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janeanger's review against another edition
2.0
I have long enjoyed Egan's writing and this book is as well-crafted as any of her others. That said, I could never "get" Phoebe, the main character. She makes terrible decisions, as sometimes those in grief do, but in her swirling descent she knowingly and seemingly willingly takes others with her, which I find deplorable. I winced throughout, especially with scenes involving her dead sister's boyfriend (with whom there was a plot twist that was as terrible as I'd assumed it would be when I first saw it coming). This book put me in a weird, cranky headspace after reading.
leighbeevee's review against another edition
1.0
I adored two of Egan's other books, but this one fell flat for me. I was totally uninterested.
nixieknox's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it well enough, although Phoebe was a little maddening. I totally skipped the LSD chapter, and I actually forgot I read the end and had to re-read it. So I guess in parts it was a little weak, but overall, I enjoyed it. Egan has the amazing ability to transport you to a different time and place - I felt like I was in the 70s (again!)
bgprincipessa's review against another edition
2.0
I prefer not to let this spoil Jennifer Egan for me, because I do want to try her later novels. But this was treacly and drawn out.
elisehoula's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
toellethebooks's review
1.0
Lol. I barely got to the end of this book. I almost put it under DNF.
Yes, her writing style was very fluid and vivid but most of the time it was so excessive that it felt like I'm drowning in words. The elaboration was very long and tedious that instead of pulling me in, bored me LIKE A WHOLE LOT. There were long-ass narrations that I don't think benefited the entire plot at all.
Yes, her writing style was very fluid and vivid but most of the time it was so excessive that it felt like I'm drowning in words. The elaboration was very long and tedious that instead of pulling me in, bored me LIKE A WHOLE LOT. There were long-ass narrations that I don't think benefited the entire plot at all.
marie_gg's review against another edition
3.0
Phoebe lives most of her life reeling from the grief of having lost her father and then her older sister, Faith, before she reached her adolescence.
Her sister was a flower child and fell to her death from a cliff in an Italian seaside town. At the age of 18, Phoebe decides to pursue her sister's ghost through Europe to see if she can decipher what really happened to her.
She explores the shadows of the 60s and the flower children and skirts the memories of her childhood. This book is an excellent exploration of the pathways of grief, and the emptiness experienced by a child who clearly understood that she was never her parent's "favorite."
Her sister was a flower child and fell to her death from a cliff in an Italian seaside town. At the age of 18, Phoebe decides to pursue her sister's ghost through Europe to see if she can decipher what really happened to her.
She explores the shadows of the 60s and the flower children and skirts the memories of her childhood. This book is an excellent exploration of the pathways of grief, and the emptiness experienced by a child who clearly understood that she was never her parent's "favorite."
msmagoo502's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Enjoyably sad, with a bonus hit of nostalgia for those of us who were in the bay area/SF in the 80s/90s/2000s. I do have some opinions on Wolf sleeping with his dead girlfriend's little sister - B R U H .
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Violence