Scan barcode
hamlette's review against another edition
3.0
An eye-opening, brave, highly exaggerated (yet comfortingly so) account of issues shared across academia. I've given it only three stars because the protagonist is an airhead throughout most of the novel.
candelibri's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
0.5
bretts_book_stack's review against another edition
4.0
When new student Omar Khayal begins to lead a peaceful protest over the denial of tenure for an African American teacher at a former conservative university, president Naomi Roth finds herself caught in the crosshairs between politics, race, and liberal vs conservative ideologies. Korelitz's book is both a smart,very funny satire on the current college political climate as well as a thought provoking page turner with genuine surprises and no easy answers.
sariggs's review against another edition
4.0
This book is...timely, and I see myself all over it, in the women's studies professor who becomes the head of a university, and in the privileged college students who try to use their privilege to stand up for what they believe in. It spoke to the part of me that attends protests and wonders if it's all just for news coverage, and if it is, will the news coverage bring about change or is it just self-promotion and sensationalism?
In this age of protest, this story is a cautionary tale about the crusades we chose, and the people/institutions we vilify/glorify.
In this age of protest, this story is a cautionary tale about the crusades we chose, and the people/institutions we vilify/glorify.
mauraplaid's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
It took me a long time to get around to reviewing this book because it tapped into one of my greatest fears. Naomi Roth finds herself in the middle of a situation that she cannot control as it escalates. Misinformation and blatant lies cause many of her worst problems. Her own actions are repeatedly misrepresented and lied about, and as she learns more about what's going on she cannot get others to accept the truth. No one will believe Naomi Roth and she begins to question her own grasp on reality. That terrifies me.
It took me a long time to get around to reviewing this book because it tapped into one of my greatest fears. Naomi Roth finds herself in the middle of a situation that she cannot control as it escalates. Misinformation and blatant lies cause many of her worst problems. Her own actions are repeatedly misrepresented and lied about, and as she learns more about what's going on she cannot get others to accept the truth. No one will believe Naomi Roth and she begins to question her own grasp on reality. That terrifies me.
squidbag's review against another edition
4.0
I suspect that the Rutherford County One Book Committee would find this book "too literary" for the good people of our richly red environs, which is a shame, since the issues discussed by this book of mystery, family, protest, race, honesty and bias, taking place entirely at the fictional Webster College are things useful for discussion by a wide range of people. I found that the protagonist/antagonist relationships interestingly and entertainingly did not conform to my expectations, with one particularly odious character making a prejudiced leap of logic I myself had made 20 pages previous. One does not want to be affiliated with the right-wingnut ideologue, typically. The characters are flawed and faceted, and the descriptions are vibrant and detailed - the book is joy to read, even when it's a difficult and painful challenge, even when lives are being twisted, and even when things are sad. Korelitz paints pictures that are undeniable and moving, and you will be enmeshed with these people until they complete what Naomi Roth would not like you to refer to as their collective "journey."
More...