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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
Obnoxiously smart. There’s such a haze of subjectivity over all of the events that I need every one of you to read this novel so we can share our interpretations of it over an aggressively passionate book club meeting.
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After discussing this in our Classics book group, I revised my rating from 3 to 4 stars. This is a book that definitely is improved with conversation.
I especially liked the comparison someone brought up to an Impressionist painting. Your first glimpse of such a painting from afar, you have a clear picture of the scene. But as you get closer, it makes less sense, and perhaps your first glimpse wasn't fully informed. It looks like a bunch of disparate bits. As you get closer still and study it, the pieces begin to come together and it makes more sense. Finally, if you step back and see the painting in its entirety again, it is a more fully informed understanding you have of the full, clear picture. Read this book like this, and recognize this is going on in the book. Brilliantly done.
Of course, if you don't like to have to think too hard about a book, you won't like this.
I especially liked the comparison someone brought up to an Impressionist painting. Your first glimpse of such a painting from afar, you have a clear picture of the scene. But as you get closer, it makes less sense, and perhaps your first glimpse wasn't fully informed. It looks like a bunch of disparate bits. As you get closer still and study it, the pieces begin to come together and it makes more sense. Finally, if you step back and see the painting in its entirety again, it is a more fully informed understanding you have of the full, clear picture. Read this book like this, and recognize this is going on in the book. Brilliantly done.
Of course, if you don't like to have to think too hard about a book, you won't like this.
I loved this novel 20 years ago, but for some reason, it was too meandering this time, and the first person narrator, a nut job, was annoying. As Rohan Maitzen (@rohanmaitzen) tweeted recently (which is why I reread this), the novel is claustrophobic. That's the best description of it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
While this was an interesting book, it was challenging to listen to and track the various stories and references to people. I thought the reader did a great job capturing the voice of the narrator.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not what I was expecting! A creepy, unsettling story about marriage.