41 pages • 1 hour read
A Complicated Kindness
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Book Brief
253
Novel • Fiction
Manitoba, Canada • 1970s
2004
Adult
16-18 years
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
27,859 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
27,859 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
253
Novel • Fiction
Manitoba, Canada • 1970s
2004
Adult
16-18 years
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