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abarbolish's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book will make you believe in the goodness of ordinary people again.
rawr_tiger_run's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I've never rated a book 5-stars when there isn't a main plotline, per se. The book had my crying at the end - a full circle ending needed. The book has multiple voices throughout the book all stemming from one character: Carol. Carol wasn't dealt a winning hand in life but she took her opportunity to make something of her life. Spanning multiple decades, we learn about who made Carol from herself, family members, and close friends. The book can be difficult to follow with no chronological order. Some chapters take place back in the 1930's before jumping to the 80's and then back to 40's. This style of writing can be difficult to follow and there isn't exactly a plotline. It's more of discovering who Carol was and what's makes her unique to the family.
libraryladykati's review against another edition
5.0
Simply gorgeous. Simon Van Booy is highly underrated.
hatrireads's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely story through the generations about a rural family in Kentucky
sarahszslp's review against another edition
5.0
I became interested in this book after watching a virtual book launch last summer where author Meredith Hall interviewed Simon Van Booy. I loved the idea of the links between the generations, and the lovely portrayals of a large array of sympathetic characters, with the notable exception of Carol's daddy. It was fun to read because of the leaps across time, and also because later events often explain earlier events. The various relationships were fascinating, especially Carol's marriage to Joe. "You just don't realize when you're young that ever'thing is going to be taken away from you, and you'll be back where you started . . . except you understand it for the first time." This is a book that puts life and relationships in perspective, and makes you think about what really matters in the end.
maggiecarr's review against another edition
3.0
All the portions of this book were good but the jumping around generation to generation seemed to occur just as I was making connections to other parts of the bigger story. Far too many characters, though needed to help with dialog and date placement, just complicated things. It felt like a giant mixed up bag of genealogy findings stirred up and divided out in someone's version of organization. Maybe just not the way that will be an easy to read way for most.
aliciasc's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely braided novel set in Kentucky. The story is sad but redemptive. I highly recommend this one.
dougawells's review against another edition
4.0
My first foray into Van Booy was his amazing book, The Presence of Absence. After reading Night Came with Many Stars I am now a full convert. His prose is quiet, melodic, and achingly beautiful. This exploration of multiple generations of a family is written with a depth of character insight that made me long for it not to end.
mamurray's review against another edition
4.0
Powerful storytelling
This is a pretty great book. It grabbed me from chapter 1. There were parts that annoyed me but the narrative is compelling overall. It's a collection of KY family stories that are ultimately connected but not by the author which is perfect.
This is a pretty great book. It grabbed me from chapter 1. There were parts that annoyed me but the narrative is compelling overall. It's a collection of KY family stories that are ultimately connected but not by the author which is perfect.