Image Credit: amazon.com
“Families were nothing more than hope cast out in a wide net, everyone wanting only the best.”
― Emma Straub, The Vacationers
I’m so excited to be reviewing my first book from the 2016 Reading Challenge!
First up:
- A book you previously abandoned: The Vacationers, Emma Straub
Our family friend Lucy brought this book to my parents’ house and let me borrow it. It took me absolutely forever, but I finally finished it.
Confession: I had only gotten about 30 pages in when I abandoned it, so I literally started over, from the beginning. It was a good decision.
Once I got started, I wanted to keep reading. I kept getting interrupted, but I felt great satisfaction once I got to the end.
In total, it took me about two months to get from beginning to end.
The main reason I abandoned the book in the first place was other priorities – Our wedding, the holidays, starting school again. As I started the book over, however, I wasn’t sure if I was going to finish it. I liked the story, but some of the characters bothered me, Franny in particular, Bobby, and Carmen. I wasn’t so fond of Jim, either.
However, determined not to quit again, I kept chipping away at it.
Then, one night last week, I flew through three whole chapters. I wanted to keep reading, but I knew I needed sleep. I reluctantly set it aside with my glasses, and dreamed of Mallorca.
I finished the book, in triumph, earlier this week. It felt great.
My original issues with the characters sorted themselves out as I kept reading. They all have flaws, just like we do. I admire Straub for writing about a completely different country, and making me feel like I was there, with the Posts, the entire time. I was wrapped up in their world, for the whole thirteen days that they experienced.
It’s definitely one of those books I would recommend when you need an escape – Whether you’re traveling, or need a vacation from your everyday life – Straub’s writing transports you to Mallorca with the Posts, without hopping on a plane.
It’s not necessarily a classic novel, but I enjoyed reading it. I’m curious about her other works as well.
The ending left me as a crossroads, likely how the characters were feeling as well. I wanted to see more of them in another work, but at the same time, I felt content and found myself imagining their journeys afterward.
4 out of 5 stars.
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
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