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Miriam Toews

A Complicated Kindness

Miriam ToewsFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004

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Book Brief

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Miriam Toews

A Complicated Kindness

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004
Book Details
Pages

253

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Manitoba, Canada • 1970s

Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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Super Short Summary

In A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews, 16-year-old Nomi Nickel navigates adolescence in the religious Mennonite town of East Village, Manitoba, amidst her family's emotional turmoil following the departures of her mother and sister. Nomi grapples with her faith, parties with her boyfriend Travis, and dreams of escaping to New York City, while her father Ray oscillates between devotion and detachment. The book features themes of religious excommunication, drug use, and sexual activity.

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Contemplative

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.7

27,859 ratings

61%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Miriam Toews’ A Complicated Kindness is lauded for its humor, compelling narrative, and deep emotional resonance, capturing the struggles of a young girl in a Mennonite community. However, some find its pacing slow and narrative style disjointed. Overall, it is celebrated for its empathetic portrayal of complex family dynamics.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Complicated Kindness?

Readers who relish the emotional depth and coming-of-age themes in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger or the introspective, small-town struggles in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee would greatly appreciate Miriam Toews' A Complicated Kindness. This novel resonates with those who enjoy character-driven stories and poignant family dynamics.

3.7

27,859 ratings

61%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

253

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Manitoba, Canada • 1970s

Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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