41 pages • 1 hour read
Miriam ToewsA Complicated Kindness
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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.
Reviews & Readership
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.
RecommendedReading Age
16-18yearsBook Details
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Modern Classic Fiction
Canadian Literature
Relationships: Family
Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Society: Community
Depression / Suicide
Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Religion / Spirituality