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The Smart One (2013)

by Jennifer Close(Favorite Author)

3.33 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0307596869 (ISBN13: 9780307596864)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Knopf

review 1: I read this book under the title, 'Things We Need'. I'm not sure what the reason behind this is but, it is the same story. I have to say that I liked it but I wasn't in love with it.The story revolves around a year in the life of a family as told through the eyes of the female members of the family. I found it just a little bit off putting that the two significant male characters had no voice apart from when viewed through the eyes of Wheezy, Claire, Martha and Cleo. They were clearly part of the story but they appeared as blank slates. Also, each of the narrators was very self absorbed and so it was hard to get a clear sense of perspective or context.I suppose this gives the story a quality of bringing you into the moment that the narrator is experiencing. It also reflect... mores the way in which people react to stress and difficult situations. Perhaps that was portrayed too well for me? Regardless there was something that just didn't sit right.
review 2: A mother of three, Weezy was always known as "the smart one" in her family though her adult life took the traditional married with children route while her prettier sister bacame the divorced career woman. Now she is the one labeling her own children with unrealistic expectations and dealing with the reality as all move back in as adults. Very satisfying summer read even though somewhat trite and predictable. less

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