The Half Moon: The compelling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author

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An angry, powerful book seething with love and outrage for a community too often stereotyped or ignored. In this story I felt as if I personally knew our two main characters, Malcom and Jessica- but the story just kind of went nowhere for me. Guggenheim fellowship for fiction writing, and has received citations from the National Book Foundation, PEN America, and the Hemingway Society. LIVE MUSIC The Half Moon may look like just a great local pub a first glance, but step inside and you'll also find our iconic music venue. I will say that the writing was flawless and compelling, but “The Half Moon” just didn’t grab me like I thought it would.

Book review of The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane - BookPage Book review of The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane - BookPage

The story is told from Malcolm and Jess’s points of view, alternating between them and transitioning from past to present. The secondary plot involving the missing patron seemed disconnected but I had an “aha” moment when I finally realized its significance.

Their friendship blossoms as they help each other, offering support, hard truths, and loving backup. There’s nothing I can do about that,” Keane adds, speaking on the pressure to compete with such a market hit. If someone approaches you screaming, you get to decide to scream back (reactionary) or you can keep a low, gentle tone, deescalate the situation because you know that you are a kind, gentle person and no one can force you to act inconsistently with your inherent identity. He finally does, although menacing creditors are knocking at his door, and he doesn’t have the cash to transform it the way he’d like—years of futile fertility treatments have exhausted the couple’s savings. The other problems in Malcolm and Jess' relationship were far from uncommon and I had no problem reading about them in theory.

For Mary Beth Keane, the Pressure to Follow Up Her Best

In my opinion there were a lot of positives to that book but also several disappointing issues as well. This heart-wrenching and genuine story grips your heart and refuses to let go, weaving its way into the depths of your emotions. Rather, her tools of choice are excellent storytelling and an insightful eye into the inner workings of a once-solid marriage, now falling apart.to be honest i am very confused to see this low average rating, because while these characters are definitely unlikable, i found myself liking them anyway. Out now, the novel is one of the spring’s most anticipated releases, particularly for readers eager to see Keane tackle the intricate complexities of family and marriage once again after Ask Again, Yes. I love a novel with a compressed time frame; it always makes for a heightened sense of drama and tension.

The Half Moon | Iconic music venue and great pub in Putney The Half Moon | Iconic music venue and great pub in Putney

Malcolm Gephardt could tell the bar was busy even from a block away, even from behind the filthy windshield of his Honda. I think when you’re young, you think, ‘Love is enough,’ but after a while, love is really not enough,” Keane says. Keane says she chose to focus on the effects of infertility because of how the topic is often shrouded in shame and mystery, which lends to it being relatively absent in books and real-life conversations despite being “shockingly common. And when he told them he was good, he was fine, as if he didn’t know what they could be referring to, he had to do a better job pretending when they asked him again not ten seconds later. During a storm they both have to reconsider the choices they have made and get on with their lives but will it be alone or together?With their mounting debt looming over them and their unsuccessful attempts at parenthood a long standing resentment has begun to fracture the pair. He accepts a less than above board offer that Jess is wary of and that's not even considering the fact she doesn't know the real deal he made with Hugh. They delve into the depths of their souls, examining their desires, hopes, and the profound impact of their past actions.

The Half Moon: A Novel - Mary Beth Keane - Google Books The Half Moon: A Novel - Mary Beth Keane - Google Books

Subplots involving a missing Half Moon regular and the threatening visits of a man pressuring Malcolm to repay his debts interleave developments in the marriage. These are not earth-shattering or groundbreaking observations, but they are precisely why it’s such a pleasure to sink into Keane’s quietly luminous prose: Her recordings of the small, significant moments of life have a way of standing for something larger .

which is saying a lot because i can't stress enough: i spent an entire month in a state of functional illiteracy to which the only exception was that one very narrow niche.