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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
need to think more.
if everything in your life has only ever been perfect, how do you deal with things going catastrophically wrong
if everything in your life has only ever been perfect, how do you deal with things going catastrophically wrong
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Murder
Dang. This book is a MOOD. Not recommended for impatient readers.
This book was interesting because my reactions to the way the story is told varied wildly. I did enjoy the fact that he was showing what is going on in our brains rather than the cleaned up version we show the world. But while I did enjoy it, it also made me quite uncomfortable at times. And it led to a whole lot of random rambling tangents.
The story itself was interesting, and I felt that it was really a story of Americans trying to come to grips with the changing situation that the 60s created. It personifies this story through the character of The Swede as they try to cope with their own lives.
This was honestly a good book and I would recommend it because it's a fascinating experience.
The story itself was interesting, and I felt that it was really a story of Americans trying to come to grips with the changing situation that the 60s created. It personifies this story through the character of The Swede as they try to cope with their own lives.
This was honestly a good book and I would recommend it because it's a fascinating experience.
Some books are not as they seem. And this book starts on one path and then jumps to another, and kind of continues to do this a couple times until the end.
Masterfully written this is an unforgettable story.
Masterfully written this is an unforgettable story.
It was a long road. Roth gets you on a trip involving a couple of generations, their transformations, their struggles and their sometimes happiness. I suppose if I was American I would have related better to everything. But even if I am not, it did help me understand better their society and their sometimes violent bursts. Reading this shortly after Steinbeck’s East of Eden was a happy coincidence because both writers give you an overview of the same society - but on a different timeline.
The only question in my mind (same as it was after reading East of Eden) is: could it have been shorter? How many of the details were really necessary? Did those details help me have a better understanding or did the writer just felt the urge to confess, remember, imagine whatever he was feeling at the time of writing it? At times I just felt like talking with an old person who needs to say things so that they remain in the collective memory of their listeners.. I don’t know if it makes any sense, but that was what I felt.
Overall I would recommend it as long as one has the time and state of mind to go along with Roth on this turbulent and sometimes disturbing road called, if you ask me, not the “American Pastoral” but the “Humankind Pastoral”. Because if you remove some specific American society details, the remaining story and struggles are valid for most societies..
The only question in my mind (same as it was after reading East of Eden) is: could it have been shorter? How many of the details were really necessary? Did those details help me have a better understanding or did the writer just felt the urge to confess, remember, imagine whatever he was feeling at the time of writing it? At times I just felt like talking with an old person who needs to say things so that they remain in the collective memory of their listeners.. I don’t know if it makes any sense, but that was what I felt.
Overall I would recommend it as long as one has the time and state of mind to go along with Roth on this turbulent and sometimes disturbing road called, if you ask me, not the “American Pastoral” but the “Humankind Pastoral”. Because if you remove some specific American society details, the remaining story and struggles are valid for most societies..