tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10756744.post3288322190668545670..comments2023-10-20T06:25:06.959-04:00Comments on My Tragic Right Hip: #54 - SuddenlyDeanna McFaddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16697013097418998187noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10756744.post-15032572278985474432011-07-17T22:47:33.835-04:002011-07-17T22:47:33.835-04:00Good review. FWIW, I also liked your comments on A...Good review. FWIW, I also liked your comments on A GOOD HOUSE, since I think it's an overlooked work; it's very strong and moving near the end with its depiction of the decline of the father of the family, and an accurate depiction of at least one form of dementia and the emotional cost of this on all the family.<br /><br />However, at the same time, the novel also shows signs of at least some of the flaws you suggest are in SUDDENLY: to get to that strong ending, one has to wade through sometimes unconvincing sub-plots and descriptive passage that detract from the central story. This extraneous material lends the novel a rather sentimental quality. Some works can pull off a "baggy" approach, but A GOOD HOUSE is weakened by them, and I remember wishing Burnard had had it in her to be a little more ruthless with the ms. at the editing stage -- it likely would have elevated a good novel to a great one. <br /><br />(I realize that other criticisms you make of SUDDENLY, especially the way Burnard describes illness (yes, hard to pull off, but crucial to get right)) are not connected to the above. But again, intelligent editorial cutting is often a good step to getting to the emotional core of a story.)Finn Harvorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05120886779348342519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10756744.post-18795696797258624322011-07-09T20:15:20.493-04:002011-07-09T20:15:20.493-04:00That's too bad! I still haven't read The G...That's too bad! I still haven't read The Good House. I have owned it since near its release... That's scary how long that has been on my TBR pile.<br /><br />*Note to self: Deanna really likes The Good House. You should maybe READ IT! :)Kailanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136262232046813471noreply@blogger.com