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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
there were times when it felt like there was no point to the entire thing but Makkai wrapped it in a very fun and lovely bow. I could fell through the entire thing how hopeful it was and really admired that about it
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
You can tell this was written by a librarian with all the book references. The librarian was true to many that I know. Very enjoyable, I would skip the epilogue.
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
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry
Minor: Eating disorder, Physical abuse
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this (but I am a gay librarian, so who is surprised!), though I had skimmed some reviews and expected less-than-reality, which I think were good expectations to have going in. I always find Rebecca Makkai's characters to be so magnetic... their thought processes and emotions always feel so real to me! Anyway, I did really love the father/daughter relationship and the ideas raised there and I cried at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Homophobia
Made me uneasy in a good way. Excellent in idea and often execution. I did spend a good chunk of reading time wondering what it is about writing children, if we all base our expectations on ourselves at age x (read: the modern self we map onto our pasts) or a child we know or just the written children of our own childhood reading... in any case Ian didn't quite read realistic to me for his age, but I don't know if that's fair.