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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
This is a funny, moving, unique novel. Written in the 1960s, its casual racism and sexism haven't aged so well, but they do speak to the honesty of its protagonist. The book doesn't flinch from portraying its hero warts & all, and mostly George is entirely relatable. He zones out in traffic, gets suddenly turned on by passers-by, hates his cultural enemies with murderous glee, gets annoyed then enchanted then annoyed again by his best friend, and mourns the same ways we all do. There's a little bit of philosophy mixed in, and some literary analysis. George comes from a wealthy background so he can get away with a certain amount of freedom that us working-class peons can't, and he certainly drinks too much. But I think most people intelligent enough to read a novel will find something in common with him, and will like spending time with him.
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking story in its realness and its tragic universality. The protagonist often waxes philosophical with highly interesting and ever-relevant results. This book makes me so grateful to be alive and in love.
Poetically affecting but a little wrought. An excellent albeit depressing portrait.
A wonderful book, this explores love, grief and what it is to be and feel alive, all in a sharply packaged 152 pages - Isherwood doesn't waste a single word or use more than is exactly necessary.
It's interesting to read this having already watched the splendid movie - they're very different yet also rather alike beasts - the movie seems to hew off the dark rough edges that I suppose you can only capture through a book's insight in a character's inner workings and strips out the anger and rage that George feels at times, and repackages it in a different manner, but still when George is with Kenny you get that same sense of light and love returning, that maybe he has something after Jim afterall.
All in all then, thumbs properly up for this one.
It's interesting to read this having already watched the splendid movie - they're very different yet also rather alike beasts - the movie seems to hew off the dark rough edges that I suppose you can only capture through a book's insight in a character's inner workings and strips out the anger and rage that George feels at times, and repackages it in a different manner, but still when George is with Kenny you get that same sense of light and love returning, that maybe he has something after Jim afterall.
All in all then, thumbs properly up for this one.
I noticed myself going through this one very slowly because I didn’t want to reach the end. The first few chapters almost felt like too much, in how closely I could feel them. I can tell I’ll be mulling this one over for a while.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
en verdad me ha gustado mucho su forma de escribir y es súper ameno y profundo, todo lo que me gusta, pero no creo que me vaya a marcar pa siempre porque el personaje es demasiado distinto a mí ?? idk pero el final me ha dejado sin aire
Predominantly very sad, and a little tedious, but there are moments of piercing clarity about what it's like when the person you shared your life with is gone. It's worth reading for those moments. Also, some chuckles.