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thepoetessa's review against another edition
Didn't want to devote more time to the narrative. Not interested in the way women are treated.
madtnation's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
catbowlin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
savaging's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't want to love this. Rich white people on the east coast? What a cliche topic for a book. Love and marriage? More cliches.
But the depth and the beauty and the humor and the surprise of it all. First it's Romeo and Juliet and then it's Othello and then it's Titus Andronicus and then -- well, I'll leave the final bit off, just read it and see.
Remarkable book. Except for the very last one-page chapter, which tried, it seemed, to tame the furies into a more acceptable story.
But the depth and the beauty and the humor and the surprise of it all. First it's Romeo and Juliet and then it's Othello and then it's Titus Andronicus and then -- well, I'll leave the final bit off, just read it and see.
Remarkable book. Except for the very last one-page chapter, which tried, it seemed, to tame the furies into a more acceptable story.
novelette's review against another edition
2.0
The second half of the book saved this. But just barely
shirp's review against another edition
4.0
So well written, without pretension. The writing is as powerful as the best short story, but in long form. I don't quite get the comparison to Gone Girl, besides the dual narrative. It feels much more complex. I was not a fan of the "twist" towards the end, but the overall story and writing make up for small lapses like that. I will definitely be reading more of Groff's work. Overall, very powerful, and different yet realistic take on marriage and life. I enjoyed the Greek elements, especially the omniscient "chorus" interjections throughout.
kspeckl's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
arrowheartemoji's review against another edition
3.0
working through the groff oeuvre and realizing that i don’t think anything will live up to Matrix. this one felt gray and cynical and oprah book club. the way she wrote about bodies and thinness did not feel like craft, or like it was there for a reason, as much as it felt like an unexamined adherence to a boring acceptance of norms. yawn. some of the plot twists felt too gimmicky and contrived, which isn’t always a problem, but for a book that feels so mired in Gritty Realism, it just seemed off. it was a page-turner, though, i’ll give it that.