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tarakingwrites's review against another edition
3.0
I don't...I don't even know what to say about this one. I didn't finish it, and when the library took it back, that seemed just fine. I didn't hate it, but found it fairly uncompelling. As far as I can tell, each chapter seems to be a slightly different version of the story, characters in and out of relationships--each section an anagram of the previous one.
Intellectually, I feel like YES! Let's do THAT! Let's just change the story mid-stream and never blink, it reflects reality and the weakness of human memory! And it does. It's exactly like the time I told Paul it was okay to throw a magazine away and then got mad that he threw it away the next week. I meant both of them! I don't remember saying them both! Life and memory are confusing!
The book has some really funny lines, too:
"I realized that life was too short for anyone honestly and thoroughly to outgrow anything, but it was clear that some people were making more of an effort than others."
More often than not, the book felt clever more than funny, though. (Sorry, Benna.) I found myself more annoyed than interested (some part of me thinks it's the same way I feel about someone who is too like me.)
But who knows? Maybe in ten years time, I'll give it another try and love it.
Intellectually, I feel like YES! Let's do THAT! Let's just change the story mid-stream and never blink, it reflects reality and the weakness of human memory! And it does. It's exactly like the time I told Paul it was okay to throw a magazine away and then got mad that he threw it away the next week. I meant both of them! I don't remember saying them both! Life and memory are confusing!
The book has some really funny lines, too:
"I realized that life was too short for anyone honestly and thoroughly to outgrow anything, but it was clear that some people were making more of an effort than others."
More often than not, the book felt clever more than funny, though. (Sorry, Benna.) I found myself more annoyed than interested (some part of me thinks it's the same way I feel about someone who is too like me.)
But who knows? Maybe in ten years time, I'll give it another try and love it.
carlymarion's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
axelpin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
3.25
poikilia's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Alcoholism, and Death
bjrbeau's review against another edition
First two chapters didn’t jive with each other and did not interest me
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
I forgot how much I loved this book. Some of the humor is dated, but it is laugh out loud funny and poignant and all those things that fiction has the potential to be. I want to try this for a book group, but I'm not sure that people will "get it" and I would hate to have them read it only to tear it down. I am that sentimental about this book.
emilyph83's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
taurustorus's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25