Happy Friday! Today I have a review of A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl, the newest book by author Jean Thompson and available on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 from Simon Schuster!
My Thoughts:
I’ve read wonderful things about Jean Thompson’s The Year We Left Home, so I was eager to read A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl! What an ethereal and beautiful title, by the way!
A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl is the story of three generations of women in the Wise family. What an emotional story Grace, Evelyn, and Laura have to tell.
At the root of each woman’s life is something we can all probably relate to- feelings of not measuring up. Evelyn, the grandmother and matriarch, did not take easily to motherhood. Laura, her daughter, marries a man who is hard on everyone and conveys to their son that he does not meet expectations. Grace is Laura’s daughter, and she is not able to meet expectations whether they be her own or otherwise.
The focus is on each of these women and the strain they feel, the longing, the desperation. We experience every aspect of their trials and tribulations as they travel through life and time. How do we pass down our own stressors, experiences, and false expectations to our younger generations? Can a woman ever get out from under these harsh expectations?
A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl has a somber, melancholic tone. These women have hard lives emotionally, and they carry their burdens outwardly. It made me think about its important message, and I really appreciate it: how much of my own life has been shaped by the women in my family who modeled for me, who experienced their own trials long before I came to be?
On a personal note, in my maternal family, the women are stronger than the men for the most part. Sorry to my male forebears, but it’s true. The women were the glue holding their families together, the ones who raised children while husbands were off to war, who never complained, never had an ailment, were hardly emotional. I wonder now if this set expectations for me to follow in this same mold (the mold that was firmly cast based on THEIR experiences), and I would say in many ways I have. But at the same time, I don’t meet every standard set for me, and perhaps that does affect my self-worth at times.
That was a little more personal than I typically delve in my reviews, but this book resonated with me. Everyone has “stuff” they carry through life and their own experiences, good and bad. Just how much of our “stuff” is predetermined by the environment we grow up in and the shaping and modeling we receive by those important to us? I enjoyed this self-reflective journey, and I don’t mind a somber read when the message is an evocative one. Thanks to Jean Thompson for the insight.
Thank you to Simon Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
From National Book Award finalist and the New York Timesbestselling author of The Year We Left Home comes a moving family saga about three generations of women who struggle to find freedom and happiness in their small Midwestern college town.
A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl is a poignant novel about three generations of the Wise family—Evelyn, Laura, and Grace—as they hunt for contentment amid chaos of their own making.
Evelyn set aside her career to marry, late, and motherhood never became her. Her daughter Laura felt this acutely and wants desperately to marry, but she soon discovers her husband Gabe to be a man who expects too much of everyone in his life, especially his musician son. Grace has moved out from Laura and Gabe’s house, but can’t seem to live up to her potential—whatever that might be.
In A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl we see these women and their trials, small and large: social slights and heartbreaks; marital disappointments and infidelities; familial dysfunction; mortality. Spanning from World War II to the present, Thompson reveals a matrilineal love story that is so perfectly grounded in our time—a story of three women regressing, stalling, and yes, evolving, over decades. One of the burning questions she asks is: by serving her family, is a woman destined to repeat the mistakes of previous generations, or can she transcend the expectations of a place, and a time? Can she truly be free?
Evelyn, Laura, and Grace are the glue that binds their family together. Tethered to their small Midwestern town—by choice or chance—Jean Thompson seamlessly weaves together the stories of the Wise women with humanity and elegance, through their heartbreaks, setbacks, triumphs, and tragedies.
Have you read A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
It’s so true that women really are the glue. Same in my family as well! Beautiful review, Jenn. 😚❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, favorite M! It was unexpected how much this author made me reflect on our family! ♥️ Happy Friday! Xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved this review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thank you so much! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love when you put a self-reflection in your review. It is always great to see that we are not so alone in this world. That what we think and feel is also what another person think and feel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You always have the warmest comments, Ink. ♥️ Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another book I have and now that I have read your fantastic review, I must get to it soon. Have a super weekend, Jennifer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Marialyce! I’m curious about your thoughts on this one when you get to it. I hope it’s a memorable read for you, too, and I hope your weekend is great!
LikeLike
Expectations… That’s what ‘kill’ us sometimes when we think we don’t and can’t live up to it… Jennifer, just do you 🙂 don’t let expectations stop you from living your life 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jee! You are absolutely right! Sometimes it’s hard to battle with these deeply ingrained things, but I will work hard to win! ♥️ xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍💪💪💪
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can tell that this book did really resonate with you Jennifer. Wonderful review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Chrissi! I definitely connected with it. ♥️
LikeLike
This sounds amazing Jennifer! I’m so glad you liked this one so much. I’ll add it to my list!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Mackey! It’s had a mix of reviews, but I really connected with it!
LikeLike
Great review Jennifer.
And i agree, women are the glue – to everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jina! Absolutely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely review. I added it to my growing tbr list. Thanks, Jennifer. Happy Friday!
🌹🌻🍁📚💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Virginia! I’m happy you enjoyed my review! ♥️ 🌺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely review! I love books with strong willed female main characters and I can tell from reading your thoughts that this book is a strong advocate for that. I’ll definitely be checking it out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Darina! I really connected to this story, and I’m always looking for strong female characters, too. We need more, don’t we?!
LikeLike
Beautiful review! And thank you for sharing, there are a lot of very strong women in my family as well!💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Berit! Absolutely and you are one of them! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely review, Jennifer:). I love your reflection about the strength of your maternal forebears – and I would agree. It’s the female relations in my family who kept us together, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sarah! I’ve been hearing that from most everyone today, and it warms my heart that the women in our families are steadfast anchors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s always been the case, to be honest:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your very personal insights evoked by this story. It’s really clear the book resonated with you. I, too, come from a family of women who were stronger than the men and know they shaped me profoundly. Just wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Jonetta! It warms my heart to hear that about your experience growing up as well. I think we are lucky women to have that modeled for us. ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome review Jen! This one sounds like it would be right up my alley!! Off to see if I can still request it! Have a great weekend!😊🎃💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sus! I hope you are able to get it! It has beautiful writing. I hope you have an amazing weekend, too! I’m going to focus on relaxing- I need it! ♥️ xoxo
LikeLike
I love what you said about your family ❤ And this has been in my TBR for a while, Im glad it meant something to you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Annie! ♥️ I hope it’s one that is meaningful to you, too, when you are able to fit it in. The insight was unexpected but wonderful!
LikeLike
Lovely review Jennifer! Sounds like a very thought provoking read that you couldn’t help but think what if the generations before you had done things differently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Carrie! Yes, it really was. I had not thought of it in quite that way before.
LikeLike
I bet the ones who come after you will one day be wondering if they measure up to your example too… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s really kind, FF. Thank you for that! ♥️ (Let’s hope they don’t know about the book hoarding! That will be our little secret. 😂)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful review Jenni and I love how it’s about three generations of women – girl power! 💪🏻👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Beth! Me, too! We need more girl power books! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fantastic review. Looks like another book for me to delve into.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, RoseMarie! It was an insightful read for me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Great review 💟
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Priyasha! 💕
LikeLike
Beautiful review Jennifer. I love that this turned out to be a self-reflective read for you. Thanks for sharing about the strong women in your family too. I am in awe of what they managed to do, keeping things running on their own.
I love the title of this book 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Diana! Isn’t that a gorgeous title? Thanks for all your kind words, too. It was unexpected how much I connected with this one.
LikeLike
What a beautiful review Jennifer. I also come from a family where women are very strong compared to the men, way stronger! And I’d love to read this book as well. I haven’t heard of this writer so I’m very glad I caught it on your blog 🙂 Thanks so much! x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Umut! Many have found the book too sad, according to the reviews I’ve read, and I totally understand it. I didn’t expect to gain the insight from it, and that connected me to the story more. I hope you enjoy it if you end up reading it. ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love and appreciate your personal deep dive in this review. Books that resonate, that cause us to reflect on our own lives – inner and outer, past and present – are the best kind. Stories are gifts in many different forms, but those that help us learn something about ourselves, or push us towards catharsis of some kind, are super special. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Myndi. Thanks so much for the kind words. It was unexpected for me to connect in that way, but I’m so pleased I did. What a revelation.
LikeLiked by 1 person