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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Part of my to-read list inspired by my forthcoming move to the South. It was interesting, in the degree to which it describes some of the stereotypes of America, at the turn of the last century at least (I'll just have to see for myself how relevant it is today!) I did find it a struggle to get through, primarily due to the overwhelmingly male narrative which I found extraordinarily tiring. There is perhaps only one woman in this book who is portrayed in a positive light . Every other woman is either irrelevant, an annoyance, or the one I found the most disturbing, a liar who "cries rape". Full of toxic masculinity, this is one novel that should remain as a relic of the 20th Century.
I loved this.....until.....he used a Deux et machina to resolve it and an epilogue because he couldn't figure out how to end it. Feh.
challenging
dark
funny
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
While the dialogue doesn’t always ring true, so much of this story feels very Atlanta. It was a great read with great detail throughout, though the ending fell a bit flat.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely no reason you couldn't make a dizzying epic out of the fascinating intersections of race, commerce, history, culture and politics that make up such a fascinating setting as the Atlanta, the ATL,the Gate City of the South, etc etc. The task would undoubtedly be a challenging one, especially if it's satirical in intent. After all you could hardly think of a better setting to illustrate the fragile faultlines that make up modern America than a city built on the back of slave labour, before being sacked during the Civil War in an event that became a potent symbol for the putrid Lost Cause of the white supremacist establishment, emerging as a major centre for the burgeoning civil rights movement and later becoming the modern capital of African-American cultural soft power.
Do I think that Tom Wolfe, with his fascination with low-hanging phallic-centric masculine psychology, a tendency to write the dialogue whole ensemble of characters across multiple ethnicities like he's transcribing Family Guy race gags, and an inability to derive any kind of dramatic tension out of his numerous subplots involving complex trade deals, shady backroom bargains, the philosophy of the Greek Stoics, and the simmering spectre of race riots, is able to manage such a monumentally difficult task?
No, of course not, this is one of the worst books I've ever read. Offensive yes, even worse though, boring as anything. Always a good idea to make sure you have 700 pages worth of good ideas before you write 700 pages.
Do I think that Tom Wolfe, with his fascination with low-hanging phallic-centric masculine psychology, a tendency to write the dialogue whole ensemble of characters across multiple ethnicities like he's transcribing Family Guy race gags, and an inability to derive any kind of dramatic tension out of his numerous subplots involving complex trade deals, shady backroom bargains, the philosophy of the Greek Stoics, and the simmering spectre of race riots, is able to manage such a monumentally difficult task?
No, of course not, this is one of the worst books I've ever read. Offensive yes, even worse though, boring as anything. Always a good idea to make sure you have 700 pages worth of good ideas before you write 700 pages.
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Typically not my style of writing (overly descriptive) but I really enjoyed this period-piece that captures Atlanta’s political and social scene. The numerous character worlds keep everything moving, interesting and tells. well-woven big-picture story.
it took me three tries to get past the first chapter but like everyone told me it was well worth it and i'm glad i kept picking it up instead of just taking it to the goodwill!
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Recommended to me by my coworker, Mark, as the book is set in Atlanta. I really enjoyed the fact this novel was set in Atlanta because the city felt like its own character in the story. It really shaped parts of the plot.
The beginning of the book was a bit slow and I thought the writing was a bit wordy- but the intertwining storylines and different characters all kept me intrigued.
The beginning of the book was a bit slow and I thought the writing was a bit wordy- but the intertwining storylines and different characters all kept me intrigued.