2.23k reviews for:

Playground

Richard Powers

4.16 AVERAGE

maddieoppenheim's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging informative slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Richard Powers when I catch you—this book is absolute cinema

sjreinardy's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious sad slow-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

theforestfox's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 43%

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I had a similar experience trying to read Overstory. Not for me.

berrynf's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

hawksquill's review

4.5

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

scott_wilson_kc's review against another edition

3.0

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Much of this is — conceptually, intellectually — some combination of powerful, affecting or fascinating. It's also overdetermined structurally and often unbelievable at the dialogue and character levels. There's a narrative twist that a more charitable reader (including me, before I'd thought for a day or so about the novel in sum) can credit or blame for the weaknesses I'm complaining about, but even assuming that's intentional (a stretch, I think), more here than not is heavy-handed and didactic.

cutelilfox's review

5.0

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In my marine biologist era 🐋 🐠 

rachelshoffman827's review against another edition

3.0

reflective slow-paced

shelli12920's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

nick_00's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated