Reviews

The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken

waynediane's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this book. Great satirical, but honest writing about her (Mother) a novel- I'm not so sure. I loved, 'every time my mother would fall and could not get up, she'd call 911, but then refused to go to the hospital. Kind of like Uber for picking you up from the floor.

dimitra_k's review

reflective

5.0

annilikesbooks's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

monikaka's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

marluhrs's review

emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

jbare's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

rigbees's review

medium-paced

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

3.75

This is a strange book; it straddles the line between autofiction and memoir - at least with its writing style, call backs and the information presented within its pages. I think it's a worthwhile read, but I found it meandering toward content that feels like a hot knife for me (family members with disabilities, death of parents, etc). 

koalakarakookie's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

This quote stuck with me on being a writer. “As a writer, I claimed to be modest, but I have delusions of grandeur. I called them delusions in order to be modest.”

nlwz_s's review

2.0

DNF at 25%. Said "hero" washes her hair in the kitchen sink. Bye.


• • •


That I could not pinpoint the author's intentions for what she wanted her book to be was too distracting for me. It kept me from fully appreciating what she had to offer.

Even that aside, I still could not get over how it read as random musings. All these made the book fall flat and come across as a desperate attempt at profundity.

I could not stomach another page after 25%.

rjhamberger's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0