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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
I do love a book I can read in a day--and that's what I did with this one. It felt like an extended short story, Kafka-esque in its balance of absurdity and mundanity. It was part Bartleby the Scrivener (though our protagonist in this one was less "I'd prefer not to" and more "I'd prefer to do that . . . sometime."). I think it was supposed to be a rumination on the ennui of a 21st century entry level job held by Millennials, but surprise! That ennui has been around a long time. So I guess this was 21st century existentialism, flattened in the same way that our protagonist is flattened as she waits for [her] hated routine to come back and comfort [her]."
slow-paced
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
dark
slow-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
i couldn’t finish this book, so it gets 2 stars. or rather, i couldn’t read the whole thing; i skipped 100 pages in the middle, confirmed my suspicions that nothing was going to have changed in that span, and skimmed to the end to see how it could possibly have ended. turns out (mild spoiler) that it doesn’t really end. no real conclusion, no climax or denouement.
no one really does anything in their own lives in this book. no one makes any changes or goes through events or grows internally. it’s just people being nonplussed about their mundane lives. maybe if you’re like that, this book will resonate in a satisfying way, but it’s not me.
the structure was also weird, with some chapters in first person and others showcasing side characters in third person, but not via the protagonist’s perspective or anything. and then the last 2 chapters are third person about the protagonist. i’m not really sure why this format was chosen, or why we visit other characters at all, or what the unusual pov is adding to the book at large.
this book made me depressed, and not in the way that lovely sad music makes you feel beautiful and seen in your depression. while some of the prose was interesting, its monotony just wore me down. i don’t recommend this book. sorry halle
no one really does anything in their own lives in this book. no one makes any changes or goes through events or grows internally. it’s just people being nonplussed about their mundane lives. maybe if you’re like that, this book will resonate in a satisfying way, but it’s not me.
the structure was also weird, with some chapters in first person and others showcasing side characters in third person, but not via the protagonist’s perspective or anything. and then the last 2 chapters are third person about the protagonist. i’m not really sure why this format was chosen, or why we visit other characters at all, or what the unusual pov is adding to the book at large.
this book made me depressed, and not in the way that lovely sad music makes you feel beautiful and seen in your depression. while some of the prose was interesting, its monotony just wore me down. i don’t recommend this book. sorry halle
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book but I feel it was mainly because of the audiobook, and I feel that this genre is for a very niche audience so likeeee if you get it you get it. but if you thought it was boring like I understand why
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tense
fast-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:
Yes