridge." Unfortunately, I found the stories very depressing. The town of Lowell was the constant for these stories and not the characters. Yet, other than the first story which was focused on Mill Girls, these stories could have been set in any town. While there was some connectivity between characters in the stories, the author chose to focus on how a minor character in one story next had a miserable experience. Because these were just snippets of lives and focused on the bitter not the sweet, it was difficult to connect with them.
What do You think about Mrs. Somebody Somebody (2010)?
Started out fine but had to make myself stick with it to the end. :(
—Ashfaq
Thanks to Sue R for this recommendation. I'm loving this one.
—erynnwiltzen
A great read. It has given me a lot to think about.
—mamalee
