It was my turn to pick the book for my Book Club to read in February and I picked Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.
The hardcopy book includes a list of book club questions at the back which makes it a great choice for a book club to read and whomever picks the book leads the discussion so this was really handy for me to lead our book club discussion.
This is a story set in the summer of 1961 in the small town of Minnesota and narrated by young 13 year old Frank and includes his younger brother Jake, older sister Ariel and parents who are Ministers at the Local Church.
There are a series of tragic events, mysteries and death of town folk including within Frank's family and Frank who happens to be at the right place at the right time is involved in trying to solve the mystery of the deaths. This is not a fast paced mystery but more of a slow and melancholic mystery. What starts as a sweet story about kids enjoying their summer holidays very soon becomes a more complex read about what it's like to deal with death in the family, grief, sorrow and also the unbreakable bond of love within families.
The writing is brilliant and really draws you into Frank's coming of age story and his young and innocent observations about such adult topics.
Everything is described so well so that you feel you are back in time walking the local streets passing the barber shop, exploring the railroad tracks and river. All the characters are unique and memorable and fit into the story perfectly.
I really liked the Epilogue at the back of the book where the story was all pieced together so there were no loose ends and it gives the reader closure.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in an old fashioned melancholic style mystery.
I give this book 5 stars out of 5
The hardcopy book includes a list of book club questions at the back which makes it a great choice for a book club to read and whomever picks the book leads the discussion so this was really handy for me to lead our book club discussion.
There are a series of tragic events, mysteries and death of town folk including within Frank's family and Frank who happens to be at the right place at the right time is involved in trying to solve the mystery of the deaths. This is not a fast paced mystery but more of a slow and melancholic mystery. What starts as a sweet story about kids enjoying their summer holidays very soon becomes a more complex read about what it's like to deal with death in the family, grief, sorrow and also the unbreakable bond of love within families.
The writing is brilliant and really draws you into Frank's coming of age story and his young and innocent observations about such adult topics.
Everything is described so well so that you feel you are back in time walking the local streets passing the barber shop, exploring the railroad tracks and river. All the characters are unique and memorable and fit into the story perfectly.
I really liked the Epilogue at the back of the book where the story was all pieced together so there were no loose ends and it gives the reader closure.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in an old fashioned melancholic style mystery.
I give this book 5 stars out of 5
Jarrah Jungle's Star Rating:
1 Bad - I'd rather eat brussel sprouts topped with anchovies than read this again
2 Not Good - I'd rather watch paint dry than read this again
3 Ok - I'm sitting on the fence - its not great but not terrible either
4 Good - I'd give up a bottle of the worlds best champagne for this read
5 Great - I'd pass up a date with Johnny Depp for this read
2 Not Good - I'd rather watch paint dry than read this again
3 Ok - I'm sitting on the fence - its not great but not terrible either
4 Good - I'd give up a bottle of the worlds best champagne for this read
5 Great - I'd pass up a date with Johnny Depp for this read
I haven't heard of this author or book before... thanks for sharing another great review! I will def. check this one out.
ReplyDeleteCarrie
curlycraftymom.com
This is a really lovely read Carrie x
DeleteWow, 5 out of 5 is a great review. Always looking for something new to read, thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteYes and that's coming from a tough scorer I don't often give up a date with Johnny Depp for a book!
DeleteThis sounds like a good book! Sometimes it's nice to read a mystery that isn't so fast paced.
ReplyDeleteIt was a really different style which made it a great read!
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