Reviews

The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott

lcfisher's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Beautiful book. Loved the glimpse into a world of days gone by— the role of nuns in helping the sick and the poor and the undeniable fact that once again and perhaps especially in the Catholic Church women are the under-appreciated backbone/foundation upon which men (priests) rest while they enjoy the fruits of that uncompensated labor and exercise their power. This is the subtle truth of the world portrayed in the book — not a hammered home message at all. I loved the story, the characters, the details and the humanity of all.

lorijo1's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

It started a bit slow, but picked up.

peita_hansen's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

tarahenshaw's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

This book just wasn’t for me. The first half I was confused, for me the writing style was a little unfamiliar. Because of this, I felt like I was not really connecting with the book. Also, I am not catholic so I don’t know if I truly understood some of the discussions in this book. The second half of the book was better. I can appreciate this book for what it was, and I can see why people love it, it just wasn’t for me!

acschaffer's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

The book opens with a 32-year-old Irish immigrant committing suicide in his modest inner-city Brooklyn apartment. It's the early 20th century, and the city is full of immigrants and a great number of people who need help. Nuns rush in to assist. They clean up the apartment and provide comfort to the young widow and her unborn daughter. The nuns give the woman a job in the convent laundry room, and her little girl, Sally, grows up among the nuns.

The main theme in the book is sin v. good deeds. What are the aftershocks of sin? Can good deeds redeem a person's soul? Are there certain sins that cannot be forgiven, and are there some that are worth that risk? All great things to think about. I would give the book 3.5 stars. I liked it overall, but sometimes had a hard time staying in it.

cwillett80's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This book is tied with Jayber Crow for “Fiction That Shook My Theology This Year.” Hard and beautiful and human stories woven together into one fine novel.

judeyk's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This story, with its winding, intersecting threads, carries me along without my even realizing it.
Some of the sentences were startling beautiful without being overly sentimental.
Choices made, the families we gather to us, and the price of happiness; all are themes in this short novel.

gracekoehl's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Super melancholy, but in a good way. Like when you watch a sad movie and have a good cry. A beautiful representation of the interactions between mother and daughter, nuns and laypeople, and the sick and their caretakers.

tahirarani's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

The Ninth Hour is what I have to think of as contemporary McDermott; less atmospheric in a nostalgic sense (as with her earlier work, which I loved!) and more focused on a single life and its formative experiences, as shaped by others. Less plot-driven really, and more focused, intent, on character.

kdconn's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0