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grboph's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
4.0
I really liked this book. It was very slow-paced and I had some issues with the characters, but I liked the commentary it was making and it was extremely well-written - funny and sarcastic, while still handling some very depressing topics very well. I get that the whole point of the book is to showcase the flaws of the characters and how it affects their daily lives, but I felt like at times that crossed over into knowingly being a crappy person and doing absolutely nothing to try to change it (such as Chip's relationships with much younger women and the way Denise treats Robin). I really liked what the book had to say about capitalism, aging, and progress, and I think that the Lambert family and all of their flaws and dysfunction were a great way to make this commentary. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good dysfunctional-family story or something that is relevant to our society today (therefore, not anyone who reads to escape reality).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Dementia, Excrement, Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, Chronic illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship
Minor: Medical content, Cursing, Blood, Death, and Drug use
bail33's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
slow-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
5.0
This book is one of my favourites I’ve ever read. It provides strong critique of late-capitalist America and the main disconnects between Baby Boomers and Gen Xers but manages to weave it all into a story focused on characters worth investing in.
You probably won’t finish the book feeling proud of any of these characters. You probably won’t want to declare your love for them. You’ll probably understand them, sympathize with them, and feel empathy for them— but you’ll be ashamed of it.
It is an extremely character-driven book and all of the characters are beyond flawed, but they feel like real people.
The book is slow-paced but very descriptive and well-written. If this is what Franzen wrote when he was trying to write a best seller then I’m excited to see what he wrote when he wasn’t.
You probably won’t finish the book feeling proud of any of these characters. You probably won’t want to declare your love for them. You’ll probably understand them, sympathize with them, and feel empathy for them— but you’ll be ashamed of it.
It is an extremely character-driven book and all of the characters are beyond flawed, but they feel like real people.
The book is slow-paced but very descriptive and well-written. If this is what Franzen wrote when he was trying to write a best seller then I’m excited to see what he wrote when he wasn’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Dementia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Excrement
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Death of parent, Drug use, Medical content, Mental illness, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Cursing, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol
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