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laurapatriciarosereads's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/blog-tour-fishbowl-by-bradley-somer.html
I have read a fair few refreshingly unique reads this year and Fish Bowl is definitely one of them. You would think it would become increasingly harder for a book to stand out from the crowd, when actually I think the ideas are getting better and better. There is nothing I didn't like about this fun, quirky novel.
What I loved the most about this story is that our main protagonist is a gold fish called Ian, who is perilously plunging towards ground from 27 floors up. As he is descending, he gets quick glimpses into each apartment and we get to see into the lives of a brilliant cast of characters in that day that Ian finds himself out of his own fishbowl and looking into the fishbowls of those in the apartment building.
Also anyone who reads my blog will know that I am a big fan of multiple character viewpoints. You really get a sense for the raw human emotions that we all go through; what it is that makes us happy, sad, angry, annoyed and also how we can all just pass each other by without really knowing what is going on in that person's life. Fishbowl delivers an eclectic mix of brilliantly flawed characters that you actually find yourself managing to relate to even when their situations are different to yours. I have never come across such contrasting characters in one story before and this is what made it so refreshing and different to read.
I really enjoy a novel that gets me thinking and evaluating and Bradley Somer has created a wonderful novel that gets you looking at life a little differently. It's also incredibly clever as all of the events that happen, happen within the space of half an hour, so even though it feels longer, Bradley has somehow managed to slow time and perception down.
Fishbowl was quirky, different and a joy to read. I loved immersing myself in the world of the residents of Seville on Roxy and would do so easily again.
I have read a fair few refreshingly unique reads this year and Fish Bowl is definitely one of them. You would think it would become increasingly harder for a book to stand out from the crowd, when actually I think the ideas are getting better and better. There is nothing I didn't like about this fun, quirky novel.
What I loved the most about this story is that our main protagonist is a gold fish called Ian, who is perilously plunging towards ground from 27 floors up. As he is descending, he gets quick glimpses into each apartment and we get to see into the lives of a brilliant cast of characters in that day that Ian finds himself out of his own fishbowl and looking into the fishbowls of those in the apartment building.
Also anyone who reads my blog will know that I am a big fan of multiple character viewpoints. You really get a sense for the raw human emotions that we all go through; what it is that makes us happy, sad, angry, annoyed and also how we can all just pass each other by without really knowing what is going on in that person's life. Fishbowl delivers an eclectic mix of brilliantly flawed characters that you actually find yourself managing to relate to even when their situations are different to yours. I have never come across such contrasting characters in one story before and this is what made it so refreshing and different to read.
I really enjoy a novel that gets me thinking and evaluating and Bradley Somer has created a wonderful novel that gets you looking at life a little differently. It's also incredibly clever as all of the events that happen, happen within the space of half an hour, so even though it feels longer, Bradley has somehow managed to slow time and perception down.
Fishbowl was quirky, different and a joy to read. I loved immersing myself in the world of the residents of Seville on Roxy and would do so easily again.
vfosslay's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the inventive structure of this book and seeing how the residents of the building stories' collided.
duffymn's review against another edition
2.0
Cool concept, but was way too predictable and wrapped up too cleanly. It reads fast though, and entertains.
literarymarvel's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
Funny, raunchy, and human. Goldfish Ian plunges from the top of an apartment building, and as he falls, catches mere glimpses at the people and lives being lived on each floor.
The book is written from the different perspectives of the apartment tenants as they go about their lives in just one half hour of one day. Each "chapter" is just a few pages long, making it a quick and jaunty read.
A tremendous novel that combines so many different lifestyles and points of view, it was a thrill to read. So much to talk about!! I can see this becoming a book club pick instantly!
Funny, raunchy, and human. Goldfish Ian plunges from the top of an apartment building, and as he falls, catches mere glimpses at the people and lives being lived on each floor.
The book is written from the different perspectives of the apartment tenants as they go about their lives in just one half hour of one day. Each "chapter" is just a few pages long, making it a quick and jaunty read.
A tremendous novel that combines so many different lifestyles and points of view, it was a thrill to read. So much to talk about!! I can see this becoming a book club pick instantly!
ldv's review against another edition
4.0
Such a pleasure to read! Quirky and light and well crafted, but still with meaningful content and commentary on life. The main theme is loneliness, but love, relationships, and taking the risk to actually live life are related themes addressed in the book. I like how the overall "plot" progresses bit by bit by the omniscient narrator dropping in on the different characters whose stories are woven together. They are all unconnected (initially) except that they all live in the same apartment building. The interludes of the fish named Ian are great. Watch him fall on the margins of the pages, just like a flip-book.
If all you read is the title of each chapter, you will be entertained. I dare you to read only the chapter titles and not be interested in the whole story.
If all you read is the title of each chapter, you will be entertained. I dare you to read only the chapter titles and not be interested in the whole story.
mrising1's review against another edition
5.0
It's matter of fact. It's funny. It's enthralling. It's polyphonic brilliance and I will definitely be reading this again one day. This author vaguely reminds me of Andrew Kaufman in his writing style.
juliaahh's review against another edition
5.0
This was just amazing. Every piece of this book is amazing.
neftzger's review against another edition
4.0
In the 4 seconds that it took Ian the goldfish to fall from the 27th floor of an urban apartment building, we get a very full picture of life within The Seville on Roxy and the events leading up to what Ian witnesses on his way down. The stories of the characters are nicely woven together and show that despite all our differences, there are still ways in which the members of the human race are very much the same, and that loneliness is a universal problem.
The author does a great job of examining the theme of loneliness, the various forms, and the different ways to resolve it. Connection is at the core of being human, but sometimes it takes a goldfish to notice.
The author does a great job of examining the theme of loneliness, the various forms, and the different ways to resolve it. Connection is at the core of being human, but sometimes it takes a goldfish to notice.
lj329's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this. The premise is so original - the entire book takes place over the course of half an hour and follows the lives of different folks living in an apartment building. It just felt a little overwritten - there's a lot of description to wade through. It's like it would have been excellent if it was 50-75 pages shorter. But overall, an entertaining read.