This was lent to me. Here are my thoughts about the book:
Dawn French's book is written in a 'Dear Diary' format and different voices take center stage on each chapter. As a whole, it's about a dysfunctional family--the Battles--who have their own battle to face while also struggling to live with each other. Narrated mostly by Mo (the child psychiatrist mother) and her two children, Dora and Oscar (Peter), I found this book to be refreshing and entertaining because, as a reader, it felt like being presented with a psychiatrist's notebook and getting to see the true personalities that are laid bare in its pages.
Each page captures a vivid impression of their frailties, their problems, how their minds work, how they perceive each other's faults while also trying to keep themselves sane as they struggle with themselves and each other. The father here is often quiet, often in the background but acts when things needed to be done.
Yes, I have to admit that there were a few parts in the novel that dragged the pace a bit, but it didn't lessen my interest because its individual voices were waiting to be heard. (I particularly liked how Oscar/Peter talks and find him to be a very interesting character.)
Dawn French's book is written in a 'Dear Diary' format and different voices take center stage on each chapter. As a whole, it's about a dysfunctional family--the Battles--who have their own battle to face while also struggling to live with each other. Narrated mostly by Mo (the child psychiatrist mother) and her two children, Dora and Oscar (Peter), I found this book to be refreshing and entertaining because, as a reader, it felt like being presented with a psychiatrist's notebook and getting to see the true personalities that are laid bare in its pages.
Each page captures a vivid impression of their frailties, their problems, how their minds work, how they perceive each other's faults while also trying to keep themselves sane as they struggle with themselves and each other. The father here is often quiet, often in the background but acts when things needed to be done.
Yes, I have to admit that there were a few parts in the novel that dragged the pace a bit, but it didn't lessen my interest because its individual voices were waiting to be heard. (I particularly liked how Oscar/Peter talks and find him to be a very interesting character.)
For me, the Battles are mirrors of how some families are in real life. Perhaps, their individual problems may seem trivial to some readers. But the novel's close tie to reality is what made this book a delight to finish in one day.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Rating: 4.5 stars
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