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danamuses's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
sprelika's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
bluuejeans's review against another edition
3.0
Book fortyseven/fiftytwo;
This was one book of many choices we had to choose from to do our last literature assignment(not wtih counting the poetry essay) and since I wrote a semi-elaborate book review for it I will paste that, and maybe add some extra comments.
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Dana Spiotta’s second book Eat the Document gives a great view into the culture of a protesters way of thinking, living, and their lives in upcoming 25 years. There is a shift of time in the book, that lets you compare and contrast the personalities and lifestyles of the people in the 1970’s and those from the late 1990’s.
The plot begins with a group of young activist against the Vietnam War, who decided that they were not heard loud enough through their peaceful demonstrations. Their action to gain the Medias and governments attention toward their cause leaves them with consequences that force the group to separate and go underground. Eat the Document revolves around Mary Whittaker, who is forced to leave her old life, family and beloved Bobby DeSoto behind and take on a false identity; three of them actually as times go by.
Through the time jumping in the book, we also get a view of a couple of teens from the late 90’s, Jason who is Mary’s son and Miranda. Jason’s character is completely passive and neo-radical, whilst Miranda is one who has left her home in the suburbs and lives in an old house in the city of Seattle with a group of other astray teens, and she attends activist meetings who discuss upcoming “tests” (their pet name for demonstrations). They are in the search of rebellious ways to act out against the suburban mainstream life, their methods are however more passive. The time periods are connected by the two types of social radicals, but furthermore the younger generation show a great fascination toward the fundamentality of the previous generation hence they feel that in the 70’s because back then their actions made historical differences, in ways they feel that theirs do not in the late 90’s.
The shift of time where the reader is given exchange of ideas about the secrets held is what makes Eat the Document a remarkable book. Spiotta’s way of writing through her characters, by her characters and with her characters opens up a window for the reader to peek into the culture of social malcontents. What is interesting is the fact that the ideologies of activist did not change much during the period of 25 years viewed in the book, and neither has it changed much today in the 21st century. Through her dialogues, Spiotta’s novel, with its cultural divide of reality, touches upon themes of love, rebellion, life on the run and the secret life of a fugitive.
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what I couldnt say in this essay because 1) I had a word-limit and 2)it was not part of the assignment, was that this book gave me some inspiration for my own little projects. It made me think about some things and there were some really well written stuff here and there. I took at least 5-6pics from parts of the books. Intresting, profound and relateable lines, which might come to use sometime soon.
This was one book of many choices we had to choose from to do our last literature assignment(not wtih counting the poetry essay) and since I wrote a semi-elaborate book review for it I will paste that, and maybe add some extra comments.
-----------------------
Dana Spiotta’s second book Eat the Document gives a great view into the culture of a protesters way of thinking, living, and their lives in upcoming 25 years. There is a shift of time in the book, that lets you compare and contrast the personalities and lifestyles of the people in the 1970’s and those from the late 1990’s.
The plot begins with a group of young activist against the Vietnam War, who decided that they were not heard loud enough through their peaceful demonstrations. Their action to gain the Medias and governments attention toward their cause leaves them with consequences that force the group to separate and go underground. Eat the Document revolves around Mary Whittaker, who is forced to leave her old life, family and beloved Bobby DeSoto behind and take on a false identity; three of them actually as times go by.
Through the time jumping in the book, we also get a view of a couple of teens from the late 90’s, Jason who is Mary’s son and Miranda. Jason’s character is completely passive and neo-radical, whilst Miranda is one who has left her home in the suburbs and lives in an old house in the city of Seattle with a group of other astray teens, and she attends activist meetings who discuss upcoming “tests” (their pet name for demonstrations). They are in the search of rebellious ways to act out against the suburban mainstream life, their methods are however more passive. The time periods are connected by the two types of social radicals, but furthermore the younger generation show a great fascination toward the fundamentality of the previous generation hence they feel that in the 70’s because back then their actions made historical differences, in ways they feel that theirs do not in the late 90’s.
The shift of time where the reader is given exchange of ideas about the secrets held is what makes Eat the Document a remarkable book. Spiotta’s way of writing through her characters, by her characters and with her characters opens up a window for the reader to peek into the culture of social malcontents. What is interesting is the fact that the ideologies of activist did not change much during the period of 25 years viewed in the book, and neither has it changed much today in the 21st century. Through her dialogues, Spiotta’s novel, with its cultural divide of reality, touches upon themes of love, rebellion, life on the run and the secret life of a fugitive.
-----------------------
what I couldnt say in this essay because 1) I had a word-limit and 2)it was not part of the assignment, was that this book gave me some inspiration for my own little projects. It made me think about some things and there were some really well written stuff here and there. I took at least 5-6pics from parts of the books. Intresting, profound and relateable lines, which might come to use sometime soon.
flappermyrtle's review against another edition
4.0
The story of this book is very poignant. It's like detective story, but better, and more serious and more political. I loved the descriptions of alternative countercultures in the late 1990s and the way that that era was connected with bits and pieces to the 60s and 70s. Some of the youngsters' charactarisations are painfully spot-on. The pieces of the puzzle eventually fit together so nicely, and the characters have come so very far, that I wish the novel would have given a bit more closure, would have gone on for just a little longer.
shirisandler's review against another edition
3.0
I borrowed this book from my roommate, and she told me that while it was really good, it wasn't as good as it could be. I enjoyed it and found the pace especially to be fascinating. But, by the time I got to the end, my roommate was right. A really good book, but there was a small something missing. It does, however, keep coming back on me, popping up at random moments, which is always a good sign.
blooker's review against another edition
5.0
I appreciate the effort the author puts into her characters in all of her works. This story in particular pulls in themes of resistance and materialism, of war and protest, and of identity and relationships, all of which I find thoroughly engaging. I don't have words this how much I enjoyed this book, but at one point while reading, I remember having thought that my bones were reaching to attach to the book so that I would be physically unable to put it down. I don't remember wanting and choosing to stay up past my bedtime to finish a book in years. I love that feeling.
lucasmiller's review against another edition
5.0
Been sitting on my shelf for years. The shifting chronology of the book is advertised pretty heavily. The story jumps between the 1970s and 1990s, but eventually I would describe this as an almost incidental plot point, and not the biggest draw of the book. I initially liked the writing, plot, etc., but it was really the journal of the fifteen year old Beach Boys obsessed tertiary character that locked it in for me. His journal was exactly the voice I remember wishing I could manage at that age, even if I didn't discover Smiley Smile till much later. There are gems in here that anyone with a passing interest in or knowledge of the antiwar movement and or being a nerd will greatly enjoy.
suburban_ennui's review against another edition
3.0
A good plot, marred by the counter-culture arguments spouted by her youthful characters. Do today's teens really talk like cultural theorists? The ones I know - even the smart ones - certainly don't.
aoifey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0