Check out our Most Anticipated Books for 2025

Read advance reader review of Trouble the Living by Francesca McDonnell Capossela

Summary |  Excerpt |  Reading Guide |  Reviews |  Beyond the book |  Read-Alikes |  Genres & Themes |  Author Bio

Trouble the Living by Francesca McDonnell Capossela

Trouble the Living

A Novel

by Francesca McDonnell Capossela
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus:
  • Readers' Rating:
  • Paperback:
  • Sep 2023, 303 pages
  • Rate this book

  • Buy This Book

About This Book

Reviews


Page 1 of 6
There are currently 36 member reviews
for Trouble the Living
Order Reviews by:
  • juliaa
    Review not rated
    RE: In the end, Brid debates whether to ...
    She made the right decision. She had made a life for herself and Bernie in the United States, and she really had no life left in Ireland. And Bernie's resolve to go back to California regardless of what Brid might decide probably made Brid realize that her life is now in California, not in Ireland.
  • hahiramom
    Review not rated
    RE: What did you know about "the ...
    I knew about them because of friends who lived through them, through the news coverage we had here on this side of the pond, and friends who escaped and moved here to escape them.
  • elleng55
    Review not rated
    RE: What did you know about "the ...
    I knew some basic information about the troubles before reading this book. McDermott took it to the personal level. It was very interesting to relate to the characters as they handled " the troubles " in their own way.
  • beckys
    Review not rated
    RE: Why do you suppose Brid refuses to ...
    I think that Brid was scared of what might happen to her if she was found out to be part of the killing in Ireland, but also, I think she was afraid of what Bernie would think about her and her involvment in the crime. I think ultimately, she was trying to protect Bernie, by not telling her about her father and Brids past, but in the end, secrets almost always cause more damage than if you come out and tell the truth. Maybe she was waiting until she thought Bernie was more mature and could handle the truth, but often times, it is the fear of losing someone that makes you keep secrets about yourself. The shame of it all had a lot to do with Brids decision to keep those secrets about herself.
  • Elizabeth
    Review not rated
    RE: Were there particular scenes in the ...
    I was soupset when both her brothers told her not to come back, when we find out at the end that Aiofe was looking for all along. I think she never had to run or at least she could have returned to her family.
  • johnw
    Review not rated
    RE: Do you feel Brid and Kaleb should ...
    Yes, but unlike many readers I can see this happening in a disfunctional family especially when everyone appears to be self absorbed, almost living together as roommates rather than interacting and communicating a loved ones. I also believe mothers most often have significant role in creating the family dynamics. She seemed to be consumed with hatred thus creating a family dynamic of self absorbed individuals that do not reflect on other's feelings or emotional needs.
  • marganna
    Review not rated
    RE: What did you know about "the ...
    I requested this book because I am very interested in Ireland & The Troubles. I was very disappointed in the book's coverage of the topic. It was mostly about a dysfunctional family - the women played a part in the conflict/war but only as a side line to develop the 3 family members' story. I learned nothing more about the "Troubles" - such a rich topic - a brilliant idea but poorly executed. The book could be marketed as mother/daughter saga but not as a book about Ireland's conflict(s). Ireland's history is complex & interesting. It is rich with stories. This novel did not hold my interest although I sincerely wanted it to enhance my knowledge.

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket: The Book of George
    The Book of George
    by Kate Greathead
    The premise of The Book of George, the witty, highly entertaining new novel from Kate Greathead, is ...
  • Book Jacket: The Sequel
    The Sequel
    by Jean Hanff Korelitz
    In Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Sequel, Anna Williams-Bonner, the wife of recently deceased author ...
  • Book Jacket: My Good Bright Wolf
    My Good Bright Wolf
    by Sarah Moss
    Sarah Moss has been afflicted with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa since her pre-teen years but...
  • Book Jacket
    Canoes
    by Maylis De Kerangal
    The short stories in Maylis de Kerangal's new collection, Canoes, translated from the French by ...

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Pony Confidential
    by Christina Lynch

    In this whimsical mystery, a grumpy pony must clear his beloved human's name from a murder accusation.

Who Said...

The silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves.

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

X M T S

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.