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jaredsward's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
The summary got my attention, but this was a tough book to finish. One dimensional character development, misspellings and grammatical errors and too many character POVs that didn't really accomplish a lot.
I felt uncomfortable reading some parts but not because It should be uncomfortable, moreso it was cringe or like "yikessss"
I felt uncomfortable reading some parts but not because It should be uncomfortable, moreso it was cringe or like "yikessss"
tshere's review against another edition
4.0
There seem to be differences of opinion about this book--I liked it a lot. I've never read anything of Prose's before, but I found this sharp and funny, with characters you care about.
emjay2021's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up while travelling and read it on the train and airplane. I found it engrossing and interesting, especially because I used to have a job where part of my responsibilities was researching hate groups. I remember being fascinated by the story of one neo-Nazi who had "converted" to the anti-racism movement, and I always wondered about his story and how much of it was genuine and how much was opportunistic. I thought Prose's novel did a good job of showing that there could be many motives behind such a change of heart, and that perhaps the end result (not being a skinhead) was what was most important, rather than one's motives for starting that journey.
I liked the multiple perspectives and thought that the author did a good job with giving each character a unique voice.
I liked the multiple perspectives and thought that the author did a good job with giving each character a unique voice.
carrieliza's review against another edition
3.0
This has been done before, and done better.
Though I love this:
"Okay. Listen. What did the blind man say the first time he touched a matzoh?"
Meyer shrugs. He's waiting.
"Who wrote this shit?" Sol says.
Though I love this:
"Okay. Listen. What did the blind man say the first time he touched a matzoh?"
Meyer shrugs. He's waiting.
"Who wrote this shit?" Sol says.
nanikeeva's review against another edition
1.0
i see what prose was trying to go for, but it just ended up feeling extremely unpleasant and abrasive
marypmcg's review against another edition
1.0
Summary: A Neo-Nazi named Vincent Nolan wants to turn around and "save guys like [him] from becoming guys like [him]" by helping World Brotherhood Watch raise money and awareness. At the helm of WBW is holocaust survivor and well-known author, Meyer Maslow, who befriends Vincent. In the process, Vincent bunks up with a single mom Bonnie and her two boys, Danny and Max. This is his "hideout", since his former buddies from ARM (Aryan Resistance Movement) are after him because they "want revenge".
In a nutshell: I don't recommend it.
If you can imagine a cheesy, gooey, unsatisfying ending to this story, it will be far worse than what you can think up. The "change" they blab on and on about in this book is neither dramatic, interesting, or at all moving. And all the stuff before the end is pretty anti-climactic. I wish boredom was the worst thing about this book.
The most action in the first 200 pages of the book is an allergic reaction to a walnut. I shit you not. I couldn't make this up. The big, huge struggle this former Nazi has while trying to assimilate to the "real world" is trying to avoid all the stuff that he's allergic to.
These threatening ARM guys they mentioned Vincent worrying about constantly didn't show up till 3/4 of the way through the book, and even then it was only one ARM guy, and Vincent just beats the crap out of him. Then he hides out for a while, his tail between his legs, and a few days later, emerges triumphantly to "save the day" and deliver the graduation speech at Danny's high school's graduation. Because, he's a really great role-model, beating guys within an inch of their lives and all. Which, by the way, is the "deal" Bonnie and Vincent make to get Danny out of trouble with the assistant principal when he writes a paper about Hitler that the school's administration worries could be "slightly homophobic". During the speech, Bonnie and Vincent realize they love each other and look forward to a new life. Hooey!
Finally, the most annoying thing about this book was that every single character spends a lot of time thinking about what other people are probably thinking about them. It's absurd. It would be okay for the first couple of chapters maybe, while Meyer Maslow, Bonnie, her two kids and the Nazi were all trying to size each other up, but you know, by page 100 or so it gets a little old.
In a nutshell: I don't recommend it.
If you can imagine a cheesy, gooey, unsatisfying ending to this story, it will be far worse than what you can think up. The "change" they blab on and on about in this book is neither dramatic, interesting, or at all moving. And all the stuff before the end is pretty anti-climactic. I wish boredom was the worst thing about this book.
The most action in the first 200 pages of the book is an allergic reaction to a walnut. I shit you not. I couldn't make this up. The big, huge struggle this former Nazi has while trying to assimilate to the "real world" is trying to avoid all the stuff that he's allergic to.
These threatening ARM guys they mentioned Vincent worrying about constantly didn't show up till 3/4 of the way through the book, and even then it was only one ARM guy, and Vincent just beats the crap out of him. Then he hides out for a while, his tail between his legs, and a few days later, emerges triumphantly to "save the day" and deliver the graduation speech at Danny's high school's graduation. Because, he's a really great role-model, beating guys within an inch of their lives and all. Which, by the way, is the "deal" Bonnie and Vincent make to get Danny out of trouble with the assistant principal when he writes a paper about Hitler that the school's administration worries could be "slightly homophobic". During the speech, Bonnie and Vincent realize they love each other and look forward to a new life. Hooey!
Finally, the most annoying thing about this book was that every single character spends a lot of time thinking about what other people are probably thinking about them. It's absurd. It would be okay for the first couple of chapters maybe, while Meyer Maslow, Bonnie, her two kids and the Nazi were all trying to size each other up, but you know, by page 100 or so it gets a little old.
joannavaught's review against another edition
2.0
i slogged through this. this book is the literary equivalent of the film "crash" except far more trite and broadly drawn, and frankly offensive seeing as how it was written by a woman and the female characters are one-dimensional to the point of disintegration.
jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition
1.0
I could barely bring myself to finish this nonsense. The only reason I brought myself to get to the last page is my desire to include it in my "52 Books" challenge, and didn't feel right about it unless I got to the end.
Horrible. Poorly edited.
Horrible. Poorly edited.
martha_w's review against another edition
5.0
Vincent Nolan leaves the Aryan Resistance Movement and seeks refuge (and a job) with the humanitarian organization World Brotherhood Watch. The rest of A Changed Man follows Vincent's growth and the people around him with mostly internal monologues. The characters' perceptions of each other and themselves play a huge role as these vastly different people try to understand each other.
Francine Prose made these characters into incredibly believable human beings. It is especially impressive when you consider the wide range of personalities--30ish former neo-nazi, 70-year-old Holocaust survivor, 40ish single mother, 16-year-old high school student.
A Changed Man presented flawed human beings from all kinds of backgrounds as they were thrown together in this sweet, funny, and engaging story. Fascinating characters in a fantastic book.
Francine Prose made these characters into incredibly believable human beings. It is especially impressive when you consider the wide range of personalities--30ish former neo-nazi, 70-year-old Holocaust survivor, 40ish single mother, 16-year-old high school student.
A Changed Man presented flawed human beings from all kinds of backgrounds as they were thrown together in this sweet, funny, and engaging story. Fascinating characters in a fantastic book.