Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014The Million Copy Best-SellerRosemary’s young, just at college, and she’s decided not to tell anyone a thing about her family. So we’re not going to tell you too much either: you’ll have to find out for yourselves, round about page 77, what it is that makes her unhappy family unlike any other.Rosemary is now an only child, but she used to have a sister the … the same age as her, and an older brother. Both are now gone – vanished from her life. There’s something unique about Rosemary’s sister, Fern. And it was this decision, made by her parents, to give Rosemary a sister like no other, that began all of Rosemary’s trouble. So now she’s telling her story: full of hilarious asides and brilliantly spiky lines, it’s a looping narrative that begins towards the end, and then goes back to the beginning. Twice.It’s funny, clever, intimate, honest, analytical and swirling with ideas that will come back to bite you. We hope you enjoy it, and if, when you’re telling a friend about it, you do decide to spill the beans about Fern – it’s pretty hard to resist – don’t worry. One of the few studies Rosemary doesn’t quote says that spoilers actually enhance reading.
more
Fascinating tale, hard to put down.
Strange.
I am drawn to stories that test memory. Unreliable narrators or those who have selective memory. Rosemary Cooke, the narrator of this charming and powerful memoir-like story is unsure of her memories. “Language does this to our memories,” she says, “simplifies, solidifies, codifies, mummifies. An oft-told story is like a photograph in a family album; eventually, it replaces the moment it was meant to capture.” Essentially, the story is about what it means to be human. WAACBO is wonderful, big hearted book that has us questioning the impact and meaning of family relationships. The book I read just prior was The Overstory. Two activism books back to back! The unexpected irony was a delight. The Overstory was marvelous, but very heavy handed in its activism. WAACBO had a nice balance and humor. Told in first person, it felt like a memoir. She really did her homework.
A completely original take on historical events, beautifully conceived and written.
A bit overwrought for my taste, with a plot that becomes more and more difficult to swallow. Too much pseudo-psychology.
Thought provoking
The device of not telling who is narrating as the time changes from 1919 to 1997 and back is irritating at first, but you get used to it. The romance is believable and beautiful, by both couples, old and contemporary. Sometimes the explanation of the politics gets pedantic, and it is always a depressing background to the inspiring lives of the characters. It is certainly surprising how little we supposedly well-educated Americans know about the history of Egypt between its pre-Christian splendor and its role in the conflict with Israel. The role of Turkey is profound and not a happy story.
This book was full of twists, surprises and provocative insights into relationships, behavior, and the struggles of family. The metaphors used were unique and at times poetic. The narrative style was original.
the beginning was weak. It seemed to be just another story about a disaffected college student. I proceeded bravely and the story opened up into quite an interesting story. A story that makes you stop and think, and think, and think.
The writing alone is wonderful and the complex, beautiful storyline makes it unforgettable. You can take your time with it and will always be ready to come back for more. It’s absolutely a beautiful book.
Not very stimulating
Beautifully constructed. This book made me think about what it is to be a human animal in this world.
Sometimes I liked this book and others times, it was just too much. I did have to remind myself that it is fiction, and the research on primates was interesting. I just felt like the whole dysfunctional family bit went WAY to far and got pretty ridiculous. Definitely mixed feelings.
Great story, great narrator and a great ending.
I got this book because of the awards and reviews. But, it was a downer from the beginning. I tried to read it but finally gave it up about a third of the way through. Also, the whole story just sort of wandered without explaining a lot. I don’t enjoy a book that I cannot follow until half-way through. I love reading almost anything, even a challenging book. This was not MY cup of tea
This kept me interested all the way to the end. I thought it was well written with great characters. I wore out the dictionary function with all of the vocabulary.
The story is sad but I learned about scientific research in animal/human behavior.
Girl co-raised with a chimp, chimp sent away, humans think they are the only sentient beings? Human hubris gone bad.
A complete disappointment — disjointed plot, unlikeable (and unbelievable) characters — I was not interested in finishing it. Felt like a waste of time.
I enjoyed reading about this very unusual and sadly disfunctional family and how their research, using their own children, created a situation that was tragic, yet oddly uplifting for the narrator of the story.
Well written, original, and heart wrenching novel. Sad to be reminded of the cruelty we show other sentient beings, just because we can.