This book had strong points and the language was well-done.
The only problem? The structure. It talked about one of Hattie's child to another to another. Had this been done another way, it may have worked out. But the way it was published, not so good. Each chapter was devoted to one of the kids solely yet after that, they were abandoned. Some of them, like Six and Franklin and Alice, I wanted to know more about. With the current structure, though, it was not feasible to do so.
Had I not read this in class, there's a certainty that I wouldn't have read this book. Don't get me wrong- it's not a bad book. However, if you wanted to analyze characters and situations and its connections, it isn't the type of book you should look for advice.
The relationships- or lack of- between them is transparent and you can infer how Hattie's mothering affected each child. However, they all turn out dysfunctional. It is realistic in this aspect but there is only a slim chance that someone as detached and bitter women like Hattie would continue to have children. Yes, as humans we make mistake after mistake. To make the same mistake 10 times more, though, is just sad. Hattie should have realized that it was way too soon to have more children after the occurrences of chapter 1 (Philadelphia and Jubilee.)
Hattie is the type of character we all hate- too headstrong yet not independent, fickle yet decisive. It's not the contradictions that make her such a hard character to connect with but rather her continuous unintelligent choices. I wish I could just shake some sense into her.
Each chapter is like a mini short story. Had it said it was a compilations of stories involving Hattie's children, I may have been more satisfied. At least then, I'd have been delivered what had been promised. But with what I did read, not so much.
The last promise was a decent ending though. Promised hope- though a bit too late.
Rating: 2 wands
Would I read anything by MATHIS again? So long as it doesn't involve Hattie or anything historical.
Recommended for: Anyone who doesn't mind taking time to make sense of what's happening.
Buy the book here.
Add to your shelf.
This book had strong points and the language was well-done.
The only problem? The structure. It talked about one of Hattie's child to another to another. Had this been done another way, it may have worked out. But the way it was published, not so good. Each chapter was devoted to one of the kids solely yet after that, they were abandoned. Some of them, like Six and Franklin and Alice, I wanted to know more about. With the current structure, though, it was not feasible to do so.
Had I not read this in class, there's a certainty that I wouldn't have read this book. Don't get me wrong- it's not a bad book. However, if you wanted to analyze characters and situations and its connections, it isn't the type of book you should look for advice.
The relationships- or lack of- between them is transparent and you can infer how Hattie's mothering affected each child. However, they all turn out dysfunctional. It is realistic in this aspect but there is only a slim chance that someone as detached and bitter women like Hattie would continue to have children. Yes, as humans we make mistake after mistake. To make the same mistake 10 times more, though, is just sad. Hattie should have realized that it was way too soon to have more children after the occurrences of chapter 1 (Philadelphia and Jubilee.)
Hattie is the type of character we all hate- too headstrong yet not independent, fickle yet decisive. It's not the contradictions that make her such a hard character to connect with but rather her continuous unintelligent choices. I wish I could just shake some sense into her.
Each chapter is like a mini short story. Had it said it was a compilations of stories involving Hattie's children, I may have been more satisfied. At least then, I'd have been delivered what had been promised. But with what I did read, not so much.
The last promise was a decent ending though. Promised hope- though a bit too late.
Rating: 2 wands
Would I read anything by MATHIS again? So long as it doesn't involve Hattie or anything historical.
Recommended for: Anyone who doesn't mind taking time to make sense of what's happening.
Buy the book here.
Add to your shelf.
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