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8797999's review against another edition
5.0
Although this is a very tragic tale, I do enjoy reading this at Christmas and being transported back to the 1930s. It is a product of its time and the men and attitudes are dated by today's standard but it is a fascinating vignette into life, and how from a single incident (and alcoholism) things can tragically snowball downwards.
I enjoyed the book even more this time around and it is haunting, engrossing and sobering read. I somehow have never got around to reading more by John O'Hara but always read this, I should endeavour to change that in 2023.
I enjoyed the book even more this time around and it is haunting, engrossing and sobering read. I somehow have never got around to reading more by John O'Hara but always read this, I should endeavour to change that in 2023.
hudsonsqbooklover's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vixenreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
Some of the rhetoric will not fly today, but its exploration of self-sabotage in the midst of dissatisfaction has aged very well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, Car accident, Racism, War, and Racial slurs
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Murder
Be aware that there is bootlegging, carbon monoxide poisoning, dissolution of a marriage, mob violence, and prostitution.dameswan's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Antisemitism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Racism
vegprincess's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't as good as I was hoping. It started out well but then towards the end it became kind of boring and dragged a little too much for my taste. In some ways it felt similar to The Great Gatsby: rich people partying, with the main character declining rapidly and heading for disaster.
drsldn's review against another edition
4.0
I think this cover is brilliant, although I didn't read this edition. Definitely a book people should read, although it wasn't exactly enjoyable and I don't think I liked any of the characters, except perhaps for the Flieglers. It is a bit weird reviewing a classic, but it deserves to be a classic: expertly plotted, characters who are clearly drawn with wonderful voices and great modernist writing.
hannahwdel's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
disreputabledog's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
overbooked_va's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Great Gatsby meets Mad Men. O’Hara skewers small town life, the upper middle class, and American manhood. Honestly he eviscerates it. Appt drops us into a three (two?) day period over the course of Christmas as Julian English’s carefully constructed facade unravels. The pace moves fast. The prose is matter of fact with some decorative flourishes here and there. Tragic and funny and a little off-putting, it grinds the myth of the American dream into dust.