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kah296's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Definitely one of those early 2000s books written by middle-aged White guys who like to naval gaze, but as long as you’re prepared for that going in it’s entertaining! The author seemed self-aware at least, and I loved the New England-ness of it all. The first Richard Russo book I’ve read but likely not the last.
selenatothemax's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
bklyn76's review against another edition
3.0
i started reading this book b/c of ginna's review only to have to take it back to the library [and pay late fines!:] i just recently got the audio version and am listening to it now. don't love the reader's voice, but the story is still good.
**update**
ended up really enjoying this book and have put the author's other book, straight man, on hold at the library. [thanks, sandy!]
**update**
ended up really enjoying this book and have put the author's other book, straight man, on hold at the library. [thanks, sandy!]
marilynsaul's review against another edition
1.0
Yes, I hated this book. I should have stopped reading it mid-way through when I realized I'd mumbled "Seriously?" to myself probably fifty times. The only reason I didn't throw the book against the wall then and there was because I wanted to find out what happened to Sunny Kim, the only decent, wonderful, functioning adult in the book. Sadly, it wasn't worth it. Book synopsis: 261 pages of a dysfunctional, whiny guy pillorying his exceptionally dysfunctional parents, driving around with their ashes in the trunk of his car, being guided and bludgeoned by his mother's obsessively critical voice in his head, okay, time to throw this damn book against the wall.
valjoy's review against another edition
2.0
Love Richard Russo's writing but not much of a story here.
abstract_amber77's review against another edition
3.0
Everything is not always as it seems, and this story is a testament to that. Whether or not the author intended to base the book on the systems theory, I cannot say, but as someone who just finished a course on family therapy, it is hard not to parallel this tale to a case study I might review in class. On the surface, problems are not always what they appear, and in relationships we often blame our failures on everything but what the true problem is. Such is the case for Griffin and Joy in That Old Cape Magic, and for their parents before them.
I am certain I would have viewed this story differently if not for my studies, but my point of view based on my current knowledge is that this is a tale of the unresolved attachment many have with their parents, and how we choose spouses who will mimic that relationship with our parents in an attempt to heal our relationship with them, and also to heal ourselves. Mix in the magic of Cape Cod, a narcissistic mother, and a splash of comedy, and you have an interesting tale that that left me bored at times, but ultimately fed me with enough intrigue to want to see how it all turns out. I likely will never return to this story for a second read, but I'm glad I read it, nonetheless.
I am certain I would have viewed this story differently if not for my studies, but my point of view based on my current knowledge is that this is a tale of the unresolved attachment many have with their parents, and how we choose spouses who will mimic that relationship with our parents in an attempt to heal our relationship with them, and also to heal ourselves. Mix in the magic of Cape Cod, a narcissistic mother, and a splash of comedy, and you have an interesting tale that that left me bored at times, but ultimately fed me with enough intrigue to want to see how it all turns out. I likely will never return to this story for a second read, but I'm glad I read it, nonetheless.
ecari's review against another edition
2.0
I still love Richard Russo's writing style, but I didn't enjoy this book much. I found the main character, Jack Griffin, to be disturbingly self-absorbed and cruelly snobby. Because Russo has a very effective way of delving into the psyche, I felt like I had too much insight into how this man's thought process worked - basically it made me feel uncomfortable most of the time. The story was engaging enough to keep me reading and I admit to laughing aloud at the family drama toward the end of the novel (at a wedding, of course), but to someone interested in reading this book, I would strongly recommend any one of Russo's other great novels.
smbla's review against another edition
4.0
It would be almost impossible to follow up either Empire Falls or Bridge of Sighs, but That Old Cape Magic is a brilliant effort. It is not as involved as the other two but I appreciated the simple story of Jack Griffin-middle aged, attempting to eradicate his parent's influence and yet as so many of us doomed to repeat their patterns.
shelfimprovement's review against another edition
3.0
Perhaps I'm just not the intended audience, but neither the story nor the characters resonated with me. Russo is normally a fantastic writer, but the narrative here was a little too muddled for me to get through without going back to check what had already happened. Richard Russo is one of my favorites, but this book was a disappointment.
bellatora's review against another edition
3.0
I remember enjoying this book when I read it, but months later I have absolutely no memory of anything that happened within it. I remember Russo's [b:Bridge of Sighs|107821|Bridge of Sighs|Richard Russo|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320397300s/107821.jpg|6121267], which I read years ago, much more clearly.