Little Monsters

I had no idea what to expect as I'd never read this author before, but I really loved everything about it. And being a person who grew up going to the Cape and loving my property there, made it just that much more special. But you don't need that to enjoy the book. I highly recommend it!

Read for a book club, I found this book to be very slow, even sluggish - like trying to wade through quicksand. The story seemed to be organized around individual characters; each chapter was a different person’s story and perspective. Normally I’m not into character development, but this slowly caught my interest and attention. I felt I knew each character well. As the story picked up steam (I’m not really sure there was a plot) I was anxious to see how this whole mess - love, hate, feminism, incest, death, lesbianism, illness, and more - ended, came together. Well, it didn’t. I was dumped in the middle of nowhere. No boat, no paddle, no stars, nothing. I felt totally empty. Was I supposed to end the story however I wanted? I don’t know. I’m still wandering around.

Loved this book. Family is messy and how we deal with the ups and downs make us stronger or weaker. The choice is yours.

I liked this book because it had a good storyline and characters who were relatable. What I didn’t like was the author’s interjection of politics into the storyline. It seems as though several books I have recently read from various authors have had to make their political views known, which is disappointing. I just like to read a good fiction book which is an escape from reality and not have politics intertwined, with the characters desirable or undesirable personality traits connected to which political party they belong to.

Adrienne's writing packs a powerful punch with strong emotional impact - yet her prose flows effortless. One of the many things I value about her writing is her authenticity. Adrienne knows people, she knows families, and she understands secrets and the impact they have on those you love. Her characters are so beautifully and tragically drawn. Their struggles feel unique yet familiar in the best of ways. And though I have never been to Cape Cod, on each page I can picture every detail and smell the sea. The atmosphere serves as another character in the book instead of a mere backdrop - and I value the setting being forefront. (And now, I must plan a trip to Cape Cod!) The pacing of the narrative is spot-on and I savored every intriguing word. This book would make a great bookclub selection and generate meaningful discussion. I adored Little Monsters. I can't wait to see what Adrienne writes next!