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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Ok damn.
What in the world was this about? So many things.
At first I was wondering, why in the world did you pick this for your book club, Ope? (My nickname for Oprah). Her quote is, "You're about to be taken for an incredible ride." And, guess what Ope? You were right.
The story starts out in an almost deceitful way. It feels very... romance novel-y (which I loved) but then turns into... not that. Just like a real relationship, things get real.
So, we open in the 1990's (the late 1900s as some young people like to refer to it) and this man can see this woman through his apartment window and falls in love with her. She is doing the same with him. Then we jump closer to present day and this is when it becomes about: placebo affects, psychology, technology, algorithms, juice cleanses, vision boards, empathy, and a hundred other things.
If I had to sum up what I got from this book in a sentence it would be: we are all full of shit (and always have been) so find the people whose full-of-shitness works with your full-of-shitness.
Addendum: Oh! I loved how it felt like this author was really interested in a bunch of things (things that I am also interested in) and he did a ton of research on the things. He has a bibliography in the back. I am seeing a lot of dislike of the bib, but I personally would love to read more books that do the same. Authors, here's the deal: you do the research, then put it in an interesting book so I can just read your fun story to learn something instead of slogging through a bunch of non-fic and journals. More, please!
What in the world was this about? So many things.
At first I was wondering, why in the world did you pick this for your book club, Ope? (My nickname for Oprah). Her quote is, "You're about to be taken for an incredible ride." And, guess what Ope? You were right.
The story starts out in an almost deceitful way. It feels very... romance novel-y (which I loved) but then turns into... not that. Just like a real relationship, things get real.
So, we open in the 1990's (the late 1900s as some young people like to refer to it) and this man can see this woman through his apartment window and falls in love with her. She is doing the same with him. Then we jump closer to present day and this is when it becomes about: placebo affects, psychology, technology, algorithms, juice cleanses, vision boards, empathy, and a hundred other things.
If I had to sum up what I got from this book in a sentence it would be: we are all full of shit (and always have been) so find the people whose full-of-shitness works with your full-of-shitness.
Addendum: Oh! I loved how it felt like this author was really interested in a bunch of things (things that I am also interested in) and he did a ton of research on the things. He has a bibliography in the back. I am seeing a lot of dislike of the bib, but I personally would love to read more books that do the same. Authors, here's the deal: you do the research, then put it in an interesting book so I can just read your fun story to learn something instead of slogging through a bunch of non-fic and journals. More, please!
dark
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the best books I’ve ever read. The audiobook is a perfect pairing of author and narrator.
I really tried to like this book. Slogged about halfway and had to give up. When I see the rave reviews, I have to wonder if we were reading the same book. A neurotic couple with a high-needs kid. Their marriage isn't as good as it used to be. That about sums it up. Maybe the second half gets better, but I couldn't get there.
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:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Maybe the human heart was just that messy, and all romance was deeply precarious, and the future was unresolved, and that was fine. Maybe that’s what true love actually was: an embrace of the chaotic unfolding. And maybe the only stories that had neat and certain conclusions were lies and fables and conspiracies. Maybe it was like Dr. Sanborne said: certainty was just a story the mind created to defend itself against the pain of living. Which meant, almost by definition, that certainty was a way to avoid living. You could choose to be certain, or you could choose to be alive.