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genevieve_c's review against another edition
5.0
Heart breaking. I still get a her in my eye when I think about after several years. A beautiful book.
nancf's review against another edition
3.0
Another randomly selected audio book from the library that I really enjoyed. Theresa is a pretty young woman who has ways with children and animals and is seemingly loved by all the people in her Long Island town. Her younger cousin, Daisy, comes to visit in the summer and Daisy helps Theresa with her daily babysitting and dog walking duties. Though Theresa's working parents are a bit in the background, we come to know other townspeople - the older (really elderly) artist, his housekeeper, Ana, his daughter, Flora and very briefly his young wife; Dr. Kaufmann, father of the twins, his ex-wife and his new lady; the British couple with the two dogs, the Moran family, especially the children and especially Petey, among others. Though there was sorrow, this was a perfect, easy summer read.
I will look for more Alice McDermott books. (I think at one time I owned Charming Billy, but I never read it and don't think that I still own it.)
I will look for more Alice McDermott books. (I think at one time I owned Charming Billy, but I never read it and don't think that I still own it.)
lucy1375's review against another edition
3.0
Nicely written. Nothing more exciting to say about it.
beverly_army13's review against another edition
3.0
I'd give this 3.5 stars if possible.
Alice McDermott's work has been recommended to me before, but this is the first of her novels I've read. The story is gentle and sweet. Theresa, the narrator, is a sort of pied piper for kids and pets, and her little cousin (the middle child of a large family) is visiting her for the summer. Theresa negotiates the sexual advances of the men for whom she dog/baby sits alongside her own sexual awakening, and the thing that truly brings her towards adulthood: the recognition that something is wrong with her cousin, but she doesn't want to admit it. The narrator's voice is thoughtful, never sentimental. While the pace of the novel is slow, I never felt impatient with it. In fact, I enjoyed the quietness of the piece, perhaps more so because of the sorrow on which it was built.
Alice McDermott's work has been recommended to me before, but this is the first of her novels I've read. The story is gentle and sweet. Theresa, the narrator, is a sort of pied piper for kids and pets, and her little cousin (the middle child of a large family) is visiting her for the summer. Theresa negotiates the sexual advances of the men for whom she dog/baby sits alongside her own sexual awakening, and the thing that truly brings her towards adulthood: the recognition that something is wrong with her cousin, but she doesn't want to admit it. The narrator's voice is thoughtful, never sentimental. While the pace of the novel is slow, I never felt impatient with it. In fact, I enjoyed the quietness of the piece, perhaps more so because of the sorrow on which it was built.
moobus73's review against another edition
4.0
Theresa, the 15-year-old narrator of the story, begins: "I had in my care that summer four dogs, three cats, the Moran kids, Daisy, my eight-year-old cousin, and Flora, the toddler child of a local artist." As the summary on the back of the book explains, "(Theresa's) precocious, tongue-in-cheek sense of order is tested as she makes the perilous crossing into adulthood". I found this a delightful read, although the behavior of the adults eventually disrupts what could have been a completely idyllic summer on Long Island.
matthewbald1's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
michaelpdonley's review against another edition
2.0
Frustrating book. Main character not believable at all.
lilylanie's review against another edition
3.0
A fantastic book, except for one really disturbing and thoroughly unbelievable part. Why would a 15-year-old girl want to sleep with a decrepit old man? And how could she be so totally unfazed by it? Ick!!
brindabani's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship