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dlazar's review against another edition
5.0
Completely engrossing tale of the Litvinoff clan. Smart, witty, heartbreaking and truthful.
izbrews's review against another edition
2.0
And here I was thinking that [a:Nick Hornby|2929|Nick Hornby|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1254337802p2/2929.jpg] should take the prize for writing the most annoying, unlikeable characters ever, but [b:The Believers|1738972|The Believers|Zoë Heller|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51i-yHRnsCL._SL75_.jpg|6421923] seriously takes the cake. Audrey is possibly the most unpleasant female character I have ever found in a book. The others are only passable because they are not as odious as her. I didn't really get the point of the book because I kept thinking how irritating she was. I only realized the book was over because I turned the page and the rest was blank.
lorinlee's review against another edition
4.0
I found this tale of a lovely dysfunctional family (whose isn't?) quite good. Raised in a radical milieu, the children of Joel and Audrey pursue their own paths---Orthodox Judaism, escape from addiction, escape from confined marriage. Through it all we learn quite a bit about each of these worlds. Heller moves from character to character, developing each in telling ways that keep the story moving. All in all a strong book!
kats4's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting & well written but very unlikeable characters
molly_mitchel's review against another edition
funny
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
3.5
loraxe's review against another edition
2.0
It is quite telling that in the few weeks it took me to get around to entering this book, I completely forgot what it was about. It is not poorly written, I just did not enjoy it. Everyone is too mean and selfish and there is no plot to keep you goingl.
sheemsinbk's review against another edition
3.0
I'm kind of between 3 and 4 stars on this one. The characters are pretty much all hideous, unhappy and dysfunctional. It's the classic screwed up family story. Well written although sometimes the characters' voices don't really ring true, flows well but the subject matter was eh.
camillereads_'s review against another edition
3.0
When the patriarch of the family gets sick we follow the lives of his children and wife. Along the way we learn about one's decision to study Orthodox Judaism, one's battle to find happiness, one's battle to stay sober, meanwhile the matriarch has to deal with a secret which is revealed while her husband is ill.
I have to say this isn't my favorite Heller book (I highly recommend Notes on a Scandal and Everything You Know) but I still found it rather enjoyable with only mild glimpses of boredom.
I have to say this isn't my favorite Heller book (I highly recommend Notes on a Scandal and Everything You Know) but I still found it rather enjoyable with only mild glimpses of boredom.
cj0yhamid's review against another edition
3.0
A quick look into a very different family life, I read quickly and enjoyed the writing even though I had trouble relating to any of the characters. There were glimmers of insight where I would think aaah I see, this character/relationship reminds me of something....