Sarah Haywood
The Cactus (Paperback)
USD$7.76
3.5 stars out of 10 reviews
10 reviews
USD$7.76
$7.76
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3.5 out of 5stars
(10 reviews)
Most helpful positive review
4.00 out of 5 stars review
Verified Purchaser
12/10/2019
deslivres5
Most helpful negative review
3.00 out of 5 stars review
Verified Purchaser
02/16/2020
Linyarai
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4.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser05/30/2021A touching debut novel about a woman…A touching debut novel about a woman who learns that life cannot be always be dictated by the rules that one sets, and that complexities shape our world in unpredictable ways, no matter how diligently we fight to protect against these unforeseen challenges.Unknown
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4.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser05/21/20214.5 stars. The Cactus by Sarah…4.5 stars. The Cactus by Sarah Haywood is a wonderful character-driven novel that is both humorous and poignant. Forty-five year old Susan Green's unexpected pregnancy is not the only thing turning her well-ordered life upside down. The recent death of her mother is upsetting but it is the reading of the will that really infuriates Susan. After learning their mom left the family home to her drunken, unemployed brother Edward, Susan blocks probate as she tries to prove that Edward unduly influenced their mom into leaving him the house. In order to prove her theory, she befriends Edward's mate Rob Rhys in an effort to uncover the truth. With both her due date and the hearing looming ever closer, Susan begins to realize that control is an illusion and vulnerability is not necessarily a bad thing. Susan is not exactly a warm and inviting person and she does not believe in sugarcoating the truth. She does not suffer fools gladly nor is she overly tactful in her business or personal relationships. She has a very pragmatic, logical and unemotional approach to all aspects of her life and she is fairly rigid in her beliefs. Her dysfunctional, unhappy childhood is at the root of her rigid and controlling behavior and honestly, the more Susan reveals about her unhappy past, the easier it is to empathize with her need to micromanage her environment and dispassionately analyze every situation. Susan's viewpoints on motherhood are unexpectedly funny (and obviously somewhat ill-formed) and she is quite uncomfortable with letting people into her personal space. She gradually forms friendships with people who accept her as she is although they do smooth over some of her rougher edges. It is easy to recognize that Susan's standoffish persona is designed to protect her from being hurt by anyone. After learning about her horrible childhood, it is completely understandable that Susan would do everything possible to shield herself from further pain. The Cactus is an absolute gem that is chock full of witty observations, pithy interactions and a lead protagonist who is impossible not to root for. Susan is a prickly character who undergoes spectacular growth while still retaining the unique qualities that are a reaction to her life experiences. The secondary characters are very endearing with the exception of Edward whom readers will most likely want to throttle every time he appears. Late in the novel, Sarah Haywood throws in a shocking plot twist that forces Susan to re-examine and reassess much of her life both past and present. The novel's conclusion is incredibly satisfying and ultimately, quite healing.kbranfield
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3.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser09/11/2020DKnight0918
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3.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser03/02/2020Unknown
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3.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser02/16/2020Linyarai
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4.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser01/27/2020dawnlovesbooks
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4.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser12/10/2019deslivres5
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3.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser07/22/2019Unknown
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3.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser12/11/2018Seemed like a cross be...Seemed like a cross between Eleanor Oliphant is Fine and A Man Called Ove, but nothing like as good as either of those books. Long time since I read a book where I actually disliked the main character. Susan seemed an arrogant stand-offish person who was incredibly judgemental about everyone - her neighbours, her work colleagues, her family members etc etc. She had embarked on a rather unusual relationship with a man some years previously, and to her surprise finds herself pregnant, just as her mother dies. And that provides the lynch pin of the plot - her mother's will and the contest between her and her younger brother who she despises. It goes on and on, and then at the end, when the baby is born it all the problems are miraculously solved and it all comes together - oh yeah? - and then everyone is happy. ( )herschelian
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4.00 out of 5 stars reviewVerified Purchaser06/01/2018Fun book. Reminds me ...Fun book. Reminds me of another recent novel.shazjhb