Reviews

Moviegoer by Walker Percy

jetia13's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

a very quick read - i enjoyed it, but the supposed drama of the denouement went over my head.

chillcox15's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Walker Percy is like "there's a new type of guy, he's around 30 years old, and is full of spiritual malaise, to the point that he just goes to the movie theater too much, and then fantasizes about talking about movies with women."

Film twitter and the like: "Seems like a cool kind of guy!"

jacoblost's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

krobart's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This is an existentialist novel that is supposedly heavily influenced by the writings of Søren Kierkegaard. Although Jack Kerouac’s On the Road reflects the alienation experienced by some young men following World War II, The Moviegoer shows that this alienation was still felt by young men following the Korean War, ten years later. Essentially, these two novels examine the same themes, only Binx’s explorations are followed in more socially acceptable ways.

See my complete review here:

http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-moviegoer/

aych's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mosesp's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Lovely character study and sketch of a time and place. A very small book in the best way: focused, unified in vision and tone. Not remarkable in today's world, but I think at the time of publication it might have provided a few shocking moments in its frank presentation of certain topics. Some similarities in theme to Updike, but I much prefer this book for depicting self-absorbtion without being self-absorbed.

ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that perfectly captured that feeling of just listlessly meandering though life, but I absolutely despised the main character, Binx Bolling. My hatred of him made this an absolute chore to get through.

lucia_bell's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A fascinating, more adult and more southern take on Catcher in the Rye—also focusing on the ennui and lack of meaning in life and the struggle to find it, but more intelligent

ericfheiman's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This might be my favorite novel of all time.
(Reread September 2016).

-------

Possibly one of the best works of fiction in latter half of the 20th century. They don't write them like this anymore, frankly, and that's too bad.

libbydibbles's review against another edition

Go to review page

The writing is smart, and I'm drawn to "checked out" characters like this, but I think it would have been more impactful for me at maybe a different age, or different time in my life...didn't quite hit the right spot for me.