Absolution by Alice McDermott | Book Review

[@mikegseclecticreads]

Nice reflection! Personally I was a big fan of the book. I didn't really read this book as a reckoning for good intentions gone awry, but that's probably because I was more focused on the micro-level events of the book than the broader situation we knew to be developing in the background. For me it seems that characters like Charlene and Dom really DID accomplish many good things through their charity work, but we also see that it's quite complicated and that good outcomes and bad outcomes and morally grey outcomes can all be driven by charitable impulses. That said, after hearing about how you viewed the novel expecting more attention to the war itself, I can see how the framing of this more personal story within the Vietnam War implies parallels that just don't work so well. To say of the war in the same way as we say of the characters' actions, "it's complicated, but there was both good and bad that came of it" just wouldn't ring true. Personally, I viewed the setting of the Vietnam War as placing Patricia within a situation too big and complicated for her to really comprehend, something that she can only begin to understand through these little personal glimpses that can't do justice to the messy reality of it all. So thematically, I think this setting works well there. But it's true, the blurb's statement that the author "confronts the unresolved mysteries and ironies of America’s tragic interference in Southeast Asia" feels like an overstatement. Thanks for the review; I've been looking forward to watching this as soon as I finished the book!

[@rinceyreads]

Thanks for your comment! I appreciated hearing your POV eve though it was different.

[@sandrafrances]

Thanks for your review. I love the way this book started. I liked hearing about the lives of the young wives of the men in Vietnam. That was the best part of the book to me. It seemed to be disjointed somewhat as I read through the book. I will admit that I listened to it on an audiobook and wasn't always paying close attention as it just didn't hold my interest. The ending was not what I was hoping. I didn't understand the connection to Charlene's daughter being such a strong heavy part of the book either. So I know it's a great book and a lot of people love it. It just didn't quite do it for me. Not one I could recommend as a really good read.

[@KierTheScrivener]

Thank you for your review!

[@barbarablonsky7521]

I agree with you 100%. I was so dissatisfied with this book. Although I found it compelling to read, I was so disappointed with the characters. They never changed, they never seemed to grow. I needed epiphany, recognition…something more than I got. I had heard many many good things about the book and was very surprised that I did not appreciate it more. I was particularly annoyed by getting “peeks” into the women’s character without more being revealed. So much about Charlene seemed to be interesting description …or little teases…..that went nowhere. I did not really care about any of the characters. So, thank you for your review! Glad I am not alone in my feelings about this book!

[@Secret413]

I just finished this book and felt the same. Started off great but fizzled at the end. I was a bit confused at the whole point of the book. Are we supposed to sympathize or be annoyed at her sacrifice?

[@rinceyreads]

Yeah exactly. In the end, I didn't really sympathize 😅

[@jaynehunter-ar]

I grabbed this on my bookseller’s recommendation-it really intrigues me! Thanks for sharing your thoughts-it makes me even more curious about how it unfolds.

[@rinceyreads]

Definitely interested to hear more opinions on this one

[@Michelelynnreads]

This is on my TBR and then a bookseller recommended it too. Very curious and need to get to this one soon! I’ve wanted to read more about the Vietnam War, but it sounds like this only touches on it. I appreciate your thoughts.

[@heathereads]

have not read Absolution but you have me interested. Will add to my Wish List for post - Read What You Own