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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
I read this in a few hours, and looking back, I wish I spent a little bit more time with it. I think it would’ve been nice to sit with each short story instead of reading them back to back. I liked that some of the stories were vaguely futuristic, but my favorites were “Victory Lap,” “Puppy,” and “Home.” Most of the stories made me vaguely sad, but in a complex way. I will definitely be reading more from Saunders soon!
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first experience reading George Saunders, and certainly won't be my last. Saunders takes you into the minds of several dynamic characters and highlights their dreams and insecurities. Its a fascinating look at how people see themselves, their self-doubt, and the way people try and find a better life in their minds.
You realize throughout certain stories that the perspective is often told from one side of a moral dilemma. As you continue reading, you realize the narrator is not always on the right side of the dilemma, but you have a better understanding of other character's points of view. It really makes you think about how people justify their behavior and thoughts.
You realize throughout certain stories that the perspective is often told from one side of a moral dilemma. As you continue reading, you realize the narrator is not always on the right side of the dilemma, but you have a better understanding of other character's points of view. It really makes you think about how people justify their behavior and thoughts.
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Incredible mastery of the short story form. Wide-ranging stories and characters, compelling in their own ways.
Great mix of heavy late-capitalism themes and laugh-out-loud humor.
Oh man oh man I love this writing style so much but it made the plots in these short stories very hard to follow. I thought maybe the audiobook form was the issue until I saw other reviews claiming the same thing. Key details were lost in the scattered thoughts of these funny little characters.
I’d love to give more of Saunders’s work a read though because his writing scratched an itch in my brain in a way a lot of other books haven’t lately.
Victory Lap and The Semplica-Girls Diaries were my favs.
I’d love to give more of Saunders’s work a read though because his writing scratched an itch in my brain in a way a lot of other books haven’t lately.
Victory Lap and The Semplica-Girls Diaries were my favs.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
I was unimpressed with Pastoralia, but found his writing in Tenth of December to be much more polished. He still plays with words and structure but in a much less self-conscious way.