Reviews

De idealisten by Frans van Delft, Mechtild Claessens, Zoƫ Heller

jillhondo's review against another edition

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4.0

Good one.

jayqueuetee's review against another edition

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1.0

It's very seldom that I finish a book that I really don't enjoy, but I really hated this book, from the very beginning. Every single character is horribly rude and cruel or boring and ugly. I don't care if your characters aren't very nice - give me some character flaws any day - but both "The Believers" and "What Was She Thinking?" are chock full of bitchy, awful people. Why should anyone want to finish reading a book where the main character's "spunk" translates to you as just the author's dream of how she could really talk to people?

I was going to give this book two stars, because it was well-written, but then I decided that I didn't even like it enough to care if Zoe Heller can write a damn sentence.

whiskingthroughtime's review against another edition

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3.0

A good read despite a decidedly unlikeable main character surrounded by people who tolerate her thoughtless rude attitude to everyone and everything. Can't quite understand why no one calls her on her behaviour ,but all the same, an interesting story, not sure it was actually finished at the end somehow.

joshy167's review against another edition

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funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

chloelikedolivia's review against another edition

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1.0

Ugh. Hateful people behaving hatefully.

jmack491's review against another edition

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3.0

None of the characters were particularly likable, but they felt genuine, and I can appreciate that.

annalea56's review against another edition

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4.0

The main characters ran the gamut from pathetic to despicable, but I still couldn't stop myself from staring.

ashleymk44's review against another edition

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4.0

Three and a half stars, worth rounding up to 4. Review to come later.

doragt's review against another edition

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3.0

Biggest point of discussion was why we kept reading the book when the characters were so unlikeable/clearly not on winning paths. We decided they were generally interesting characters and what was particularly interesting was that each was disfunctional in his/her own way.

I think the most interesting aspect is that each character is heading down an unpredictable, but distinct path. I wanted to know the ending, even if none of the characters was really a person I liked.

strangepursuits's review against another edition

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3.0

A family drama that was quick and easy to read, but often it mistakes plot-development for character development.