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jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I've read a few books by Richard Russo, with [b:Empire Falls|187020|Empire Falls|Richard Russo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403184884l/187020._SY75_.jpg|826474] being my favorite. Since it is summer and around her (for us at least) summer is in part about Cape Cod, I decided to finally read Russo's That Old Cape Magic. My take away message from this book is "marriage is hard and not always happy".
Growing up, Griffin's parents would drive from the midwest to Cape Cod. They would ironically sing "That Old Cape Magic" (a spin on That Old Black Magic) every time they crossed over the Sagamore Bridge on their way to the Cape. The Cape holds a special place in the family's heart. They dream of buying a house there but can never quite afford it. Griffin's parents aren't affectionate at all with their son and seem to prepare spending time without him. They both professors and are constantly striving to teach at a better school. They are definitely more into their careers than they are into being parents.
As an adult, Griffin is a screenwriter and also teaches screenwriting classes at a college. He's married and has a daughter. Griffin tries to work that old Cape magic on his wife but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Griffin is also reworking a screenplay throughout the book that is based on one summer he spent down the Cape as a boy. His parents are now divorced and like to speak poorly about each other to Griffin.
I appreciated all of the Cape stuff as I love reading books set locally or in places that I'm familiar with. However, I didn't really like any of the characters so I wasn't as into the book as I'd hoped to be. This would be a great book to read on a trip to the Cape if you were looking for something that isn't so light & fluffy.
What to listen to while reading (or taking a break)
That Old Black Magic by Frank Sinatra
Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks
Riptide by Vance Joy
Summer Soft by Stevie Wonder
Bye Bye Love by The Cars
Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
I've read a few books by Richard Russo, with [b:Empire Falls|187020|Empire Falls|Richard Russo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403184884l/187020._SY75_.jpg|826474] being my favorite. Since it is summer and around her (for us at least) summer is in part about Cape Cod, I decided to finally read Russo's That Old Cape Magic. My take away message from this book is "marriage is hard and not always happy".
Growing up, Griffin's parents would drive from the midwest to Cape Cod. They would ironically sing "That Old Cape Magic" (a spin on That Old Black Magic) every time they crossed over the Sagamore Bridge on their way to the Cape. The Cape holds a special place in the family's heart. They dream of buying a house there but can never quite afford it. Griffin's parents aren't affectionate at all with their son and seem to prepare spending time without him. They both professors and are constantly striving to teach at a better school. They are definitely more into their careers than they are into being parents.
As an adult, Griffin is a screenwriter and also teaches screenwriting classes at a college. He's married and has a daughter. Griffin tries to work that old Cape magic on his wife but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Griffin is also reworking a screenplay throughout the book that is based on one summer he spent down the Cape as a boy. His parents are now divorced and like to speak poorly about each other to Griffin.
I appreciated all of the Cape stuff as I love reading books set locally or in places that I'm familiar with. However, I didn't really like any of the characters so I wasn't as into the book as I'd hoped to be. This would be a great book to read on a trip to the Cape if you were looking for something that isn't so light & fluffy.
What to listen to while reading (or taking a break)
That Old Black Magic by Frank Sinatra
Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks
Riptide by Vance Joy
Summer Soft by Stevie Wonder
Bye Bye Love by The Cars
Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
sunbreak's review against another edition
4.0
This book would have gotten another star from me if Russo had omitted that Marguerite element at the the end.
seaswift14's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
4.0
I've liked all this guy's other books.
P just heard a review on NPR - sounds good!
I just read this over the weekend. I didn't find it quite as compelling as his pretty amazing other books - it seemed just a little light - but I really enjoyed this story of childhood, parents, marriage, kids......life.
P just heard a review on NPR - sounds good!
I just read this over the weekend. I didn't find it quite as compelling as his pretty amazing other books - it seemed just a little light - but I really enjoyed this story of childhood, parents, marriage, kids......life.
bmoritz99's review against another edition
4.0
As always, when Simone Becque tells me to read a book, I read it.
I'm late to the Richard Russo party, but I'm glad I'm here at all. I've loved his academic novels and (as Simone said), this is a perfect end-of-summer book.
I'm late to the Richard Russo party, but I'm glad I'm here at all. I've loved his academic novels and (as Simone said), this is a perfect end-of-summer book.
mcearl12's review against another edition
4.0
I really don't understand what caused people to give this book subpar reviews. Perhaps it's a generational bias. I loved it, it felt real and true and honest and complicated...like life. It spoke to me, plain and simple, and I empathized with husband, wife, daughter, parents, and author. This being the first of Mr. Russo's books that I've read, I'm excited to read others. Just a great read!
anniewill's review against another edition
4.0
Another novel by Russo that I adored. I find myself, once again, thinking about the characters after I read the final page. I would have loved to have the perspective of Joy, the main character's wife as well---just to understand Jack Griffin a bit more.
mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of chuckles as Griff too some mis-steps and figured out his life.
Listening length nine hr, 10 min
Listening length nine hr, 10 min
babyruth510's review against another edition
4.0
This was not my favorite Russo novel but its still a good one. While the story of a middle-age professor in the midst of a mid-life crisis is not necessarily the most compelling read, Russo's characters are well-developed and realistic that this makes for a good read. I read that this was originally intended as a short story which would explain the uncharateristic short length (257 pages). There could have been more, especially at the end.
sparklethenpop's review against another edition
3.0
It pains me to give a Richard Russo book 3 stars but it took me forever to get through this one. This book was a love story and a story about family, the plot moved along but the characters weren't like the characters that I've come to love from Russo. I'm used to seeing towns and families through many different and well developed eyes. In this story, the plot was shown just through the eyes of Griffin. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great.