The Guest Book
By Sarah Blake
- Release Date: 2019-05-07
- Genre: Historical Fiction
Description
Instant New York Times Bestseller
Longlisted for Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence
2020 New England Society Book Award Winner for Fiction
“The Guest Book is monumental in a way that few novels dare attempt.” —The Washington Post
The thought-provoking new novel by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Blake
An exquisitely written, poignant family saga that illuminates the great divide, the gulf that separates the rich and poor, black and white, Protestant and Jew. Spanning three generations, The Guest Book deftly examines the life and legacy of one unforgettable family as they navigate the evolving social and political landscape from Crockett’s Island, their family retreat off the coast of Maine. Blake masterfully lays bare the memories and mistakes each generation makes while coming to terms with what it means to inherit the past.
Reviews
The Guest Book
5By AlyPowellSavor every work. Don’t rush .The Guest Book
5By JoanabakeA story about race and family and privilege that never bangs you over the head. The prose walks along in an ordinary way until, suddenly, there is a paragraph or a sentence of incredible beauty that you have to go back and reread, and visualize. I was mesmerized by the complexity of the Milton’s history and by the power of the unsaid to control the destinies of so many people.The Guest Book
5By tsl3rdNot for the casual reader. You have to pay attention. But it’s so worth it. Loved every page, every sentence, every word.Very good.
4By Cut woodGreat story. Interesting and complex characters. Beautiful prose and descriptions. Insightful about the human condition. So why four stars instead of five? At points, the beautiful descriptions became tedious because there were too many of them. Not every little thing is worthy of a detailed description. But overall worth reading.Compelling with sublime nuance
5By HermesOrangeThis book was far from what I first expected, and delivered a rich tapestry of intertwined historical and contemporary narratives. It was most enjoyable in parallel ways - the exquisite writing and entertainment value, coupled with social commentary and societal explorations. The second half of the book I could not help but read I’m a matter of hours!Beautiful
5By WhitmbenThis book was simply stunning—beautiful, thoughtful, thought provoking.The Guest Book
2By mrsbppI trudged through this and only finished it because I kept thinking it would get better. It was scattered and while there were some potentially interesting characters, many things were left unanswered, unexplored, and unaddressed. My review is more interesting than the book.....Long, drawn out story
2By RileyRXI made myself finish reading this. I liked how it started and the character development. But then there were entire paragraphs of dialogue that made no sense. The ending was anti-climatic and left me hanging.