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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.
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
A steady read, no new ground broken in terms of topic or characters. The breakdown in Anders' life and his journey to and from the Connecticut shore towns was, well, rather predictable. There were a few moments when it seemed that the author was trying to break out of that established arc but it read as being shoehorned in rather than as a natural progression.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
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.
whatyouegg's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel is a really genius exploration of the soul-sucking effect that capitalism has on the idealistic nuclear family. It asks the question: once you’ve dedicated your life to fulfilling the American dream, and you’ve succeeded, will you be happy?
It’s not particularly unique or ground-breaking, but what I liked about it was that it was actually enjoyable to read. The characters were endearing even if they weren’t particularly likeable, and Thompson is a master of situational humour. Anders is your typical Boomer-aged white man who might remind you of why you don’t get along with your dad, but by some miracle, he is a sympathetic character. I think it’s the fact that his 3/4 life crisis arises out of his frustration in upper-middle class society, which I found to be very relatable. I just wish there was a bit more character development from him in the end. Otherwise, this was a great casual read.
It’s not particularly unique or ground-breaking, but what I liked about it was that it was actually enjoyable to read. The characters were endearing even if they weren’t particularly likeable, and Thompson is a master of situational humour. Anders is your typical Boomer-aged white man who might remind you of why you don’t get along with your dad, but by some miracle, he is a sympathetic character. I think it’s the fact that his 3/4 life crisis arises out of his frustration in upper-middle class society, which I found to be very relatable. I just wish there was a bit more character development from him in the end. Otherwise, this was a great casual read.
lfro2013's review against another edition
3.0
The soullessness of wealth, late stage capitalism, materialism, class, what changes and what stays the same between generations... I enjoyed it. His characters are also very human and relatable, and sympathetically and humanly depicted.
mominanm's review against another edition
3.0
"You know what the scientist in charge of that project said about it forty years later? He was one of those Soviet guys with a goatee and a lab coat, and he said, 'Nothing we learned on that mission could justify the loss of that beautiful animal.'"
"Really?"
"Google it. Laika was a stray and the scientists became really close to her. They, like, raised her."
Anders looked back at the page, the dog strapped down to that table. "That's heartbreaking."
coffeenurse's review against another edition
3.0
Beginning another novel dealing with issues surrounding commitment and marriage, The Land of Steady Habits was a light-hearted, unintentional follow-up to Jamie Quatro's Fire Sermon. Serious topics are examined in this text; unhappiness in marriage, infidelity (to some extent), guilt, suicide, teen drug-use, etc. Although humorous in its approach, I felt Thompson did them justice in his style, leaving enough space for the reader to gain their own understanding from characters' behaviour. I was both sympathetic towards Anders in his good intentions and appalling decisions, and his ex-wife Helene who is just trying to make the most of the rest of her life. The unironic satire in the characterisation of Helene's friends and boyfriend compared to Anders was interesting and fun. It was a very humble novel, with nuances of John Updike, and grounding in its story which is very well-rounded in the way it is told. Although relatively plain, it did give me a different perspective on life and those close to me.