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Is it bad that I think of this book as a black comedy? It kind of is.
I might be a terrible person.
I might be a terrible person.
What got my attention when I first picked this book up was the vibrant, expression descriptions of life in New England. What held my attention was the tragic downward spiral of a flawed man. Every character felt real and raw. It was not the most uplifting read but it did cause me to reflect on my life and the choices that I making. A major take away for me was how important it is to control thoughts. Thoughts lead to action.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I once knew a guy who said this was one of his favorite books because he related to Ethan. Now that I’ve read it I realize what a very depressing thing that was to say.
I read this in high school, when "reading" primarily meant SparkNotes and skimming through the chapters, or asking classmates what was happening. So, I figured I'd give this book another go, and actually read it this time without the pressure of a deadline or quizzes to worry about. And I have to say, it wasn't as good as I remember it back then. Could be because I actually read it this time around, or it could be that my tastes have changed in the 6 years since I last "read" it. I couldn't bring myself to feel connected with the characters and just wanted to get through it to finally say that I read it.
I liked the perspective in this book. It's a short one and even though not much happens, I didn't want to put Ethan down.
Surprisingly easy read. It would be impossible to read this book and not have some compassion for Ethan.
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yowza. Uhm…not sure how I feel honestly. I liked Wharton’s writing a lot, but the characters just suck. They all suck so bad. And it made me a little anxious to be stuck in their world. I liked moments but yeah, overall I’m unimpressed.