Reviews

The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken

maybeimbornwithit's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

soliteyah's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Some nice moments and a lovely portrayal of the narrator's mother, but I found this a bit dull overall.

davechua's review against another edition

4.0

McCracken says this is a novel but definitely feels like a memoir. Some beautiful passages and dealing with grief and loss.

readsewknit's review against another edition

4.25

Our book club delved into McCracken's THE HERO OF THIS BOOK, a nonfiction novel, if you will. McCracken dwells on grief, using a trip to London to reflect on her mother's life.

It read like genuine bereavement, so while cast as a novel, there's so much truth there, thinly veiled from her actual life and family. There was much to connect with, and a comment was made that this book could have been even more appreciated before the death of a parent, as it might nudge you to ask those questions, hear those stories that you'll miss out on otherwise.

One member always does such a good job finding interviews and reviews of the books we read, and in her absence, I stumbled on an interview about THE HERO OF THIS BOOK, conducted by someone who used to work for McCracken's mother. It helped give context as to why this was cast as fiction, allowing her more freedom in some spheres.

sleeping_raccoon's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No

3.5

menziesreads's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

Impossible not to be moved by this weaving memory trail of a clever, whip quick and dryly funny, indomitable, eccentric, much missed mother. 

mudboywa's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sjhoward's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

laurapoulosky's review against another edition

4.0

This novel written as a memoir (or perhaps it's really a somewhat-fictionalized memoir that the narrator, an author herself, insists is a novel) is a touching character study of a mother by her grieving daughter. I enjoyed how real these characters felt and learning the details of their personalities.

malvord27's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0