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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
I loved this even more than The Friend. I've seen a few reviews that say this book wandered all over the place. I have a feeling I read a different book.
Sigrid Nunez' style is one that I love - self-deprecating, funny in parts, strange in others. The Vulnerables is a perfect description of life in lockdown without all the hand-wringing and soul-searching. The author takes the part of lead character. Alone in lockdown New York she finds herself pet/house-sitting for a friend whose quick trip to California before her baby is born turns into an extended trip.
Stuck in the friend's flat the author takes long walks, sometimes amongst the crazies but more often alone. She falls in love with Eureka, the parrot who is even more needy for attention than friends or family. Then the original sitter returns unexpectedly and the two form an uneasy friendship.
The Vulnerables is about all vulnerables - the parrot, old people, sick people, lonely people, society as a whole.
Frankly I didn't want this book to go anywhere else. I forced myself to ration it out so I could enjoy it for longer. I enjoyed all of it immensely. I'd highly recommend this book to fans of Nunez or those who've never read her before. Either way, you should read it.
Sigrid Nunez' style is one that I love - self-deprecating, funny in parts, strange in others. The Vulnerables is a perfect description of life in lockdown without all the hand-wringing and soul-searching. The author takes the part of lead character. Alone in lockdown New York she finds herself pet/house-sitting for a friend whose quick trip to California before her baby is born turns into an extended trip.
Stuck in the friend's flat the author takes long walks, sometimes amongst the crazies but more often alone. She falls in love with Eureka, the parrot who is even more needy for attention than friends or family. Then the original sitter returns unexpectedly and the two form an uneasy friendship.
The Vulnerables is about all vulnerables - the parrot, old people, sick people, lonely people, society as a whole.
Frankly I didn't want this book to go anywhere else. I forced myself to ration it out so I could enjoy it for longer. I enjoyed all of it immensely. I'd highly recommend this book to fans of Nunez or those who've never read her before. Either way, you should read it.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
To quote Ron Charles of the Washington Post, this novel is another book in the newly formed genre of "covidature" along with Ann Patchett's [b:Tom Lake|63241104|Tom Lake|Ann Patchett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1691084837l/63241104._SY75_.jpg|99138080] and my favorite, Louise Erdrich's [b:The Sentence|56816904|The Sentence|Louise Erdrich|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630063344l/56816904._SY75_.jpg|88822235]. Nunez does an excellent job of showing the nuances of the pandemic including the process of a novelist. Similarly to [b:The Friend|40164365|The Friend|Sigrid Nunez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544364669l/40164365._SY75_.jpg|56847766], there is a pet that adds some fun to the storyline. As Nunez tells the story of the writer, she meanders around, much like we all did during the pandemic. If you enjoy sidebars, you'll enjoy The Vulnerables.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don’t know how to feel about this one
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Couldn’t get into the meandering writing. Not interested in reading Covid books yet.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes