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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
harby's review against another edition
4.0
3.8/ Well-written and fairly unflinching look at suburban boomer unhappiness. It lags in a few spots, but the beginning and end were good.
breelight's review against another edition
4.0
#45 a book set during Christmas
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher through GoodReads giveaways
This book grabbed me immediately even though I don't really care for angsty, self-absorbed characters. There is a bit of jumping around in terms of time/era which caught me off guard in the beginning but it was necessary to set up the background of the characters and became more obvious as I moved through the novel. Character development is lacking as well. There are some funny parts but I didn't think it was as hilarious as some other reviewers for whatever reason. I have a hard time feeling sorry for people that make their own disasters but I did connect with some of the characters. I found that I know some similar people in my own life and it gave me some perspective.
The writing itself was not difficult to read but there were some unexpected writing devices that appeared sporadically. It was a nice break and kept the reading manageable.
This book was fast paced and engrossing.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher through GoodReads giveaways
This book grabbed me immediately even though I don't really care for angsty, self-absorbed characters. There is a bit of jumping around in terms of time/era which caught me off guard in the beginning but it was necessary to set up the background of the characters and became more obvious as I moved through the novel. Character development is lacking as well. There are some funny parts but I didn't think it was as hilarious as some other reviewers for whatever reason. I have a hard time feeling sorry for people that make their own disasters but I did connect with some of the characters. I found that I know some similar people in my own life and it gave me some perspective.
The writing itself was not difficult to read but there were some unexpected writing devices that appeared sporadically. It was a nice break and kept the reading manageable.
This book was fast paced and engrossing.
sgsimily's review against another edition
2.0
I do not think I am the intended audience for this book. The characters are not likable, the pace of the story is glacial at best, I had no clear idea what anyone wanted at any point, nor did I care. There were some interesting points, but honestly the plot was familiar and boring and it took me forever to get through this book. The climax and resolution were disappointing. Not the type of thing I normally read and now I remember why. Again, perhaps if I was a late-age man I might enjoy this book.
vera13's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
captkaty's review against another edition
4.0
Anders has spent his whole adult life working on Wall Street and commuting back and forth from his tony Connecticut suburb, but when he retires, he wonders what he really has to show for it. A beautifully updated colonial that's mortgaged up to the hilt? Two adult sons who he doesn't really know, one who's just graduated college... at age 30? A wife who spends her days with friends he hates and her nights with a bottle of chardonnay and computer solitaire? So he decides to dump it all: to divorce his wife, to stop paying the mortgage, and to move to a condo that he can decorate as garishly as he likes... and that's when things fall apart
A really biting commentary on the suburban rat race, sometimes a bit too uncomfortably close to home, but a great debut.
A really biting commentary on the suburban rat race, sometimes a bit too uncomfortably close to home, but a great debut.
vof5017's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, and was excited to dive into it since the synopsis piqued my interest. I enjoyed the witty, straight-forward prose and the way that the author captured the WASP-y setting of the story. It was an enjoyable read, although I did find myself occasionally confused my the time jumps and switches between character viewpoints. Overall, though, I would recommend this as a light, smart read!
cpalisa's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good read...another book that caught my eye on the "new" shelf at the library. I'd give it 3.5 stars. Essentially the story about a man who has had a midlife crisis and left the "boring" life he lived for 40 years, only to realize that he made an error. Some parts are a bit comedic, some parts stretch credibility a touch and there are many sweet and sad parts. Not a new concept for a novel, but I enjoyed it.