Reviews

Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington, Fiction, Classics, Literary by Booth Tarkington

meesh_loves_books's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

1.0

I did not like the main character at all. She was shallow and vacuous. This book gave me the confidence to trust my instincts in the future and not to bother finishing a book when the lead character continuously makes me want to groan and roll my eyes.

kneessa's review against another edition

2015 Book challenge a Pulitzer prize-winning book

shockcorridor's review against another edition

reflective slow-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

2.5

It feels pretty slight with some decently observed representations of society and the young girl's position within it. I wish we had a little more of Alice's obliviousness, a stronger sense of her longing for conformity and acceptance. As the prospective beau Arthur Russell gets one decent showing at the dance, but is pretty paper thin beyond that sequence. The hard turn made on Walter seemed kind of extreme as well. It's short and has some decent writing - it just felt a bit flatly paced and lacked some depth in character and motivation.

radioisasoundsalvation's review against another edition

4.0

This was a very different novel from The Magnificent Ambersons. I found young Amberson's deficiencies much more charming, yet Alice's were far more believable, especially as she grew so at the end. The tragedy for me was truly in Mr. Adams scenario, to use the cliche 'between a rock and a hard place.' A good read.

bfth23's review against another edition

4.0

Definitely liked this more than The Magnificent Ambersons. I relate to Alice very much and can remember feeling as she did about many things (when I was younger). I'm also like her as in the end I do what I have to do (and I admire her for that). I don't know if I'd read again, but I'd definitely recommend.

anjreading's review against another edition

3.0

Reading this on Serial Reader over the space of 29 days gave me plenty of time to ponder the novel. There's no doubt the actual writing is good. The constant racial slurs (which had zero impact on the story and were completely unnecessary) are tough to get through; I don't care about judging a book for the time it was written in, etc., this was unacceptable and painful to read, so much so that I struggled with whether to just DNF it. If you can set that aside (not sure I can), you will alternately loathe, pity, and admire plucky Alice in her quest to rise out of her social class. By the end of the novel, Tarkington won me over to his heroine, something I was not expecting. Alice's mother, not so much. I have conflicted feelings about this book.

*1921 pick for my century reading project 1921-2020

d_iris's review against another edition

3.0

You see, this is why we write reviews. To remember just how we felt about a story, or a character, or a world.

I liked this story; I mean, I remember REALLY liking this story. I had seen the movie with the indelible Katherine Hepburn, and I thought it was so charming. I thought she was so charming, and naïve and good natured. It was just a joy to watch her want, and then a nightmare to watch her lie, and feel shamed and ashamed. And that's where the book differs.

In the film, Alice is flighty and lighthearted, and believes she can will herself into the upper-class: The crème de la crème. And in the end, she does. But in the novel, though she tries, and lies and learns, she is not rewarded for it. Life smacks our girl in the face and she has to move on and move past. It hurt me to read that, believing she would be okay in the end. And at the time I thought it was unfair for her to have that ending. But years later, looking back, it wasn't all that bad. A simple smack on the wrist. A life lesson to keep. A way to help her realize and grow.

I think Hollywood gets a little too caught up in the romance of the now to fully see and appreciate the romanticism that could be in future.

3.3/5

serialreader's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

jannie_mtl's review against another edition

5.0

Not only a compelling story but Tarkington's depiction of the personality of his female protagonist is spot on. Alice is in both a silly, vain girl, and a smart, dedicated daughter. It is this contradiction that makes the novel so interesting and that keeps it moving forward. A pleasure to read, and I look forward to other works by this author.

sophronisba's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-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

4.0

There are many ways in which this book doesn't age well -- its treatment of race and gender, in particular, feel incredibly dated -- but I still found it intriguing, despite the fact that I don't think Booth Tarkington understands his main character well at all. Tarkington does have a keen observational eye, which makes this book feel more like a tragedy of manners than realism.