Reviews

Who Are You, Calvin Bledsoe? by Brock Clarke

shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition

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I finished it because I wanted to know how it turned out but the story is quite bizarre. It is apparently a modern re-telling of Graham Greene's "Travels with my Aunt" but I haven't read that so can't comment. Since Calvin Bledsoe is the son of a minister who wrote a famous book about John Calvin there are plenty of Calvin quotes in the story. It might be a fun way for folks wanting to learn about John Calvin to learn more of his philosophy but it's certainly quirky.

auroraboringallofus's review against another edition

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4.0

Has a little bit of Victor LaValle's "Big Machine" to it -- total unpredictability, highly specific religious references, bizarre hunts and hunted-ness. Not as dark but funnier and delightful.

awkwardtreed's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

sonia_reppe's review against another edition

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2.0

The only thing this has going for it is an engaging tone- Calvin's 1st person-- everything else is problematic: the plot, the pace, the characters. A bunch of people lying to each other does not a story make. Aunt B and her mysterious sayings got tiresome after a while. The plot needs structure. Did I mention pacing was a problem. This started off ok and then was boring.

leleroulant's review against another edition

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4.0

I received this as an ARC from LibraryThing.com. What a fun ride! At almost 50 years old, Calvin meets his unknown Aunt at his mother's funeral. She take him on a wacky trip through Europe where Calvin finally learns what it means to grow up and be an adult. So many turn and twists to wrap your head around.

lyngox's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective 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

4.5

lumakip's review against another edition

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4.0

This is a wacky ride, for sure. Like one of those movies that you don't like when you first watch it, I started this book and just couldn't get into it. Once a mood better suited for it arrived, I dove back in and found it to be a light hearted, roller coaster ride around a few wacky days in the protagonist's life with laugh-out-louds all along the way. Not as easy read, but rewarding nonetheless.

thealydee's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lazygal's review against another edition

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2.0

Not sure what to think about this, especially given the emphasis on John Calvin and his many quotations. You'd think that that would mean a more quiet book not a thriller-like book that includes an international hunt for something that Calvin may or may not have access to, or Beatrice's decisions to not explain things to Calvin. I mean, he's a blogger for the pellet-stove industry! There's supposed to be humor here but I only found that in his blog posts. Otherwise, I was as confused as Calvin.

ARC provided by publisher.