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marthahope's review against another edition
2.0
I think my mistake was reading a book about bowling when I don't like bowling.
libwinnie's review against another edition
3.0
A decent read with some quirky plot lines (which I greatly enjoyed) but felt like it missed the opportunity to have some really interesting, well-developed characters. It was a bit flat.
mschrock8's review against another edition
4.0
"Somebody should have told her that men could be so bodily whiskered." Ha.
Second book recently where a character posed nude for artists.
Plus, a character carved patterns into bowling balls, inked them and made prints. Yes, please!
Second book recently where a character posed nude for artists.
Plus, a character carved patterns into bowling balls, inked them and made prints. Yes, please!
rageofachilles's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve read some reviews about how nothing seems to really happen in this book. I would agree that there doesn’t seem to be character progression (maybe Archie?)—a lot does happen, however.
The novel is obviously a nod towards bowling, but I think it’s more a homage to women who exist in historically male spaces, the bowling alley. Bertha, LuEtta, and others. Not to mention the queer character Joe Wear. These characters merge in and out of the bowling alley while New England itself seems to shimmer with the otherworldly.
All-in-all, I found this book interesting and entertaining to read. Yes, there’s no great character progression and time flies (years can go by in the span of a sentence). If you want a charming novel about the North East, this book is for you, a bonus for those who like Bowling.
The novel is obviously a nod towards bowling, but I think it’s more a homage to women who exist in historically male spaces, the bowling alley. Bertha, LuEtta, and others. Not to mention the queer character Joe Wear. These characters merge in and out of the bowling alley while New England itself seems to shimmer with the otherworldly.
All-in-all, I found this book interesting and entertaining to read. Yes, there’s no great character progression and time flies (years can go by in the span of a sentence). If you want a charming novel about the North East, this book is for you, a bonus for those who like Bowling.
b00kluver's review against another edition
3.0
Bowlaway was on a list of recommended titles for 2019. The story was interesting and employed a case of quirky characters, but almost too detailed, as I felt the story dragged on a bit too long.
I would have enjoyed it much more if the story had concentrated more on Bertha and her life, and had not become a sweeping saga that spanned three generations.
The sport of candlestick bowling and the historic turn of the century setting were interesting highlights of this story, but not enough to hold my interest through all of the story’s offshoots.
I would have enjoyed it much more if the story had concentrated more on Bertha and her life, and had not become a sweeping saga that spanned three generations.
The sport of candlestick bowling and the historic turn of the century setting were interesting highlights of this story, but not enough to hold my interest through all of the story’s offshoots.
hollydaze71's review against another edition
2.0
HARD to get through.
The story felt gappy, as it jumped from generation to generation.
I was left wondering what the point was.
The story felt gappy, as it jumped from generation to generation.
I was left wondering what the point was.
elmcreyn's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
2.0
I was intrigued by the beginning of the story but as I read on, I grew so bored. It took me about 2 months to read this 371 page book which may be the slowest I’ve ever read something. I was so bored and I found most of the characters weirdly insufferable. The Quirky! nature of this book was another strike against my enjoyment.
I’m just so relieved to be finally finished with this book.
I’m just so relieved to be finally finished with this book.
boggremlin's review against another edition
3.0
A sprawling, delightful character novel. I will say the last third or so sprawled a little too much for my tastes--it's like all of the delightful parts were front-loaded, so after a certain amount of time, the characters of Bowlaway were just desperately unhappy--but the prose style was excellent, and there are some laugh-out-loud funny lines (I am a sucker for third-person omniscient narrators). It feels a little like a fable. Albeit a fabulist narrative with a determined New Englander bent. So.
This may appeal to those who liked [b:Olive Kitteridge|1736739|Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, #1)|Elizabeth Strout|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320430655l/1736739._SY75_.jpg|3263906] or [b:Kitchens of the Great Midwest|23398625|Kitchens of the Great Midwest|J. Ryan Stradal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1428066565l/23398625._SY75_.jpg|42955214]--or even [b:Blessings|77477|Blessings|Anna Quindlen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390372380l/77477._SY75_.jpg|1121880]. It's got a framing narrative, but there are so many characters, and the book takes place over such a long span of time, that you end up seeing how people radiate out from that center. It's not linked short stories (as Olive and Kitchens both are), but it does explore numerous viewpoints.
This may appeal to those who liked [b:Olive Kitteridge|1736739|Olive Kitteridge (Olive Kitteridge, #1)|Elizabeth Strout|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320430655l/1736739._SY75_.jpg|3263906] or [b:Kitchens of the Great Midwest|23398625|Kitchens of the Great Midwest|J. Ryan Stradal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1428066565l/23398625._SY75_.jpg|42955214]--or even [b:Blessings|77477|Blessings|Anna Quindlen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390372380l/77477._SY75_.jpg|1121880]. It's got a framing narrative, but there are so many characters, and the book takes place over such a long span of time, that you end up seeing how people radiate out from that center. It's not linked short stories (as Olive and Kitchens both are), but it does explore numerous viewpoints.