Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
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
This was an easy read and a cute idea. I wanted a bit more punch to the writing and felt there were many moments that were over explained, where showing what was happening would have been sufficient but he rather drilled the point. Felt like watching a sitcom when I would have preferred a film. That said, it passed the time and the story had its charm. Extra points for the final page making me cry, as I'm not often a crier. Solid 3 star material.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I’m a big Steven Rowley fan, and this one didn’t disappoint. It combines sharp wit with sincere poignancy, something I think Steven Rowley does very well, and made me think about the relationships in my life.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed both The Editor and The Guncle, but I found The Celebrants a bit uneven. It was hard to develop any connection to the characters, and I found the structure of the book hard to follow at the start. Rowley trades on the idea that this is a group of close friends, and it seemed that his goal was to make us feel like we were outsiders observing their rituals and traditions and relationships. Sometimes that worked – – and I did get absorbed as the story went on – – but there were also times where I felt like I was watching a bunch of unpleasant people bicker, and I was tempted to put the book down. I guess overall I would say that it felt like he took on a few too many characters and too many plot lines. Still, it was an interesting novel overall, and I’m glad I read it.