DNF - managed a hard fought slog to 40% but the tortuous prose finally did me in...

Jee-sus Christ Zusak! Why you tryna make me cry? Especially in the break room at work, when you killed off Carey. That wasn’t really fair to Clay! Luckily I held off, didn’t cry til I got home while finishing the book.
It was an odd writing style, that I think took a bit away from the beginning of the book. Until I got used to it and everything started to come together. Man…damn. Freaking emotional, very non-linear story telling, a chapter in the present, a chapter in the past, but the past was all over the place, but damn was it good. Really needed to catch my breath after it was all over. Wow. ( )

I got about 25% through this book and really wasn't digging it, so I came to check reviews to see if it improves. I saw so so many comments on DNF reviews saying "keep going, the ending is worth it," so I did. I kept going so you don't have to. Honestly, if the style of the book isn't resonating with you then I don't think the plot is worth keeping with it. There's nothing (in my opinion) particularly new or revelatory to this novel that you don't find in many, many coming of age stories. And, obviously, the choppy back and forth storytelling didn't resonate with me. ( )

In a suburb of Sydney, the five Dunbar brothers (Matthew, Rory, Henry, Clay, and Tommy) are living together on their own after their mother dies of cancer and their father abandons them. Years later, their father appears out of the blue to seek their help in building a bridge. Of the five, Clay is the only brother to accept the invitation. Thus, Clay becomes a human bridge, of sorts, between the other brothers and their father.

Eldest brother, Matthew, tells the family’s history in dual timelines. The first takes place in the distant past. As a young woman, their mother migrated from Poland to Australia, where she met their father, who was previously married and divorced. The other takes place more recently, starting with the reappearance of their father, whom Matthew refers to as “the murderer.” The brothers’ many activities are integrated into the narrative – long distance running, fighting, horse racing, 1980s films, collecting pets with names from their mother’s beloved literature.

It is a book about loss, grief, forgiveness. Momentum is maintained by wondering what happened to make this father abandon his children shortly after their mother dies. The characters are well drawn, including the pets. The writing is elegant. Though there are significant tragic elements, it is also a story of hope. ( )

Book given to me by Claudia, so not a bookclub book. Hard to get into but got more interesting. A little scattered feeling while reading but wanted to finish. ( )