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lindsayaunderwood's review
2.0
Started out amusing. The main character was interesting and thought provoking. Whole last 50% of the book=boring and repetitive.
katykelly's review
4.0
A quarter through, I'd have given this 5 stars. At the end, I'd have said 3. So I've compromised and it's really a 3.5 star read for me.
So much promise - Dr Paul O'Rourke is a wonderful creation. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world of the dentist through his self-absorbed eyes. He's a bundle of contradictions - hating technology but can't live without his 'me-machine' (phone), avowed atheist but willing to consider religion for a woman. A complex character, Paul is a successful dentist but not a success with women, who he gets obsessed with and then can't live without when the relationship fails. He observes strict rituals for each Red Sox game he watches.
This techno-hater is affronted one day to discover that someone has created (without permission) a website for his dental practice. And is starting to spout opinions under the name of Dr Paul O'Rourke. These opinions seem to have a religious bent and Paul drives himself mad searching for the culprit. Why is someone doing this to him? And what are these Ulms they talk about?
This is where it started losing its interest for me. I was quite happy to follow Paul in his quirky little world. I wasn't interested in some quasi-religious plot. Paul kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it as much after that.
I just didn't quite understand what Ferris was trying to do with Paul. Religious conspiracies aren't my cup of tea and I didn't like how the author pushed Paul through the story.
There is lots throughout to enjoy. Paul's past entanglements with women are fun. His scenes in the surgery are hilarious. He frequently forgets what he's doing and says unusual things to staff and customers. I love it when he finds himself unsure what he's meant to be doing to one mouth and tries to guess based on the instruments he has out.
The writing is good, I've not read any Joshua Ferris before and would consider trying more, if the stories interested me. But I didn't like the ending, not where I would have wanted to take the character.
Unusual story, setting and characters. Quirky and lots of fun to be had but the direction of the story won't interest everyone.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
So much promise - Dr Paul O'Rourke is a wonderful creation. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world of the dentist through his self-absorbed eyes. He's a bundle of contradictions - hating technology but can't live without his 'me-machine' (phone), avowed atheist but willing to consider religion for a woman. A complex character, Paul is a successful dentist but not a success with women, who he gets obsessed with and then can't live without when the relationship fails. He observes strict rituals for each Red Sox game he watches.
This techno-hater is affronted one day to discover that someone has created (without permission) a website for his dental practice. And is starting to spout opinions under the name of Dr Paul O'Rourke. These opinions seem to have a religious bent and Paul drives himself mad searching for the culprit. Why is someone doing this to him? And what are these Ulms they talk about?
This is where it started losing its interest for me. I was quite happy to follow Paul in his quirky little world. I wasn't interested in some quasi-religious plot. Paul kept me reading but I didn't enjoy it as much after that.
I just didn't quite understand what Ferris was trying to do with Paul. Religious conspiracies aren't my cup of tea and I didn't like how the author pushed Paul through the story.
There is lots throughout to enjoy. Paul's past entanglements with women are fun. His scenes in the surgery are hilarious. He frequently forgets what he's doing and says unusual things to staff and customers. I love it when he finds himself unsure what he's meant to be doing to one mouth and tries to guess based on the instruments he has out.
The writing is good, I've not read any Joshua Ferris before and would consider trying more, if the stories interested me. But I didn't like the ending, not where I would have wanted to take the character.
Unusual story, setting and characters. Quirky and lots of fun to be had but the direction of the story won't interest everyone.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
landsaye's review against another edition
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
3.25
jaynephoenix's review
funny
slow-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
2.5
Was pretty funny and made me laugh out loud but didn’t see the point of any of it and way too much weird religious stuff that was not mentioned in the summary. I literally closed the book at the end and said “that was stupid”
scavengercat's review
3.0
I almost gave this two stars because there were parts I didn't think I'd make it through. But there were also parts that I loved (and the ending was right), so I gave three.
alisonhori's review
4.0
I am really not sure how to rank this book or how to describe it or even what it is really about. I think I liked it....parts of it were very clever and really fun to read and I think overall the humor did successfully balance the overall depression or maybe despair that surrounds this book. I was expecting a funny book as the rec's I read ahead of time seemed to focus on the humor...but overall, this is a book about surviving the suicide of one's parent, about what is identity (and identity theft), about people searching to find a family or a tribe or anywhere to fit in and belong It is about the appeal of cults, of religion, of tradition. I think it is also about living with at least a touch of mental illness. Strange books...parts of it were really relatable and wonderful, parts left me really cold. The obsessive nature of the main character was fascinating....the endless religious diatribes were uncomfortable to read. My very, very favorite part were the main characters discussions with Betzy...funny and touching. Very interesting book.
elenamolinariiiii's review against another edition
2.0
i guess if you're into endless pages of made up religions this might be for you but to me this is just wasted potential from my boy's amazing pen
dansquire's review
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5