Sunday, March 22, 2009

Book Review: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County


At first I thought I wasn't going to get into this book, but after a couple of chapters I was hooked. It involves a beautiful but flawed cast of characters, some of whom I loved and others I loved to hate. The characters alone could have made a good book, but the unique, intricate storyline made it great. I've read some novels which were fun to read but were forgettable due to their overused basic storyline. In one of my fiction workshops in college a fellow student pointed out that practically all new stories are merely variations of one of a few root stories. I don't think this is one of them. A story and a backstory woven together across generations, this book is one I'll remember for a long time.

It's been compared to Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, which I enjoyed reading years ago. It also reminds me a little of A Prayer for Owen Meany, but maybe that's just me.

I would share what I liked best about the book, but that might ruin it for anyone who wants to read it. Let's just say this is Tiffany Baker's first novel and I'm ready to read her second one whenever it comes out. I highly recommend picking up The Little Giant of Aberdeen County if you're looking for an interesting read--especially if you want something a little different.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

how i love owen meany. have you also read the hotel new hampshire or the world accprding to garp? love them.

Jess said...

thanks for the book suggestion. I just finished 2 more and am ready to read something new.