Overall, what did you think of The Berry Pickers (no spoilers, please!)
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I had very high expectations, and very mixed feelings about this book. The premise was promising and the book touched on important topics and themes, but I never felt drawn in or immersed in the story. I preferred Joeās voice to Normaās, but didnāt find any of the characters particularly compelling.
I loved this book. I couldnāt figure out at first what the connection was between Norma and Joe but when it was revealed it was awesome.
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I first read this soon after it came out & was very taken with the story, the scharacters, and Petersā writing style. I was working in a library at the time & recommended it to so many readersāit was one of my top picks. Now that Iām retired & plan to start my own book discussion group, this will be my first choice for us to read.
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I completely agree with @Karen_Belyea in that I had high expectations of the book that were not realized. I found the story very obvious and expected. There seemed to me to be very little depth. I did not enjoy this read, but am happy that others did.
When the book was first published I listened to it on audio and I did not like it. I thought perhaps it was the narratorās voice. On reading the actual book I have decided that both Joe and Norma jump around a bit talking of the past and the present. I think on the audio it was hard for me to follow. Reading the book I liked it better.
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Really interesting comment, @Paula_Walters! I do audiobooks as well, but Iāve never listened to one I was reading around the same time, but I imagine the two experiences would be completely different.
Youāll want to be sure to have a box of tissues handy for this one. Peters is a master of the art of weaving humor and heartbreak into one story, one character, one chapter. Prepare for a roller coaster of emotions and a late night of reading. If, as Ruthie says, āSome people are meant to read great works and others are meant to write them,ā by the end of āThe Berry Pickersā readers know to which category Peters belongs. Enviable debut!
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I listened on audio while I read the print copy, and while I did appreciate that they used two narrators, I didnāt feel either enhanced the experience.
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I actually do not do audio but did for a bit due to laser surgery. So that was part of my problem. Glad now I had the opportunity to read the book and discuss with the members! I like the new format!
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I thought it was an interesting premise. The writer did a very believable idea of Normaās life. I felt very sorry for those who spent so much time grieving and thinking about what they had lost. The lesson is to not waste your time on feeling guilty for things that cannot be changed.
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book because off the multiple threads woven throughout (truth, honesty, forgiveness, grief, guilt, pain, persistence, racism). So, while the outcome of the story may have seemed obvious, the feelings and subsequent experiences of Joe, Norma, the real and adoptive moms, Frankie and others was still interesting.
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At first, I found the alternating viewpoints between Joe and Norma to be disjointed and distracting. As I continued reading, though, I began to love the fact that these siblings had such different but still connected stories. Also, I am a sucker for a happy ending and Peters must happily obliged. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the intricacies of family history. Ms Peters, when is your next book coming outš?
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I agree with @Karen_Belyeaās first post. I also had mixed feelings about the book. I was frustrated by many of the characters. Those who committed and abetted the crime, Joe for his actions, Norma, even, for not being more outspoken and standing up to her āmotherā.
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Did some of those same characters ever make you feel sad? I couldnāt help but feel sadness that so many of the characters were so wounded, and lacked the skills or ability to address the problem: from communication (lack of) to integrity, honesty, courage, etc. But then, there are times when I think many of us might fall short at one time or another when faced with a challenging life situation.
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I enjoyed the book and thought it had alot of different elements to it. I would have liked more background and history on the Miākmaq people and them coming down from Nova Scotia. I had no idea that occurred. I think the title was too simple with all of the different characters and backstories that took place in the story. The Berry Pickers just seems to simple to me.
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Thatās a good point, @Jill_Mercier. I read the book a few weeks ago so I didnāt remember that aspect of it, but youāre right, some of the characters did make me feel sad - most of them, in fact. One damaged personās actions certainly had a trickle-down effect, causing damage to several others.
I loved the book. I continued to be impressed through the story at Normaās determination to remain true to herself yet kind and ultimately forgiving to those along the way who lied to her and derailed her life.
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I absolutely loved this story. I felt like all the characters were portrayed beautiful, their stories believable and the overall narration was easy to follow and built the story nicely from start to finish.
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I loved this book and found it easy and very interesting to read.