Scan barcode
zclrksn's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/07/02/review-1686-you-dont-have-to-live-like-this/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/07/02/review-1686-you-dont-have-to-live-like-this/
girlgeekcyclist's review against another edition
1.0
I tried to read this book but I just didn't really get on with it. The narrator sounds like an incel and spends too much time describing how pretty or attractive women are to him personally, before the author gets around to writing anything compelling about who they are or if they have anything to do with the book what. Also, the author uses slurs like "faggy voice" and this book was written in like 2016 and after I read that I kind of just wanted to give up. I don't know man, grow up. If you want to make a character gay, fine, but it seems inappropriate to me for a straight, white author to be describing people in this way. It just seemed like a lot of the characters were boring, lazy stereotypes, like the artist has a lisp and is effeminate. Shame because the premise sounded interesting, disappointing execution.
imogenimi's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Really not sure about this. I really enjoyed the first person narrative, but found it to be slow in parts and full of so many different characters that I struggled to keep up. It was definitely the narrative that kept me engaged more than the plot
cheryl1213's review against another edition
2.0
Greg, or Marny to his old college friends is a bit lost. After graduating from Yale and earning a PhD in literature at Oxford, he fell into a non-tenure track job teaching at a college in England. A brief meeting at a reunion leads to Greg quitting his job and returning to his parents' home in Louisiana. He decides to move to Detroit to be part of something akin to a social/economic (somehow that sounds more accurate than 'socioeconomic') experiment. A college friend is trying to get people to apply for and join a planned community, buying cheap abandoned and often dilapidated homes. The back cover references a line calling it "the Groupon model for gentrification." In Detroit, Marny navigates a social life while also confronting issues of race and class that develop as the participants in "New Jamestown" face animosity from some long-time residents who refuse to sell.
This seemed like an interesting topic, but it never really flew for me. It seems pretty clear the author doesn't want us to like Marny and the lack of sympathy for his own lead character made it hard to feel invested in his fate. I'm not sure if he's an "everyman" or simply a loser...or maybe both. The author provides brief sketches of far too many characters and I was often a little lost because I knew a name was familiar but I hadn't been invested enough to remember which of many characters was in action.
I can't complete this review without turning to the topic of racism, class-ism, and other -isms. There are a number of times when Marny's words and/or actions contain outright racism. I do believe that there's a place for literature that contains more-than-uncomfortable lines but it needs to be done right (see Huck Finn). Sometimes the best works of art make you uncomfortable. Here, it doesn't really enhance the context, the plot, or the point (if he has one) which mean every time Marny recorded a racially charged thought (and that's pretty often....he dates a woman seemingly just to be able to say he is dating a black woman from the other side of the tracks) I wanted to throw the book at the wall and give up.
I give this book 2 of 5 stars. I read it quickly not because I enjoyed it and was propelled along, but because I wanted it to end. I might have initially gone for 3, but the more I think about the book the less I like it. This review is based on an advance reader copy of the novel supplied to me by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.
This seemed like an interesting topic, but it never really flew for me. It seems pretty clear the author doesn't want us to like Marny and the lack of sympathy for his own lead character made it hard to feel invested in his fate. I'm not sure if he's an "everyman" or simply a loser...or maybe both. The author provides brief sketches of far too many characters and I was often a little lost because I knew a name was familiar but I hadn't been invested enough to remember which of many characters was in action.
I can't complete this review without turning to the topic of racism, class-ism, and other -isms. There are a number of times when Marny's words and/or actions contain outright racism. I do believe that there's a place for literature that contains more-than-uncomfortable lines but it needs to be done right (see Huck Finn). Sometimes the best works of art make you uncomfortable. Here, it doesn't really enhance the context, the plot, or the point (if he has one) which mean every time Marny recorded a racially charged thought (and that's pretty often....he dates a woman seemingly just to be able to say he is dating a black woman from the other side of the tracks) I wanted to throw the book at the wall and give up.
I give this book 2 of 5 stars. I read it quickly not because I enjoyed it and was propelled along, but because I wanted it to end. I might have initially gone for 3, but the more I think about the book the less I like it. This review is based on an advance reader copy of the novel supplied to me by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.
ciska's review against another edition
3.0
*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review*
This book is interesting. A lot of political and social situations that can cause discussions. Greg tries not to be involved to much in these situations but is still in the middle. Trying to make his own opinion he does not realize the people in his surrounding see him as a player of the other side. I am not really sure I enjoyed his point of view. I would have liked to know more about either Nolan or Robert's point of view. Greg was a bit boring. Trying to please everyone.
This influenced the developments in the book. Though the whole story is interesting and there is a lot happening it fails to really touch. People are feeling discriminated and are angry that developers are taking over their houses and areas but the real anger though visible never touched me as a reader. Even in the end when Greg is getting into huge trouble it still fails to get emotional.
This book is interesting. A lot of political and social situations that can cause discussions. Greg tries not to be involved to much in these situations but is still in the middle. Trying to make his own opinion he does not realize the people in his surrounding see him as a player of the other side. I am not really sure I enjoyed his point of view. I would have liked to know more about either Nolan or Robert's point of view. Greg was a bit boring. Trying to please everyone.
This influenced the developments in the book. Though the whole story is interesting and there is a lot happening it fails to really touch. People are feeling discriminated and are angry that developers are taking over their houses and areas but the real anger though visible never touched me as a reader. Even in the end when Greg is getting into huge trouble it still fails to get emotional.
jasbennett's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Racism
hereforthebooks's review against another edition
2.0
I don't live in Detroit. But I work in the city and if I were on vacation and someone asked, "Where ya from?" I would respond, "Detroit." Not because I think it sounds cool, but because it's the closest city to me that someone would recognize. I would point it out on my Michigan-shaped hand. But at the end of the work day, I get in my car and drive home so I don't have the perspective of a True Detroiter.
With that being said, I love the city so Detroit being the setting of [b:You Don't Have to Live Like This: A Novel|23462652|You Don't Have to Live Like This A Novel|Benjamin Markovits|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421361642s/23462652.jpg|43048310] instantly grabbed my attention.
Benjamin Markovits' [b:You Don't Have to Live Like This: A Novel|23462652|You Don't Have to Live Like This A Novel|Benjamin Markovits|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421361642s/23462652.jpg|43048310] is about Greg 'Marny' Mariner, who moves the city after his college friend establishes a new development in Detroit for settlers looking for a cheap place to live. Throughout the book, we learn more about this housing situation and the people who live in the surrounding area. We also follow Marny through new jobs, relationships and life events.
Things I Loved:
- Love is maybe too strong a word, but I really enjoyed the court case at the end of the book. Most of the book is pretty bland, without too much happening, but the last 100-pages were great. There was finally some action. I wish the novel had a focus on this case and the events leading up to it more rather than waiting until the last minute.
- The Obama-basketball chapter.
Things I Did Not Love
- Detroit has a serious gentrification problem and I thought [b:You Don't Have to Live Like This: A Novel|23462652|You Don't Have to Live Like This A Novel|Benjamin Markovits|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421361642s/23462652.jpg|43048310] handled the subject rather lightly and in somewhat bad taste.
- For the most part, I liked the constant stream of references to things around the city. But sometimes it felt a bit too much like Markovits was showing off all the research he did in preparation for writing the novel. It didn't always flow naturally. And as someone who has lived right outside the city my entire life, some of the references weren't entirely accurate, completely taking me out of the novel.
- The narrator, Marny, was insufferable. Oh my god. I hated him. Could this book have been better with a different main character? Probably. I just couldn't handle Marny and his problems.
With that being said, I love the city so Detroit being the setting of [b:You Don't Have to Live Like This: A Novel|23462652|You Don't Have to Live Like This A Novel|Benjamin Markovits|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421361642s/23462652.jpg|43048310] instantly grabbed my attention.
Benjamin Markovits' [b:You Don't Have to Live Like This: A Novel|23462652|You Don't Have to Live Like This A Novel|Benjamin Markovits|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421361642s/23462652.jpg|43048310] is about Greg 'Marny' Mariner, who moves the city after his college friend establishes a new development in Detroit for settlers looking for a cheap place to live. Throughout the book, we learn more about this housing situation and the people who live in the surrounding area. We also follow Marny through new jobs, relationships and life events.
Things I Loved:
- Love is maybe too strong a word, but I really enjoyed the court case at the end of the book. Most of the book is pretty bland, without too much happening, but the last 100-pages were great. There was finally some action. I wish the novel had a focus on this case and the events leading up to it more rather than waiting until the last minute.
- The Obama-basketball chapter.
Things I Did Not Love
- Detroit has a serious gentrification problem and I thought [b:You Don't Have to Live Like This: A Novel|23462652|You Don't Have to Live Like This A Novel|Benjamin Markovits|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421361642s/23462652.jpg|43048310] handled the subject rather lightly and in somewhat bad taste.
- For the most part, I liked the constant stream of references to things around the city. But sometimes it felt a bit too much like Markovits was showing off all the research he did in preparation for writing the novel. It didn't always flow naturally. And as someone who has lived right outside the city my entire life, some of the references weren't entirely accurate, completely taking me out of the novel.
- The narrator, Marny, was insufferable. Oh my god. I hated him. Could this book have been better with a different main character? Probably. I just couldn't handle Marny and his problems.
johndomc's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of those books I just saw on the shelf. I was looking to see if one would catch my eye, and this one did. I went over and picked it up. The first page read well enough, so I got it. I think I'd like to read more by him.
The style is low-key, conversational, off-hand. At a gas station, the narrator says, "I picked up some car snacks." I don't know if this is the best example; but he often says things that aren't words, but make such natural sense.
Everything just felt accurate.
"The first person I recognized was Michael Carneseccas, Tony's kid. He hugged me around the knees and made me spill my drink. I like this kid; Cris let me give him a sip of what was left in the glass. He made a face and said 'More,' and then we played chase with the glass for a while—he jumped up and I held it out of his reach. He was a little violent; it got out of hand."
A party, where "too many people stood around watching the game. That's what happens when you put a TV on: people stare at it."
The style is low-key, conversational, off-hand. At a gas station, the narrator says, "I picked up some car snacks." I don't know if this is the best example; but he often says things that aren't words, but make such natural sense.
Everything just felt accurate.
"The first person I recognized was Michael Carneseccas, Tony's kid. He hugged me around the knees and made me spill my drink. I like this kid; Cris let me give him a sip of what was left in the glass. He made a face and said 'More,' and then we played chase with the glass for a while—he jumped up and I held it out of his reach. He was a little violent; it got out of hand."
A party, where "too many people stood around watching the game. That's what happens when you put a TV on: people stare at it."