Firefly Lane

Submitted by Raindrops_On-Roses t3_1000dfp in books

I just finished reading "Firefly Lane" by Kristin Hannah. Y'all, I wanted to LOVE this book. But at the end of it, it was just... fine. I enjoyed the story well enough, but it was, to me, nothing extraordinary. I found that the characters lacked any fundamental complexity or depth, at least to the extent that they didn't really feel like real people. That made it harder to immerse myself into the story and surrounding world. I'm not saying it was BAD because it wasn't. However, I picked it up because there was so much hype surrounding it, and it sounded like a good story. After finishing it, I just didn't see what all of the excitement was about. That's not to say it doesn't deserve the hype. It just didn't measure up to it for me, personally. I just wanted to start a discussion here with anyone else who has read it to see what others think. And if anyone has read the sequel, let me know how that measures up in comparison before I try to start it. Once I start a book, I NEED to finish it. It's honestly a little neurotic, so before I commit, I want to get some insight. If the characters feel more well-rounded, I think I would enjoy it much more.

Edit: The word that I'm looking for is "underwhelming."

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NWGirl2002 t1_j2erstu wrote

Being from the Seattle area and with some of the actual locations and people she names in the book I should have enjoyed it... But nope couldn't even finish it, I tried but just couldn't finish it, so now it sits in my DNF pile

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Raindrops_On-Roses OP t1_j2es9ye wrote

Man, I wish I could do that with books. It's weird. It's like an OCD thing. When I start it, I need to finish it. If I'm having trouble getting through it, I'll assign a specific number of pages to read every single day until it's done. My husband said the other day that I looked like I was reading a book that I HAD to read, like for school, not one that I actually wanted to read, lol. That's how it felt, too.

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ehuang72 t1_j2f6fh8 wrote

I used to have a little of that compulsion to finish any book I start but tbh in my case it was totally meaningless because I can’t say I ever gained additional insight or appreciation by forcing myself to finish. Probably because I’d be skimming and not paying proper attention … but still. So I’ve stopped doing that.

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Raindrops_On-Roses OP t1_j2f6uhg wrote

That's the thing, though. I know I'm not getting anything out of it simply because I'm not enjoying it. It just feels like something I NEED to do. It doesn't feel like a choice. If I have a book that I've started and haven't finished, it gnaws at me like a sink full of dishes. Idk why, but it sucks, lmao. The bright side is that I'm a fast reader, always have been. So, at least it doesn't take me too long. The worst was The Shining. I despised that book! I found it soooo boring. I was losing my mind!

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ehuang72 t1_j2f752w wrote

LOL - how much of a book do you need to have read that makes you feel I MUST FINISH!!

I lied before, I still feel the need to finish but these days I only feel that way if I’ve read like at least half.

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Raindrops_On-Roses OP t1_j2f7gz6 wrote

I mean, if I immediately decided I didn't like it on page one, I wouldn't care. The issue is you can't really know if you'll enjoy it that soon, and by the time I'm like, "this is irredeemable," it's too late, lol. So essentially, the first page, I guess.

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ehuang72 t1_j2f7ljx wrote

FOMO! What if it gets good later 🥵

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Raindrops_On-Roses OP t1_j2f8ahs wrote

It's weird because I wasn't always like this with books, lol. I honestly can't say when it started.

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BeneLeit t1_j2evocv wrote

I haven't read that one, but I have an issue with her books that I have read. (The Nightingale, The Four Winds, The Great Alone.)

She tells great stories and opens up subjects worth exploring, but her dialogue writing is terrible. It makes her characters less believable and takes me out of the story.

I "hear" dialogue when I read, as if the character is speaking. It often doesn't work for me at all when she has her characters speak.

She is lauded as such a terrific writer by so many, but this element holds me back from agreeing 100%.

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Raindrops_On-Roses OP t1_j2ew2ki wrote

Dialogue was a part of my issue, as well. Sometimes, it would just stop me dead in my tracks, especially at a part with long stretches of it. And that's exactly it. I like the overall story, and it touches on important topics, but the characters just weren't believable and made it difficult to thoroughly enjoy. This is the only book I've read by her, though, so I can't say anything regarding others.

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amytayb t1_j2fnuyt wrote

I watched the Netflix series before reading the book. I loved the show so couldn’t wait for the book. Big let down. The show gave the characters, plus more (ex the brother), SO much depth and personality and meaning to their individual stories as people and the book has none of that for me. And the sequel was even worse! I forced myself to finish it but it was so boring. No story to it. No meaning.

Super disappointing.

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Raindrops_On-Roses OP t1_j2fpgrn wrote

Should I watch the show, then? Like I said, I do like the overall story. So if the show makes it, you know, actually enjoyable, maybe I should give that a shot. Lol.

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amytayb t1_j2fpp61 wrote

I absolutely recommend the show!! They change some major points from the book, but who really cares anyways because the book is like you said underwhelming and lacking a lot.

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htchili72 t1_j2ff9ld wrote

I read the book on recommendation from a co-worker who said it was so good, "it even made her cry". How? I guess I am a cold, unemotional reader because this story did absolutely nothing for me but I did finish it just to see how it ended. I agree about the dialogue and the actions of characters seem unrealistic. I haven't had the inclination to read any of her other books.

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