Scan barcode
cora_the_explorer's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
shanhautman's review against another edition
4.0
I so wanted this story to be more about the library and the weird and wonderful world within. The abortion story line comes across as dated with the numerous references to Vida's physical beauty and its impact on those around her. I'm all for satire, but this was over the top. Probably flew really well when published but seems like overkill and repetition now.
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
It's a short read. Listened via Hoopla. I liked it. Definitely a snapshot in time.
rutt's review against another edition
1.0
dnf after 20% complete. this book had me cringing and uncomfortable multiple times in just a short span of time. books from the internal viewpoint of a young white american man are probably just not for me.
eliathereader's review
3.0
İlginç bir düşünceyle yazılmış ama yer yer baş karakter adama uyuz oldum.
literarybutterfly's review against another edition
1.0
I was interested in reading this book after hearing about it in an episode of This American Life called "The Room of Requirement." After reading other comments, I am certainly not the only one who made their way to this book after listening to that episode. Unfortunately, The Abortion was a huge disappointment. I did not enjoy the way Brautigan writes women; it really creeped me out. The 31-year-old protagonist is a librarian who meets 19-year-old Vida one night when she drops off a book she wrote about how much she hates her body. And then for seemly no reason, they sleep together. After they're together for about a year, she gets pregnant so they travel to Tijuana to get an abortion. Throughout their journey, men are literally dropping like flies because she's so attractive they can't control themselves. This could have been interesting commentary on the experience of having to travel to another country to get an abortion but that is not what this is. I wasted my time with this.
briandice's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful library, timed perfectly, lush and American.
I think it was right after reading Brautigan's A Confederate General From Big Sur that I learned of his project to start a library for all those unpublished books, written by amateurs and professionals alike, and in Brautigan's own words: "the unwanted, the lyrical and haunted volumes of American writing". This was a very real and passionate undertaking - after his death this collection (known now as The Brautigan Library) was moved to Washington State University in Vancouver, Washington. It might be the most lovingly curated collection of works that nobody other than Brautigan ever wanted. This is the type of story that I love, a commitment to the written word for its own sake, not for the sake of commercial viability.
The Abortion is a fictional telling of this true story. The protagonist is the sole librarian of a place dedicated in fiction to what Brautigan would do in real life. It is a wonderful love story - love of the written word and between two people trying to make sense of this world - and it is filled with Brautigan's poetic writing. The mood of the story is airy and light, even though the subject matter is weighty. The author is telling us not to let the world take us down. What could be maudlin and overly sentimental, isn't. He makes it work.
I live but a few blocks from this address. Is this a real place? If so, what exists there? I refuse to look it up on Google Maps. It's a beautiful sunny day in San Francisco, I walk to the location on a literary treasure hunt. Brautigan is a master of making life imitate art, art imitate life.
I think it was right after reading Brautigan's A Confederate General From Big Sur that I learned of his project to start a library for all those unpublished books, written by amateurs and professionals alike, and in Brautigan's own words: "the unwanted, the lyrical and haunted volumes of American writing". This was a very real and passionate undertaking - after his death this collection (known now as The Brautigan Library) was moved to Washington State University in Vancouver, Washington. It might be the most lovingly curated collection of works that nobody other than Brautigan ever wanted. This is the type of story that I love, a commitment to the written word for its own sake, not for the sake of commercial viability.
The Abortion is a fictional telling of this true story. The protagonist is the sole librarian of a place dedicated in fiction to what Brautigan would do in real life. It is a wonderful love story - love of the written word and between two people trying to make sense of this world - and it is filled with Brautigan's poetic writing. The mood of the story is airy and light, even though the subject matter is weighty. The author is telling us not to let the world take us down. What could be maudlin and overly sentimental, isn't. He makes it work.
The library is old in the San Francisco post earthquake Yellow Brick style and is located at 3150 Sacramento Street San Francisco California 94115
I live but a few blocks from this address. Is this a real place? If so, what exists there? I refuse to look it up on Google Maps. It's a beautiful sunny day in San Francisco, I walk to the location on a literary treasure hunt. Brautigan is a master of making life imitate art, art imitate life.