Scan barcode
lucyismyname's review
3.0
This contains spoilers, but I’m pretty confident everyone knows what happens in The Graduate from cultural osmosis anyway.
This is a rare instance in which the movie is significantly better than the book, although this strong ranking may be in part based on the age of consumption - I watched the movie first in high school and I am 31 now.
One reason I say this is that reading the book at 31 I mostly saw it from the perspectives of everyone the protagonist disrespected - something I don’t remember feeling when I watched the movie. I didn’t buy that he was some disillusioned intellectual - nothing he said gave any indication that he was smart. Also, some time in the intervening decade and a half I visited the website www.tvtropes.com and can therefore identify that the love interest (Elaine) was a classic Mary Sue and offered nothing that should elicit such a strong and sudden attraction.
The movie is pretty faithful to the book (including using strings of the same dialogue). However, the book relies almost solely on describing events and dialogue (and provides very little thoughts and feelings). It’s basically written like a script, so it’s not surprising it works better in a visual medium.
What I remember most vividly from the movie is the ending. There’s no dialogue, but you watch the excitement and adrenaline drain from Benjamin and Elaine’s faces as it sinks in that they are still lost and The Sound of Silence replays. They viewer realises that they have only distracted themselves with all the melodrama, and they are two people who don’t really know each other; the future is still uncertain and no option feels of value. The book’s ending hints that their subversive act hasn’t provided the clarity they were seeking, but it doesn’t convey the extent of the emptiness they still feel.
This is a rare instance in which the movie is significantly better than the book, although this strong ranking may be in part based on the age of consumption - I watched the movie first in high school and I am 31 now.
One reason I say this is that reading the book at 31 I mostly saw it from the perspectives of everyone the protagonist disrespected - something I don’t remember feeling when I watched the movie. I didn’t buy that he was some disillusioned intellectual - nothing he said gave any indication that he was smart. Also, some time in the intervening decade and a half I visited the website www.tvtropes.com and can therefore identify that the love interest (Elaine) was a classic Mary Sue and offered nothing that should elicit such a strong and sudden attraction.
The movie is pretty faithful to the book (including using strings of the same dialogue). However, the book relies almost solely on describing events and dialogue (and provides very little thoughts and feelings). It’s basically written like a script, so it’s not surprising it works better in a visual medium.
What I remember most vividly from the movie is the ending. There’s no dialogue, but you watch the excitement and adrenaline drain from Benjamin and Elaine’s faces as it sinks in that they are still lost and The Sound of Silence replays. They viewer realises that they have only distracted themselves with all the melodrama, and they are two people who don’t really know each other; the future is still uncertain and no option feels of value. The book’s ending hints that their subversive act hasn’t provided the clarity they were seeking, but it doesn’t convey the extent of the emptiness they still feel.
sofiam012345's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
theodarling's review
funny
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thatbibdude's review
1.0
I honestly don’t even know what to say about this book. It was a very bizarre read. This book was ALL OVER the place. Benjamin, in my opinion, was the most unrealistically impulsive character I’ve ever read.
One moment he isn’t fine with having an affair, then his, then he isn’t. Then he says he wouldn’t date Elaine, then he does. Then they stop dating and one day he wakes up and wants to marry her….
When he finally goes and randomly moves to Berkeley, which is where Elaine is attending school. Benjamin does some EXTREME stalking to find out where she lives. He ends up telling her that he wants to marry her. But she didn’t wanna speak to him nor see him because of what her mother told her. Then she speaks to him again,then eventually she moves and is supposed to be married by an arranged marriage. And the story ends with Benjamin and Elaine on a bus….
Like I said, bizarre.
The writing was entertaining at times, and then monotonous at other times. I found conversations a bit far fetched and not relatable.
Maybe if I lived during the 60’s I could somehow relate to this book, but I just can’t.
One moment he isn’t fine with having an affair, then his, then he isn’t. Then he says he wouldn’t date Elaine, then he does. Then they stop dating and one day he wakes up and wants to marry her….
When he finally goes and randomly moves to Berkeley, which is where Elaine is attending school. Benjamin does some EXTREME stalking to find out where she lives. He ends up telling her that he wants to marry her. But she didn’t wanna speak to him nor see him because of what her mother told her. Then she speaks to him again,then eventually she moves and is supposed to be married by an arranged marriage. And the story ends with Benjamin and Elaine on a bus….
Like I said, bizarre.
The writing was entertaining at times, and then monotonous at other times. I found conversations a bit far fetched and not relatable.
Maybe if I lived during the 60’s I could somehow relate to this book, but I just can’t.
gen_denis's review
3.0
really not what I expected. Did NOT like the ending. Very much looking forward to the discussion at book club.
salmonite's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
3.5
usopppxx's review against another edition
3.0
Couldn't put it down and it's left me with many questions. I liked the characters, especially Benjamin in the beginning and as it went on he changed into something very different. I liked that aspect a lot.
alicegriff7's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ggarsi's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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