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wrystake's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ms_matou's review against another edition
4.0
i just read something comparing lorrie moore to miranda july... moore is waaaaaay better. i loved how this book was sort of short stories, but actually a novel just rearranged. i missed a few parts at first, but when i went back and reread them, i felt overwhelmed by how much of a genious this writer is... it was kind of like choose your own adventure.
cherylcheng00's review against another edition
4.0
The teacher took a walk before her afternoon class. Near the campus were several old houses rented by some of FVCC's full-time students and from them blared radio jabber and stereo music. That is the difference between the young and the not-so-young, she thought. The young keep their windows open so that the world can fly in and out. By the time you hit your thirties, you're less hospitable; you start closing up the windows. You've had enough of the world; you have, you think, everything you need for the wintry rest of your life. You can't let anything else in, for you will never understand it. And the nightmare, of course, is that as you slowly start shuttering up your house, you turn and suddenly see, with a gasp, that you are the only thing in it.
The two struggles in life: to find relevance and to fight loneliness. This book perfectly describes both battles.
The two struggles in life: to find relevance and to fight loneliness. This book perfectly describes both battles.
ktruly's review against another edition
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kirstenfindlay's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
thecoffeepot13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eguer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
scorpstar77's review against another edition
4.0
I totally loved the majority of this book. The main character was highly developed, it was well-written, it was funny and sad and heart-wrenching and real. Before that part, though, there were four short vignettes revolving around the same major characters but putting them in different occupations, relationships to one another, obssessions, interests, etc. While those stories were interesting and clearly related to the title of the book, I'm not sure I understood the point of them being there other than giving the book its name. Maybe I'm just being obtuse, I don't know. But I do know that the book was slow going through those first four, and then once I reached the story that took up the remaining 3/4 of the book, it flew. Regardless, I did enjoy reading it, and my heart was totally and completely with Benna during the last half of the book. I'm such a sucker for characters...