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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
such a tender heartwarming book written for people who love books!! there were definitely times when I felt like it didn't necessarily have a point, but I loved the writing and the ending redeemed a lot for me.
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wanted to like this book more than I did. A kid who loves books, a librarian, a homosexual-converting Christian bad guy...what's not to like? But for some reason the story didn't work for me. I think it was the Russian lineage side story that lost me and seemed overly ambitious and not particularly helpful in telling the story. I thought Miss Hull, however, was convincing in her manic mental dialogue, just what you would expect someone in her position to be experiencing.
We get it, you’re not like other girls (or librarians). Girl, you’re 26, not 16 — you should not be acting like this.
I can appreciate the message and sentiment, but woof, the execution was rough. Why preach about the importance of protecting queer youth when you have one of the most passive protagonists I’ve ever read who has no agency whatsoever? The empty activism while saying some pretty suspect ideas as throwaway comments… It’s giving very much, “I have a gay friend so I know what you’re going through.” You could have replaced Ian’s queerness with any other marginalized identity and it would be the exact same book with the exact same level of awareness.
And including Rocky for what? To be super one-dimensional? To be laughed at or seen as a naive, but also jaded? To be diverse background dressing to Lucy’s delusional way of life?
I thought Lucy might eventually see how delusional she was, or maybe even face some consequences for her actions, but honestly, she never had to because everything worked out for her in the end. Mob boss Dad will make sure nothing bad happens, and everyone else is too stupid or passive to figure it out. Gimme a break.
I can appreciate the message and sentiment, but woof, the execution was rough. Why preach about the importance of protecting queer youth when you have one of the most passive protagonists I’ve ever read who has no agency whatsoever? The empty activism while saying some pretty suspect ideas as throwaway comments… It’s giving very much, “I have a gay friend so I know what you’re going through.” You could have replaced Ian’s queerness with any other marginalized identity and it would be the exact same book with the exact same level of awareness.
And including Rocky for what? To be super one-dimensional? To be laughed at or seen as a naive, but also jaded? To be diverse background dressing to Lucy’s delusional way of life?
I thought Lucy might eventually see how delusional she was, or maybe even face some consequences for her actions, but honestly, she never had to because everything worked out for her in the end. Mob boss Dad will make sure nothing bad happens, and everyone else is too stupid or passive to figure it out. Gimme a break.
3.5 rounded down. Whimsical and fun like the children’s books the main characters love. It’s a clever debut, but too slow and repetitive at times.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Also for book lovers who enjoy books about book lovers
This book had all the components to be interesting; unreliable narrator, setting out against the status quo, adventure, slight kidnapping (really, who kidnapped who here). Unfortunately, for me, I just found it a slog to get through.
Lucy is a children's librarian and takes special delight in slipping one of her reader's books he is not supposed to read (contain magic, children having independent thought, etc.). This goes awry when that same character, presumably running from his stifled homelife (and possible conversion therapy), decides to make her "kidnap" him and head East to a destination only he knows. Assumedly, this is Lucy's conjecture as to what happens.
Because Lucy is an unreliable narrator you're never quite sure where the sense of the story goes. Throw in some other characters where, because of her lies, their lies, and the descriptions she's giving us, it's hard to sort what's truth from fiction. Which I think is very intentional of the author; a reflection of how we like to view ourselves and present ourselves to other people. As they progress in their journey there are always new lies to tell.
So what's the problem then? It seems like this should be a great tale of human nature and a fun adventure all in one. The problem is, it's just kind of boring. It takes forever to get to whatever it is they get to. I found myself not really caring how the end happened and whether or not Lucy escapes unscathed. Which was really frustrating.
If you like a meandering sort of book, this may be more up your alley. But I just couldn't get into this one.
Review by M. Reynard 2021
Lucy is a children's librarian and takes special delight in slipping one of her reader's books he is not supposed to read (contain magic, children having independent thought, etc.). This goes awry when that same character, presumably running from his stifled homelife (and possible conversion therapy), decides to make her "kidnap" him and head East to a destination only he knows. Assumedly, this is Lucy's conjecture as to what happens.
Because Lucy is an unreliable narrator you're never quite sure where the sense of the story goes. Throw in some other characters where, because of her lies, their lies, and the descriptions she's giving us, it's hard to sort what's truth from fiction. Which I think is very intentional of the author; a reflection of how we like to view ourselves and present ourselves to other people. As they progress in their journey there are always new lies to tell.
So what's the problem then? It seems like this should be a great tale of human nature and a fun adventure all in one. The problem is, it's just kind of boring. It takes forever to get to whatever it is they get to. I found myself not really caring how the end happened and whether or not Lucy escapes unscathed. Which was really frustrating.
If you like a meandering sort of book, this may be more up your alley. But I just couldn't get into this one.
Review by M. Reynard 2021
I enjoyed this, but in retrospect it seems more like the narrator is indulging in a rescue fantasy than telling her actual story, probably because the man in the doppelganger car was so convenient. I do like that she got away with her escapade and want to believe that it gave the boy the strength he will need as he grows up. I do highly recommend it, but for those who don't want too much fact in their fiction.
This is one of those novels I was supposed to love but didn't - there were glimmers of brilliance, but it never materialized for me.
It's a preachy novel. I have no problem with criticism of right-wing evangelical Christianity, but The Borrower didn't bring any new ideas to the table or talk about the issue in a new way. Despite its far-fetched plot, the heart of the novel was hardly new or different. I share many of the narrator's qualms and opinions about right-wing politics, but I don't enjoy reading novels that just pander to or repeat popular opinion. Challenge my assumptions! Change the way I think! Don't just cater to what your readers already know and believe.
I also felt absolutely no connection with the protagonist, so much so that I constantly forgot her name. She just wasn't a very interesting person to live inside for the length of a novel. Her character development, her insights, her growth all seemed routine on the part of the author. Woman goes on journey of self-discovery, woman discovers truths about herself, woman grows, sort of. Like the simplistic political views in the novel, Lucy didn't strike me as a very complicated or unique protagonist.
I originally rated this book at 2 stars, but the ending saved it for me. Funny, because a lot of other reviewers didn't like the ending. For me, it was the perfect ending. Not because of Lucy - I still don't care much about what she learned or how she grew. But for Ian, what other ending could there be? Sometimes things just end - not happily, not unhappily. Ambiguity is part of life. I loved that Lucy's last gifts to Ian were reading lists for each year of his adolescence. I don't happen to agree with Lucy's dismissal of the idea that you can never go home again. Home isn't a place, it's a concept. And it changes the moment you leave it. So no, I still don't think you can ever actually go home again.
I enjoyed The Borrower more before and after the road trip. While they were actually on the road, the novel seemed aimless and directionless, and I found myself just waiting for it to end somehow. In the mushy middle, I didn't think this novel would leave me with something valuable, and I was half right. As I said above, glimmers of brilliance. But the novel never shone.
It's a preachy novel. I have no problem with criticism of right-wing evangelical Christianity, but The Borrower didn't bring any new ideas to the table or talk about the issue in a new way. Despite its far-fetched plot, the heart of the novel was hardly new or different. I share many of the narrator's qualms and opinions about right-wing politics, but I don't enjoy reading novels that just pander to or repeat popular opinion. Challenge my assumptions! Change the way I think! Don't just cater to what your readers already know and believe.
I also felt absolutely no connection with the protagonist, so much so that I constantly forgot her name. She just wasn't a very interesting person to live inside for the length of a novel. Her character development, her insights, her growth all seemed routine on the part of the author. Woman goes on journey of self-discovery, woman discovers truths about herself, woman grows, sort of. Like the simplistic political views in the novel, Lucy didn't strike me as a very complicated or unique protagonist.
I originally rated this book at 2 stars, but the ending saved it for me. Funny, because a lot of other reviewers didn't like the ending. For me, it was the perfect ending. Not because of Lucy - I still don't care much about what she learned or how she grew. But for Ian, what other ending could there be? Sometimes things just end - not happily, not unhappily. Ambiguity is part of life. I loved that Lucy's last gifts to Ian were reading lists for each year of his adolescence. I don't happen to agree with Lucy's dismissal of the idea that you can never go home again. Home isn't a place, it's a concept. And it changes the moment you leave it. So no, I still don't think you can ever actually go home again.
I enjoyed The Borrower more before and after the road trip. While they were actually on the road, the novel seemed aimless and directionless, and I found myself just waiting for it to end somehow. In the mushy middle, I didn't think this novel would leave me with something valuable, and I was half right. As I said above, glimmers of brilliance. But the novel never shone.