Scan barcode
cami19's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jennerator828's review against another edition
1.0
If you enjoy stories about glue factories and reading insufferable, “satirical” dialogue about a 22-year-old girl who, despite living in a run-down house with a father prone to random strokes and utterly no business sense, has a favorite pastime of seducing wealthy men with her mock-rich-girl-feminine-wiles, then boy howdy do I have a racist soliloquy for you.
I get that the ending is supposed to be “progressive” in that the protagonist gives up her search for romance in exchange for the GLAMOROUS life of becoming a secretary... but come on. What choice does she have? She has no other options, and is still fooling herself to think there is a chance with her love interest because, well, “at least he’s not dead.” This act of “agency” is almost as pathetic as the chapter-long romp through the fields to gather dead violets for the dance.
Curse you, Pulitzer gods, for making me read about 1920s version of a Paris Hilton wannabe.
I get that the ending is supposed to be “progressive” in that the protagonist gives up her search for romance in exchange for the GLAMOROUS life of becoming a secretary... but come on. What choice does she have? She has no other options, and is still fooling herself to think there is a chance with her love interest because, well, “at least he’s not dead.” This act of “agency” is almost as pathetic as the chapter-long romp through the fields to gather dead violets for the dance.
Curse you, Pulitzer gods, for making me read about 1920s version of a Paris Hilton wannabe.
carlylottsofbookz's review against another edition
3.0
This is my 2nd novel by this author, and I think that I enjoyed it a little more.
In this novel, we meet the Adams family. They are mom, dad, daughter and son. Virgil, the father is getting over an unknown illness at the start of the book, and recovering slowly. The daughter's only desire is to be seen favorably to her peers, and get a husband along the way. The son is more about living in the moment and enjoying life. He is not one to be bothered by what others say or think of him. Mr. & Mrs. Adams are a typical married couple who fight over money and bills. Mrs. Adams is not afraid to tell Mr. Adams how or what he should be doing.
The main conflict in the novel is about money. There doesn't seem to be enough. Mrs. Adams wants Virgil to quit his job to go into work for himself, to be able to buy things for the children--she thinks that they should be at a much higher station in life.
Well, she finally convinces him to take this plunge, but things don't go quite as expected...if you want to know more, you'll have to read!
In this novel, we meet the Adams family. They are mom, dad, daughter and son. Virgil, the father is getting over an unknown illness at the start of the book, and recovering slowly. The daughter's only desire is to be seen favorably to her peers, and get a husband along the way. The son is more about living in the moment and enjoying life. He is not one to be bothered by what others say or think of him. Mr. & Mrs. Adams are a typical married couple who fight over money and bills. Mrs. Adams is not afraid to tell Mr. Adams how or what he should be doing.
The main conflict in the novel is about money. There doesn't seem to be enough. Mrs. Adams wants Virgil to quit his job to go into work for himself, to be able to buy things for the children--she thinks that they should be at a much higher station in life.
Well, she finally convinces him to take this plunge, but things don't go quite as expected...if you want to know more, you'll have to read!
drewmoody321's review against another edition
2.0
Read my full review here: http://thepulitzerblog.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/entry-16-alice-adams-by-booth-tarkington-1922/
evaseyler's review against another edition
1.0
I hated the movie with the burning passion of 999 burning suns. Kate or no Kate. Decided to see if the book was any better, and it really was not. Few things are more annoying to me than people who pretend to be something they are not, lying through their teeth, superficial, silly creatures. Mother was the worst offender: nagging, shallow, and... nagging. In the end it seemed that Alice got her act together, though I am not so sure about the mother. At any rate, this was a terribly irritating read.
blondereader's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Insightful novel about social climbing and how we don't see ourselves as others see us.
swfountaine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0