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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
For a 600 page book, it doesn't really tell you anything. I made it 150 pages (of forcing myself to read) before I gave up. Life's too short for bad (and boring) books.
It could have been good but it needed a massive revision and the page count be cut in half. Most of the book was boring.
Ugh, this book. I can't even. Sooo random & I did not get the so-called great love affair in this book. No character development, mostly boring, and who talks like that?? Yes it's beautifully written, but so pretentious. I didn't even finish it. I didn't see the point, given that I couldn't even get the protoganist's reasons for life. The author barely gives the reader a glimpse into Ev's relationship with Harrison, their whole "thing" together & why he left confused the eff out of me. Very Twilight, only less to the point.
Confession: I am a complete ride or die bitch when it comes to books. I almost never quit reading a book, no matter how bad it is. So for me to abandon a book half way through, especially when it's over 600 pages long, means that it is a truly, truly terrible book and should feel ashamed of itself.
This is that book.
Honestly, I'm a bit heartbroken, as I have had this on my to be read shelf for next to forever. I can remember the absolutely stellar reviews it received upon publication. It was supposed to be the "female 'Catcher in the Rye," which, according to another reviewer, is an apt comparison, as both are over blown, overwrought tales with horrible protagonists (I hate "Catcher in the Rye.") Anyway I'm determined to reclaim some of my reading time, so I am gratefully moving on.
This is that book.
Honestly, I'm a bit heartbroken, as I have had this on my to be read shelf for next to forever. I can remember the absolutely stellar reviews it received upon publication. It was supposed to be the "female 'Catcher in the Rye," which, according to another reviewer, is an apt comparison, as both are over blown, overwrought tales with horrible protagonists (I hate "Catcher in the Rye.") Anyway I'm determined to reclaim some of my reading time, so I am gratefully moving on.
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I guess something has to be said for the fact that I actually finished this book but wow what did I just read?? I thought this was going to be this beautiful, relatable character study on a young woman but Evie was actually pretty unlikeable. All of the men in her life were abusive and controlling and she presented outwardly as this corpse of a human who just followed them around while internally, she had all these verbose, philosophical and yet completely meaningless thoughts??? I was not compelled by her love story with Rourke and was rolling my eyes at the last page. “I am an American girl. I stand with my feet girl on the soil of a nation.”??? Give me a break. How did Evie turn into this full of love, nationalist at the end when she clearly had a million and one mental health issues to work through? There were a handful of passages that I did find really insightful but overall, this book should have been 400 pages shorter and it could’ve picked a bigger punch.
My original review;
I thought I would love this book for a lot of reasons but I just couldn't get into it.
This time I finished it but it took a long time. It's a big book. I almost gave up twice. I guess I'm glad I read it? It has some lovely language and interesting characters. But I can't think of anyone I'd recommend it to.
I thought I would love this book for a lot of reasons but I just couldn't get into it.
This time I finished it but it took a long time. It's a big book. I almost gave up twice. I guess I'm glad I read it? It has some lovely language and interesting characters. But I can't think of anyone I'd recommend it to.
I hated almost every page of this book. Eveline is milquetoast. She defines herself by who she is with. Because of this, regardless of what happens to her, she is unable to learn or grow.
I inhaled this like a burrito from Chipotle. The representation of pining, anxiety, heartbreak, loss were too well written. I saw so many things I've felt written by Hamann. There were a couple of punches to the gut. And there are so many wonderfully complicated characters, especially Evie. Just so engrossing.
Okay, it's been said before. This is a looooooong book. And trying very hard to be literature. For an English major, I don't really enjoy books all that much. Listening to an author describe rain for what seems like an endless opening, just reminds me of trying to shove my way through "Portrait of an Artist" and wonder why I was reading this book.
A coming-of-age story set in the eighties, the book follows Eveline Aster Auerbach. It opens with her describing, in great detail, her friends, Kate and Jack as well their families.
There are some lovely turns of phrases that had me repeating them under my breath. But overall, this was a long slog.
"'Boys will be boys.' That's what people say. No one ever mentions how girls have to be something other than themselves altogether."
This book, I listened to for my book club. I'm in this particular book club in order to expand my horizons and this is definitely a book I wouldn't have read if it hadn't been for this group. It took me almost four chapters to figure it out but for me, reading this book is like walking across northern Indiana. It's flat and uninteresting except for a random lovely field or beautiful barn but for the most part, you're just rushing through trying to get to your destination. There aren't any peaks or valleys of interest. Or really any rolling hills (which northern Indiana does, admittedly, have).
A coming-of-age story set in the eighties, the book follows Eveline Aster Auerbach. It opens with her describing, in great detail, her friends, Kate and Jack as well their families.
There are some lovely turns of phrases that had me repeating them under my breath. But overall, this was a long slog.
"'Boys will be boys.' That's what people say. No one ever mentions how girls have to be something other than themselves altogether."
This book, I listened to for my book club. I'm in this particular book club in order to expand my horizons and this is definitely a book I wouldn't have read if it hadn't been for this group. It took me almost four chapters to figure it out but for me, reading this book is like walking across northern Indiana. It's flat and uninteresting except for a random lovely field or beautiful barn but for the most part, you're just rushing through trying to get to your destination. There aren't any peaks or valleys of interest. Or really any rolling hills (which northern Indiana does, admittedly, have).
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated