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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Sweet and short vignette. I enjoyed it. A rigid character has his life shaken up a bit and begins to see things differently.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The only place I went wrong, he writes, was expecting things to be perfect.
I remember being in my early teens in school and our English teacher making us read Anne Tyler's [b:Digging to America|698|Digging to America|Anne Tyler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327901292l/698._SX50_.jpg|3140490]. I remember rolling my eyes, along with my classmates, because we were forced to read something so insufferably boring about everyday people living their lives and interacting with each other. So dull. Well, I don't know if it's because I'm on my way to becoming a boring old person these days, but I have been wholly charmed by both of the two Tyler books I've read as an adult.
[b:Redhead by the Side of the Road|46014983|Redhead by the Side of the Road|Anne Tyler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565778847l/46014983._SY75_.jpg|70890690] is a little book with a lot of quiet power. A novella, I imagine, though I don't know the exact word count. It's a book about a middle-aged man called Micah Mortimer. He's a self-employed techie with a business aptly called 'Tech Hermit'. He likes order and organization. Everything in his house and in his life has its place and each day is part of a strict cleaning schedule. Thursday, for example, is "kitchen day".
Micah exasperates those around him, though he cannot understand their frustration with him. Even his somewhat finicky girlfriend is growing tired of all his ways. It reminds me of several other books that are intimate character portraits of outsiders who struggle to connect with other humans - [b:Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine|31434883|Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine|Gail Honeyman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1564647507l/31434883._SY75_.jpg|47327681], [b:A Man Called Ove|18774964|A Man Called Ove|Fredrik Backman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405259930l/18774964._SY75_.jpg|21619954], for example - but this one is subtler and less sensationalist than either of those (don't get me wrong, I really loved both those books).
It is so tempting to look for hidden "messages" in books. And if this book does indeed have a message, I truly cannot decide if it is a caution against perfectionism and rigidity, or instead an appeal for understanding of those oddballs who have their daily lives planned down to the second. The meaning of the title suggests the former and Micah's way of life does hold him back in many ways, but this portrait of him is undeniably a compassionate one. Maybe there is no message. Just a moving story about a person who marches to his own beat.
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In reading the blurb, I was making a gamble and was prepared to be bored by a short book about a dull midlife crisis.
Instead, I had come across the most articulated novel that I read this year. I liked the effect, that as a reader I was looking in on Micah’s life with a view that showed both his own perspective and his own lack of insight. Micah’s clinical cleanliness, was beautifully put aside the chaotic lives of his family.
Where many books thrive on new complex plot ideas, this one showed that the key to a good story is simplicity.
Instead, I had come across the most articulated novel that I read this year. I liked the effect, that as a reader I was looking in on Micah’s life with a view that showed both his own perspective and his own lack of insight. Micah’s clinical cleanliness, was beautifully put aside the chaotic lives of his family.
Where many books thrive on new complex plot ideas, this one showed that the key to a good story is simplicity.
Great story, the main character reminded me a bit of the Accidental Tourist. I couldn't stop laughing when the the title was explained, it was so far from what I expected!
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"i'm a roomful of broken hearts"
ohhh how i enjoyed this simple story. nothing big and dramatic happened and some might dnf this book but i finished it in one sitting and enjoyed every page. of course the slow pace was tedious at times but all in all i liked it
ohhh how i enjoyed this simple story. nothing big and dramatic happened and some might dnf this book but i finished it in one sitting and enjoyed every page. of course the slow pace was tedious at times but all in all i liked it
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
just a lovely, short, slice of life book.
Fredrik Backman’s Ove and Micha would be best friends i’m convinced.
Fredrik Backman’s Ove and Micha would be best friends i’m convinced.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes