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mittensmuffin's review against another edition
4.0
Much closer to 4 1/2 stars. Started out slow for me, but once I got into the novel, I loved it. Truly unique.
dreesreads's review against another edition
3.0
Late 60s, early 70s. A commune of sorts, Drop City, in Northern California and then Alaska. The "guru", Norm, is a 30-40ish guy who owns property and thus can host this group.
These folks are proud of being hippies, proud of being "free", proud of their (supposed) lack of hangups around sex and drugs. And there is a lot of both, as most of the members just d whatever whenever. Only some of the women and a few of the men do 80% of the work or more. And they know it, for the most part.
The first half of this book was OK. When they went to Alaska, though, it was more of the same, only in -40 degree weather. Which just seems soooo impossible when there are no roads and you need a boat or snow machine (they don't have one) to get to town. They got no game...what are the 18 that stay the winter eating?
This book was just too long, and the wrapping up was really not satisfying to me.
These folks are proud of being hippies, proud of being "free", proud of their (supposed) lack of hangups around sex and drugs. And there is a lot of both, as most of the members just d whatever whenever. Only some of the women and a few of the men do 80% of the work or more. And they know it, for the most part.
The first half of this book was OK. When they went to Alaska, though, it was more of the same, only in -40 degree weather. Which just seems soooo impossible when there are no roads and you need a boat or snow machine (they don't have one) to get to town. They got no game...what are the 18 that stay the winter eating?
This book was just too long, and the wrapping up was really not satisfying to me.
fitzbuster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
womanroars's review against another edition
3.0
Usually I hate books about hippies getting high, but this one was good. I liked that it wasn't only about being a hippie, but about the bad things that can happen when a bunch of hippies move to Alaska to get closer to nature.
grahamiam's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely channeling Kesey's Sometimes a Great Notion, and not just the bus reference. The interjection of nature into such a strong cast, with so many layers of narrative going on, and good versus evil warped into shades of grey...
Big fan.
Big fan.
nadinekc's review against another edition
3.0
I feel a bit ambivalent about this book. I didn't find the plot or characters all that compelling, but Boyle is such a good writer that he drew me in anyway.
skitch41's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting look at communal living and the (natural and unnatural) forces that can turn "brothers and sisters" into enemies. The idea of hippies picking up and moving to Alaska to try and live off the land is subtly inventive and laughable as well as perfect for describing how those trying to live for the moment, such as the hippie-citizens of Drop City, slide into a balance between the "straight" world and living among nature as they always wanted. Boyle certainly knows how to weave a good story as well a throw in a few new vocabulary words for a reader to look up in the dictionary. But what stops me from giving this five stars is that it takes a little time getting used to the hippies, and thus a little time getting into the book itself, who are so foul-mouthed and hypocritical in the beginning that it is hard to think of them as the "free love" hippies they claim to be. You don't really get to love them until the second half of the story when the Alaskan wilderness tests them. The Alaskan natives, particularly Sess and Pamela Harder, are far more endearing and loveable than the hippies are at times. Overall, an enjoyable read that I would recommend to people, but with a caveat added to it.
gmh711's review against another edition
3.0
In 1970, a California hippie commune resettles in backwoods Alaska. Interesting interaction between hippies & backwoodsmen. Survival theme: of sommunal ideals in face of winter. Didn't really care for the story, but Boyle's characters are vivid and writing interesting.
bnorton's review against another edition
4.0
I am a sucker for stories about Alaska. I was also a bit disappointed that it ended in the way that it did. I feel like this story could be continued with another book.
sallybullet's review against another edition
4.0
T.C. Boyle is imminently readable to me. He keeps it interesting here, too.