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notaleaf's review against another edition
3.0
This book was odd and very hard for me to finish. I didn’t get into it. I did like the different characters and their intertwining stories but I just didn’t like this style of writing. Not sure I’d recommend this to friends.
districtreads's review against another edition
2.0
Have you ever come into a book as a skeptic, stayed a skeptic, and finished it a skeptic? That’s how I felt about BOWLAWAY by Elizabeth McCracken. It didn’t bowl me away, I guess you might say - if you enjoy terrible puns as much as I do
quietjenn's review
4.0
Really slow getting into it - I started and abandoned it I don’t know how many times before uninterrupted plane reading made it actually stick. But when it clicked, it really, really did.
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't get very far, but I could tell this wasn't going to be for me right now. Seemed a bit too precious.
thisiscourt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
radioactve_piano's review against another edition
3.0
What kept me reading were the random passages that were just absolute perfection. (Don't ask what got me interested to begin with -- I *think* I was just needing a book from the library and all my pre-chosen ones had holds on them already, so I took the first recommended one based on... something? I don't even know. I would have never thought, "I want to pick up a book about the people who live and breathe with a bowling alley".)
Yes, it's long, but who cares? It's engaging writing, even if the topics weren't (ie, daily life for a few generations of people connected with a bowling alley). The characters were exactly the type that you always find in the "small town stories" -- all the personalities, the tragedies, the shattered hopes and dreams and the redemption stories. No one character was a hero, and that is wonderful.
Yes, it's long, but who cares? It's engaging writing, even if the topics weren't (ie, daily life for a few generations of people connected with a bowling alley). The characters were exactly the type that you always find in the "small town stories" -- all the personalities, the tragedies, the shattered hopes and dreams and the redemption stories. No one character was a hero, and that is wonderful.
rusty_moonshadow's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
lugojayce's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
Really tries to aim towards the whimsical and funny family line with whacky family members but it’s all just drawn out and uninteresting
ashlo's review against another edition
4.0
A 4.5, though I might round-up later. Docking a 0.5 as the end of the book had more Roy and Arch content than I needed but I had been holding out hope for Joe's reappearance and happiness and boy did this deliver... so glad that Joe got to be an art gay after all !