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derbit's review
3.0
Clyde Griffiths reminds me a lot of a roommate I used to have--just kind of ignorantly self-absorbed. I was very torn about how I felt about Clyde. On the one hand, he's just a victim of society and you can't help but feel a little sorry for him. He's not actually a malicious human being. He's just ignorant. And self-absorbed. On the other hand, you're going to hate him.
I struggled a lot with this book. It's definitely an intricately woven masterpiece in its own right, but oh my god, it is looooong, and I don't just mean in the sense that it packs in a lot of pages. It tends to get a little wordy and tedious at times. The unraveling of Clyde Griffiths is a seriously drawn out process. It took me about 6 weeks to finish this guy, partly because life, but also because I frequently had to make a conscious effort to pick the book up and read it, especially as I got closer to the end. That being said, I do think it's a book everyone should take the time to tackle in their life. The story is a timeless portrayal of American society (timeless, that is, with the exception of the distinctly 1920s dialogue) and is definitely worth the commitment.
I struggled a lot with this book. It's definitely an intricately woven masterpiece in its own right, but oh my god, it is looooong, and I don't just mean in the sense that it packs in a lot of pages. It tends to get a little wordy and tedious at times. The unraveling of Clyde Griffiths is a seriously drawn out process. It took me about 6 weeks to finish this guy, partly because life, but also because I frequently had to make a conscious effort to pick the book up and read it, especially as I got closer to the end. That being said, I do think it's a book everyone should take the time to tackle in their life. The story is a timeless portrayal of American society (timeless, that is, with the exception of the distinctly 1920s dialogue) and is definitely worth the commitment.
athenlyrain's review
4.0
This book is 856 pages long and divided up into three different sections/books. The first book (in my opinion) is the most interesting, the second one is less interesting, and the third one is a little dull and boring. This book is about a boy who grows up with a very religious family, and he never gets the schooling he needs. He ends up committing murder and then goes to jail with the death penalty.
read_garden_hound's review
4.0
“Oh Clyde”
Two words, interpreted differently at various points in the book. As it is a classic it is probably redundant to say it is well written. The story line does move slow, however the sentiments and points the author is making are not only met, but understood. I would also recommend researching the history behind the book as it is inspired by a real case.
Two words, interpreted differently at various points in the book. As it is a classic it is probably redundant to say it is well written. The story line does move slow, however the sentiments and points the author is making are not only met, but understood. I would also recommend researching the history behind the book as it is inspired by a real case.
ciska's review against another edition
3.0
This book has high ratings on here. I checked them when I walked into this title on audible while looking for a next read and I was intrigued.
I liked the adventurous style. The way Clyde tries to make the most of his life, creating chances and going for them. It becomes clear quickly that he is not always subtle in dealing with the consequences though which eventually breaks him up.
The story is very detailed and the speed is slow. This does create a certain atmosphere though which I could appreciate. I think this type of story is normal for the time it was written.
The book is set in the early 1920's and written in that period too. There are some situations that made me cringe with the way I feel things should be and I really had to tell myself that I was not to forget that it was written in another era.
I liked the adventurous style. The way Clyde tries to make the most of his life, creating chances and going for them. It becomes clear quickly that he is not always subtle in dealing with the consequences though which eventually breaks him up.
The story is very detailed and the speed is slow. This does create a certain atmosphere though which I could appreciate. I think this type of story is normal for the time it was written.
The book is set in the early 1920's and written in that period too. There are some situations that made me cringe with the way I feel things should be and I really had to tell myself that I was not to forget that it was written in another era.
shoelessmama's review
3.0
I can see why this novel is considered a classic of American literature. This is a mammoth sized book and yet my interest never flagged- not even once. I had strong feelings about every single character and the writing was brilliant. It gets less than perfect stars from me through no fault of the author. I just wasn't feeling the subject matter at this point in my life. I found it depressing. Especially knowing from page one what the outcome was going to be. It was like Pinocchio with adult themes and an unhappy ending. That being said I think this will make an excellent discussion for book club which I'm really looking forward to.
**Okay, I have to qualify one thing about the writing... I really hated a lot of the dialogue- Golly gee it really dated this novel. I also got a little annoyed at the overuse of the word (in all forms) "compel" by the end. Why was every character constantly "compelled"? I kept hearing the priest in "Just Like Heaven" (you know, the one where Reese Witherspoon is in a coma and haunting Mark Ruffalo) saying "The power of Christ compels you!!!" while shaking holy water around the apartment trying to get the less than amused Reese to leave off.
**Okay, I have to qualify one thing about the writing... I really hated a lot of the dialogue- Golly gee it really dated this novel. I also got a little annoyed at the overuse of the word (in all forms) "compel" by the end. Why was every character constantly "compelled"? I kept hearing the priest in "Just Like Heaven" (you know, the one where Reese Witherspoon is in a coma and haunting Mark Ruffalo) saying "The power of Christ compels you!!!" while shaking holy water around the apartment trying to get the less than amused Reese to leave off.
mokasin's review against another edition
5.0
До чего же сложными могут быть решения в повседневной жизни. Не каждый решится пойти на убийство, хотя и не каждый оказывался в подобной ситуации в подобное время. Автор не зря не единожды повторяет множество фактов и размышлений героя (что в данном случае меня, так ненавидящего размусоливания и повторения, нисколько не раздражало), напоминая читателю, что за все в жизни когда-нибудь придется расплачиваться...
lama_py's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raulbime's review
5.0
Every hour of it at Golgotha!
The words used to describe what the Eastern Griffiths felt during Clyde's trial and the same words that describe how I felt from the beginning to end of this book.
Theodore Dreiser introduces the character Clyde in a manner that is sympathetic. The first male child of staunch christian missionaries, forced to walk the streets and sing with his family as they preached.
The first two parts of the book are spent fully describing the scenes and state Clyde Griffiths finds himself in, and Mr. Dreiser takes the reader step by excruciating step of all the misteps that Clyde Griffiths takes in his ambitious quest for money, power, beauty and wealthy and the tragic incident that leads to the downfall that was imminent from the beginning.
The book is not short of imperfections. For one it is perhaps 400 pages more than it ought to have been. Too repetitive and wordy.
Howeveer, the author manages to toy with the reader's emotions in a way that I love yet hate at the same time. Building up sympathy and love for Clyde who commits a murder, which was plotted and thus arouses disgust yet Mr. Dreiser still builds up sympathy for him in a cruel and conflicting manner as we are taken to "Golgotha" and lashed during Clyde's trial and the book's eventual end. Yet I absolutely loved the hell that Dreiser put me through in a masochistic way, through and through an incredible book and one od the best I have read thus far!
The words used to describe what the Eastern Griffiths felt during Clyde's trial and the same words that describe how I felt from the beginning to end of this book.
Theodore Dreiser introduces the character Clyde in a manner that is sympathetic. The first male child of staunch christian missionaries, forced to walk the streets and sing with his family as they preached.
The first two parts of the book are spent fully describing the scenes and state Clyde Griffiths finds himself in, and Mr. Dreiser takes the reader step by excruciating step of all the misteps that Clyde Griffiths takes in his ambitious quest for money, power, beauty and wealthy and the tragic incident that leads to the downfall that was imminent from the beginning.
The book is not short of imperfections. For one it is perhaps 400 pages more than it ought to have been. Too repetitive and wordy.
Howeveer, the author manages to toy with the reader's emotions in a way that I love yet hate at the same time. Building up sympathy and love for Clyde who commits a murder, which was plotted and thus arouses disgust yet Mr. Dreiser still builds up sympathy for him in a cruel and conflicting manner as we are taken to "Golgotha" and lashed during Clyde's trial and the book's eventual end. Yet I absolutely loved the hell that Dreiser put me through in a masochistic way, through and through an incredible book and one od the best I have read thus far!