41 pages • 1 hour read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
253
Novel • Fiction
Manitoba, Canada • 1970s
2004
Adult
16-18 years
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
27,859 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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.
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.
27,859 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Ray Nickel
Nomi's father, a stoic and quiet man deeply committed to his Mennonite faith, who silently bears the weight of his fractured family while providing support to Nomi in his own understated way.
Trudie Nickel
Nomi's mother, known for her spirited and rebellious nature, whose absence leaves a profound impact on Nomi as she attempts to understand her mother's choices and their consequences.
Tash Nickel
Nomi's older sister, who leaves the community to forge her own path, serving as an influential figure in Nomi's life even in her absence.
Hans “The Mouth” Rosenfeldt
Nomi's uncle and the leader of the Mennonite church, viewed by Nomi as a stern and powerful figure, whose authority influences much of the community's dynamics.
253
Novel • Fiction
Manitoba, Canada • 1970s
2004
Adult
16-18 years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.