\\tThe story had a certain allure that managed to hold my attention firmly. However, I couldn't help but notice that the writing, at times, seemed rather self-conscious. It was as if the author was constantly on the hunt for the perfect simile or metaphor, rather than simply concentrating on telling the story in a natural and流畅的 way.

\\tNonetheless, she did a commendable job when it came to developing the characters. In fact, I truly felt as if I had a good understanding of these individuals. Although, at certain moments, they appeared to lack a certain degree of authenticity. For instance, it was rather difficult to envision a 13-year-old girl sitting on her mother's lap and affectionately calling her "mommy."

\\tOn a positive note, I really liked Elizabeth's tolerance and her willingness to allow Rosie to be herself, despite the fact that she was worried about her. Additionally, I found the character of Luther quite interesting. It turns out that he wasn't the "boogeyman" after all, which added an element of surprise to the story. Overall, while there were some aspects of the writing that could be improved, the story itself had its merits and managed to engage me.

The honesty presented in this book is truly enthralling.

As I delved into Lamott's characters, it vividly brought back memories of what it was like to be a self-absorbed teenager. Moreover, it also offered me a fleeting glimpse of what it might be like to raise a teenager.

Lamott had a firm grip on me right from the start of this novel, and it wasn't until about 7/8 of the way through that she loosened her hold.

To be completely honest, I had been hoping for a more sinister climax. However, despite this, the outcome was still dripping in profound meaning, in understanding, and in the richness of what it means to be human.

I have an immense love for this book. In fact, I would have毫不犹豫地 given Lamott five stars if she had been able to satisfy the edge-of-seat grip that she had teased out of me from the very beginning.

Nevertheless, even without that perfect climax, the book still manages to leave a lasting impression and touch the deepest parts of our humanity.

It makes us reflect on our own teenage years and the challenges and joys that come with raising the next generation.

Overall, it is a remarkable piece of work that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

Like many others, I was drawn to pick up this book. The reason was that I was already familiar with Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life and had truly enjoyed it. I must admit that Lamott clearly has a remarkable talent for creating rich descriptions and charming humor. That much I can say for her.

However, when it comes to Crooked Little Heart, I have to confess that I wasn't able to get beyond the first 50 pages. I consider myself what I like to call a stubborn reader. Generally, I make it a point to see the books I choose through to the end. But this one, for some reason, I just couldn't manage. Stylistically speaking, Lamott was almost flawless. Her writing was engaging and had a certain charm. But as far as the plot was concerned, I'm afraid I couldn't tell you what it was supposed to be about.

Each character in the book was richly developed and well-explained. They seemed to have their own unique personalities and backstories. However, the problem was that each of them seemed to live entirely within themselves, far from being active or driving the story forward. I found myself sitting there, eagerly waiting for something to happen, for some goal to be set, or for some purpose to become obvious. But alas, I was left disappointed. It felt as if the story was just meandering along without a clear direction or purpose.

I read this story a long time ago. It was about a young tennis player and a shadowy figure.

The young tennis player was full of passion and determination, striving hard to improve his skills on the tennis court. He had a bright future ahead.

And the shadowy figure, on the other hand, added an element of mystery to the story. Who was this person? What was his connection to the young tennis player?

I liked the story a lot back then. It captured my imagination and made me eager to know more about the characters and their adventures.

Even now, whenever I think of that story, it brings back those memories of excitement and anticipation. It was a truly engaging and enjoyable read.

I truly enjoyed this book to a greater extent than Rosie, which was the first book in this series. The reason being that in this particular book, the characters are depicted in a much more rich and complex manner.

As I have a daughter who is an athlete, I found great pleasure in reading about the intricacies of athletics and how it forces girls into circumstances where they have to deeply explore issues related to morality and identity.

Ordinarily, I might have given this book a 3-star rating. However, I absolutely adored the last few lines. They were extremely poetic and held a special place in my heart as a mother of a teenage daughter who is on the verge of adulthood.

In my opinion, the poetry within Anne LaMott's writing elevated this book to an entirely different level. It added a layer of depth and beauty that made the reading experience truly unforgettable.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who have an interest in complex characters, the world of athletics, and the profound exploration of moral and identity issues.

It is a book that will make you think, feel, and appreciate the power of words and storytelling.

Overall, I am very glad that I picked up this book and look forward to reading more of Anne LaMott's work in the future.

In the summer of her 13th year, Rosie Ferguson is completely immersed in tennis. She is a junior ranked player and, along with her best friend and doubles partner Simone, she is constantly shuttled to all the tournaments in the San Francisco area.

Both girls are at that crucial stage at the end of childhood where the first signs of the women they will become start to emerge - physically, mentally, and emotionally. When Rosie was just four, her dad tragically died in a car accident. Elizabeth, Rosie's mom, spent several years陷入酗酒和抑郁的低谷 before marrying the kind and accepting James.

Over the summer, both Rosie and her mom face some significant issues. Rosie is hiding two enormous secrets, one about Simone and one about herself. These secrets gnaw at her and have a negative impact on her game and her relationship with her family. As Rosie becomes increasingly sullen and silent, Elizabeth's depression resurfaces as she struggles to deal with this change in her daughter and also with the unexpressed grief over the loss of her first husband.

To make matters worse, there is a possibility that Rosie is being stalked by a tournament hanger-on named Luther, a homeless drunk. All these elements combine to create a family drama that explores themes of trust, honesty, support, and friendship. Lamott is in top form here, using her elegant and moving writing style and remarkable powers of description. She employs color and texture in her language to paint a vivid and visceral picture of a mother and daughter each maturing in their own unique way. (Barbara L., Reader's Services)

A Sequel to Rosie

Rosie is now 13 years old and is going through that yucky teenage identity crisis. She often feels confused and lost, not sure who she is or where she belongs. Her best friend, Simone, is her tennis partner and couldn't be more different. Simone is beautiful and curvy, which unfortunately gets her into some trouble. Meanwhile, Rosie's relationship with her mom remains a bit difficult. She has two secrets that she keeps for far too long, causing some tension between them. And then there's Luther, who is creepy and seems obsessed with Rosie. He attends all of her tennis matches, which makes Rosie feel uncomfortable.

The story is well-written, with some beautiful similes and metaphors that bring the characters and their experiences to life. It's a relatable and engaging read that will appeal to teens and adults alike.

This is my third Anne Lamott novel in just two weeks.

To be honest, I'm not completely in love with her prose style. It has its own unique charm, but it's not something that immediately grabs me and makes me fall head over heels. However, what I do really like about her novels are the character-driven plots.

The stories are filled with complex and interesting characters that draw you in and make you care about what happens to them. Some of the highlights of this particular novel include the deep and thought-provoking meditations on motherhood and marriage.

It really makes you stop and think about these important aspects of life. On the other hand, there are also some lowlights. The annoyingly privileged references to socioeconomic status markers can be a bit off-putting at times. References to food, literature, musical preferences, and expensive treatment programs for teens can make you feel like you're on the outside looking in.

There's also a kind of new age-y California spirituality that runs through the book, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. Overall, though, I still find Anne Lamott's novels to be an enjoyable read.

I truly have a great fondness for Anne Lamott. However, this particular book was merely average in my opinion. I felt that the story line lacked strength and depth. The characters, unfortunately, failed to come alive and engage me on a deeper level. I vividly remember adoring her book "Rosie", but this one just didn't quite measure up. That being said, it's not a terrible read by any means. In fact, there are numerous important questions posed within its pages. How do we cope with the loss of our beloved ones? Does making mistakes mean that we ourselves are a mistake? Moreover, it delved into the idea that the true essence of a person cannot be misconstrued based on their outward appearances. The writing is of a high quality, and considering this is one of her earlier works, it's fascinating to see how she has evolved as an author.

Anne Lamott is a truly talented writer, as she has a remarkable ability to write beautifully. Her characters are also well developed, which is an aspect that cannot be ignored.

However, to me, everybody in her works seems to be too good and overly supportive, making it difficult for the story to feel completely true. For instance, Rosie's brief period of cheating and Simone's promiscuous behavior don't seem to have any real negative consequences.

Moreover, Elizabeth spends days, and sometimes even weeks, in bed with untreated depression. This is California, a place known for its access to various resources. One would think that she could easily get a doctor and some medication to deal with her condition.

In conclusion, I believe that this could have been an even better work if it had a little more edge. A touch of realism and the exploration of the harsher consequences of the characters' actions and situations would have made the story more engaging and believable.

I went for it without hesitation.

I gave Rosie and her life a resounding 5 stars.

I first read this book during my freshman year in high school.

Recently, I read "Blue Shoe" by Anne Lamott, and that made me decide to return to the story of the tennis-playing teenager with whom I had related so strongly many years ago.

And once again, I fell deeply in love with Ann Lamott's phenomenal writing.

Her words have the power to make me understand Rosie, Elizabeth, James, Charles, and every other character who has felt cheated and fallen short.

She brings these characters to life in such a vivid way that I can almost see them standing in front of me.

Each character has their own unique story and struggles, and Lamott does an excellent job of exploring their emotions and motivations.

Reading her books is like taking a journey into the hearts and minds of the characters, and it's a journey that I always enjoy.

I can't wait to see what other stories she has in store for us.

I reread this book this summer after having read it a number of years ago. It was truly a remarkable experience. This was the first novel I read of Anne Lamott's after reading "Bird by Bird" several times. I have to say that I appreciated her writing to a much greater extent this time around. She switched the point of view a great deal, but it seemed to work extremely well. This is because she has such a strong and masterful command of the characters. Each character comes to life vividly in her hands. And I really like how she does not shy away from exploring the dark and hidden parts of the characters' souls. She delves deep into their flaws and weaknesses, yet still manages to keep them sympathetic. It's a remarkable feat of writing that makes the story all the more engaging and thought-provoking.