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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
Underappreciated Curtis Sittenfeld deep cut. Read this instead of Romantic Comedy.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this book last week in the free book pile at my local thrift shop and picked it up on a whim - it has an eerily large number of similarities with my own life, including places, situations, names, etc. Some of the language is outdated for sure and some parts of the story are hard to read, but it also felt like a very honest portrayal of how someone in Hannah's position would view and respond to the world.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this book at the Christmas Tree Shop for 2.99. I read it in less than 24 hrs.
So I have pretty mixed feelings about Sittenfeld in general. I think she is a talented prose writer. And she certainly captures some very particular and real feelings via her characters. However, I haven't found her three main characters from her three main books to be particularly likeable. Relatable sure, but maybe her characterizations just cut too close to my own personal bones.
This work was particularly difficult for me to like as I found its structure a lot weaker than either Prep or American Wife. The POV was inconsistent especially in terms of time.
This work was particularly difficult for me to like as I found its structure a lot weaker than either Prep or American Wife. The POV was inconsistent especially in terms of time.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The third Curtis Sittenfeld book I've read. I liked it better than American Wife and not as well as Prep . Sittenfeld's greatest strength is character development, and I identify a little too much with her melancholy, introverted female protagonists. That said, not a whole lot happens in this book but it's a hopeful take on the question of whether or not people can change and stop the behavior patterns that sabotage themselves.
While I do like Sittenfeld, this is clearly an early work. It has some noce moments but overall is not as polished and well-done as her later books. There were some bits I really liked - and other parts just dragged.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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