2.23k reviews for:

Playground

Richard Powers

4.16 AVERAGE


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

In my marine biologist era 🐋 🐠 
reflective slow-paced
adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced
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
katsiaryna_z's profile picture

katsiaryna_z's review

5.0
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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 mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
kmbeck's profile picture

kmbeck's review

4.25
adventurous 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
slow-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes