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timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting to read this after watching the show on HBO. The book is has much less of the supernatural and is way less creepy. I actually really like both takes on this premise.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Added to TBR 01/2017
I was obsessed by the HBO series. I loved it even as it got weirder and sort of jumped the shark in Australia. And I intended to read the book after I finished the series.... but things happened and I just never got around to it. I'm glad I had that time because the series is vastly different from the series. Both are goo din their own way, but I would have been disappointed in the book if I had read it right after the series.
Except for the Rapture, there is no real supernatural elements to this book. I know, counting the complete and mysterious disappearance of 2% of the world population, seems like a pretty big deal. I know. The Avengers showed what would happen in "Avengers: Infinity War" did this in 2018, but guess what? Tom Perrotta did it in 2011!
Sorry, I don't mean to start ranting. Anyway, This book deals more about sudden and unexpected loss and how it effects people differently. There are no "bad guys" in the book, although it is interesting the note that almost all of the religious entities in the book come across as questionable, Reverend Jamison, Holy Wayne, and the Guilty Remnant (also known as G.R.) do some very questionable things in the name of religion. The Barefoot People on the other hand just seem like hippie dropouts.
This was a thoughtful book, and would have been a four star book, if it had not just ended. Seriously. I checked the binding to see if there had been some pages lost, that is how abrupt the ending is.
I was obsessed by the HBO series. I loved it even as it got weirder and sort of jumped the shark in Australia. And I intended to read the book after I finished the series.... but things happened and I just never got around to it. I'm glad I had that time because the series is vastly different from the series. Both are goo din their own way, but I would have been disappointed in the book if I had read it right after the series.
Except for the Rapture, there is no real supernatural elements to this book. I know, counting the complete and mysterious disappearance of 2% of the world population, seems like a pretty big deal. I know. The Avengers showed what would happen in "Avengers: Infinity War" did this in 2018, but guess what? Tom Perrotta did it in 2011!
Sorry, I don't mean to start ranting. Anyway, This book deals more about sudden and unexpected loss and how it effects people differently. There are no "bad guys" in the book, although it is interesting the note that almost all of the religious entities in the book come across as questionable, Reverend Jamison, Holy Wayne, and the Guilty Remnant (also known as G.R.) do some very questionable things in the name of religion. The Barefoot People on the other hand just seem like hippie dropouts.
This was a thoughtful book, and would have been a four star book, if it had not just ended. Seriously. I checked the binding to see if there had been some pages lost, that is how abrupt the ending is.
beverly_h's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a warming, hilarious and ingenious read. I have absolutely loved Tom Perrotta since reading 'Little Children' at the age of 16 (too young, potentially, but I have always been a precocious reader).
Perrotta's forte is, of course, portraying the reality, banality and intricacies of suburban life. He does this in 'The Leftovers', accompanied by a science-fictional flavouring that the 'Sudden Departure' gives rise to.
I won't forget the amount of laughing-out-loud I did at the beginning of this book. I appreciate Tom's wry, sometimes-cynical and hilarious insight into human nature; it is because of this that I connect to his writings so deeply. At several times throughout the novel, I found myself awestruck by his ability to describe human connection, his comprehension going beyond any psychology/communications book I've ever read.
The presence of the GR ('Guilty Remnant') in this novel was nothing short of artistry. The rules and regulations he dreamt up for the group were entertainingly outlandish, as was the entire premise upon which their existence was based. The quirks and antics of the GR were the source of much of my laughter toward the beginning. From the midpoint of the story onwards, we are familiarised with the warmth and tenderness shared between the various characters. It is at this point that scenes of intimacy are introduced, all of which are tantalising and delicious to read. This novel's characters are mostly lovable, 3D, relatable, and down-to-earth. They have realistic faults, emotions and ambitions (even if some of them are misguided).
In short, I loved everything about this story. It contains important life messages that young people would be well-served to read. The intergenerational friendships portrayed throughout are heartwarming and rare to find in novels these days (even though they are commonplace in everyday life). This is the first time in a while that I closed the back page of a book wishing I knew more about where the characters end up. I don't think I'll ever stop feeling like my soul aligns with the works of Tom Perrotta.
A true gem of a read.
Perrotta's forte is, of course, portraying the reality, banality and intricacies of suburban life. He does this in 'The Leftovers', accompanied by a science-fictional flavouring that the 'Sudden Departure' gives rise to.
I won't forget the amount of laughing-out-loud I did at the beginning of this book. I appreciate Tom's wry, sometimes-cynical and hilarious insight into human nature; it is because of this that I connect to his writings so deeply. At several times throughout the novel, I found myself awestruck by his ability to describe human connection, his comprehension going beyond any psychology/communications book I've ever read.
The presence of the GR ('Guilty Remnant') in this novel was nothing short of artistry. The rules and regulations he dreamt up for the group were entertainingly outlandish, as was the entire premise upon which their existence was based. The quirks and antics of the GR were the source of much of my laughter toward the beginning. From the midpoint of the story onwards, we are familiarised with the warmth and tenderness shared between the various characters. It is at this point that scenes of intimacy are introduced, all of which are tantalising and delicious to read. This novel's characters are mostly lovable, 3D, relatable, and down-to-earth. They have realistic faults, emotions and ambitions (even if some of them are misguided).
In short, I loved everything about this story. It contains important life messages that young people would be well-served to read. The intergenerational friendships portrayed throughout are heartwarming and rare to find in novels these days (even though they are commonplace in everyday life). This is the first time in a while that I closed the back page of a book wishing I knew more about where the characters end up. I don't think I'll ever stop feeling like my soul aligns with the works of Tom Perrotta.
A true gem of a read.
stephwiesman's review against another edition
5.0
I would consider this book a dystopian. It covers the subject of the Rapture, and what would happen to those left behind. I have been a fan of Tom Perotta since The Abstinence Teacher, and this one was impossible to put down.
aya1081's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
callandor19's review against another edition
4.0
It’s impossible for me to review this as a book because the HBO series remains so impactful for me. Sorry Tom Perotta, but I’m only really able to process this as a companion to the show—and it’s great! It doesn’t go as many wild places as the show ultimately does, but the muted-yet-profound weight is still effective here. The book’s impressive on its own, and the show is even more impressive than I’d realized for how it was able to draw out different interpretive strands.
jacksontibet's review against another edition
3.0
I think that I like this book better than most Tom Perrotta books. I still won't say he's a good author, and his books are always waaaaaay better as movies (at least so far, based upon Election and Little Children) but his disaffected yuppie thing kinda worked with this one and I think he got the tone right. Everybody's just floundering around and feeling dis-attached and sorry for themselves after half the world (? give or take) just up and disappears. Guess I should say I can't wait to see how awesome the movie is (fingers crossed)!
megadeathvsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I gave this a read after loving the show. This is one of those books that I think worked better in the TV medium. The book seemed to stop short of really digging into the characters.
kat_figs's review against another edition
2.0
i recently finished the HBO show adaptation of this book and loved it, so i really wanted to love the book too. unfortunately, i thought the writing was weak and the characters weren’t compelling. many of their motivations and struggles are directly told to the reader in a way that flattens the characterization. the book really could’ve benefited from the show’s ethos and “let the mystery be.”
i also wasn’t convinced by the female characters, perhaps because every single male POV in the book hypersexualizes teen girls.
i also wasn’t convinced by the female characters, perhaps because every single male POV in the book hypersexualizes teen girls.
ptothelo's review against another edition
3.0
Life-changing events aren't always as life-changing as we expect