Tag Archives: bryn greenwood
All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
Fiction
Thomas Dunne Books
August 9, 2016
352
As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy, a strong-willed girl of ethereal beauty, knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. It's safer to keep her mouth shut and stay out of sight. Struggling to raise her little brother, Donal, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible adult around. Obsessed with the constellations, Wavy finds peace in the starry night sky above the fields behind her house, until one night her star gazing causes an accident. After witnessing his motorcycle wreck, she forms an unusual friendship with one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold. Surrounded by addicts and a culture of debauchery, their relationship doesn't set off any alarms until Wavy's parents are murdered and a well-meaning aunt steps in. Facing a charge of statutory rape, Kellen may not be completely innocent, but he's the one stable companion Wavy and Donal have. Instead of playing it safe, Wavy has to learn to fight for Kellen, for her brother, and for herself.
Review:
“All the Ugly and Wonderful Things” was not a book that I actually enjoyed, but I had to give it four stars for the beauty of the writing and the solid plot.
This book is gritty and difficult. Nothing in it is sugar-coated. The character development is well-done and does not waver in continuity as the characters age. There is an extremely uncomfortable age difference in it that deserves a warning. It was a tough read all the way around.
If you’re looking for a light read, “All of the Ugly and Wonderful Things” is not for you. If you’re looking for a book with teeth and can handle the subject matter, I wholeheartedly recommend it.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
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