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3.06 AVERAGE
3.06 AVERAGE
Books like this are why I borrow books from the Library instead of buying them. This was a waste of money and my time. Moving on...
At the onset of this novel, Thomas Martin's life seems to be very normal. He is married with a young daughter, living on Long Island and working at a successful advertising firm.
Clearly the case of an unreliable narrator, this book is told from Thomas Martin's perspective on his very "good" life. While Thomas has all of the outward makings to be a happy man, he is deeply disturbed. As the reader, we know he is, in fact, not a good man. Yet he seems intent to prove himself to be one. This one was pretty disturbing and a bit disjointed. Had the workings to be a really insightful and skillful book but fell short.
Spoiler
However, his childhood was far from picture-perfect. Thomas' family was terrorized by his abusive father leading to a convoluted relationship between Thomas and his wife Miriam. At the end of the book we learn that Thomas himself killed his older sister, and the rest of his family kept it hidden. Finally, Thomas fully descends into his insanity murdering his wife.Clearly the case of an unreliable narrator, this book is told from Thomas Martin's perspective on his very "good" life. While Thomas has all of the outward makings to be a happy man, he is deeply disturbed. As the reader, we know he is, in fact, not a good man. Yet he seems intent to prove himself to be one. This one was pretty disturbing and a bit disjointed. Had the workings to be a really insightful and skillful book but fell short.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a quick read. I figured out the twist quick.y though so I was just waiting for the twist to happen.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this in one sitting without really meaning to. The writing style is lovely, the story is captivating and I could really picture every scene just from the writing and descriptions. A man makes a terrible decision that we spend the whole book waiting to uncover. I hadn't guessed the ending.
There was only 5% of actual thrill & mystery. Tho the book did write off the main character truly as a [good man], but did not give enough room for suspense. I wouldn’t recommend it to those who want a thriller book with tons of suspense & thriller.
Very dark and disturbing. I enjoyed the slow teasing pace. Peice by peice each Jenga block is freed and examined. You know this man's life is crumbling. I couldn't look away. I couldn't stop reading.
Just finished this in one day! It was a quick read and very hard to put down. What a messed up person he was. It was a sad story in that he couldn’t find a way to heal from his childhood and tried to control everything as an adult. So much so that he felt his behavior at the end was his only option.
"No? I repeated, incredulous. Why not?
I'm not doing that, he said slowly. It's racist.
How is it racist?
It implies poverty is dangerous, he replied, a nasty, impatient edge creeping into his voice. That poor people are dangerous. And that's an extremely racist idea.
We can make the girl black, I said. Or Latina, or whatever.
That doesn't matter, Brian snapped. It's still racist.
It's not racist! I said. It's just telling a story. A good one, I might add. This is the best idea we've had so far, and I think we need to
go forward with it."
A GOOD MAN is the story of Thomas Martin, an upper middle class straight white man with the perfect life he's always dreamed of: a nice home in a classy neighborhood, a high paying advertising job and a beautiful French wife and loving daughter. He spends his days working and helping out his female colleagues, his nights drinking expensive wine and listening to opera.
Until, somewhere along the way things go horribly wrong when his fragile male ego isn't placated and a horrible crime is committed. Thomas tells his story trying to justify his crime and show you he's actually A GOOD MAN okay? Just a good man who was left with no choice but to save his family from utter downfall obviously.
Thomas is an unreliable narrator and I loved how you could piece together the real account of what happened through his little slip-ups.
There was a little too much about Opera for me in this book, but hey I'm no Thomas and I understood why it was there. I really craved just one chapter from his wife's perspective or his sister's because I wanted a little more on how others saw Thomas.
Either way, I devoured this morbid novel and cackled along the way at this man's reasoning. Sadly, there's far too many men who are just like Thomas in the world and if you haven't already met one read A GOOD MAN and be scared.
*Spoiler*
A dog die, but I did appreciate the lack of detail in the dogs death so no worries to animal lovers.
I'm not doing that, he said slowly. It's racist.
How is it racist?
It implies poverty is dangerous, he replied, a nasty, impatient edge creeping into his voice. That poor people are dangerous. And that's an extremely racist idea.
We can make the girl black, I said. Or Latina, or whatever.
That doesn't matter, Brian snapped. It's still racist.
It's not racist! I said. It's just telling a story. A good one, I might add. This is the best idea we've had so far, and I think we need to
go forward with it."
A GOOD MAN is the story of Thomas Martin, an upper middle class straight white man with the perfect life he's always dreamed of: a nice home in a classy neighborhood, a high paying advertising job and a beautiful French wife and loving daughter. He spends his days working and helping out his female colleagues, his nights drinking expensive wine and listening to opera.
Until, somewhere along the way things go horribly wrong when his fragile male ego isn't placated and a horrible crime is committed. Thomas tells his story trying to justify his crime and show you he's actually A GOOD MAN okay? Just a good man who was left with no choice but to save his family from utter downfall obviously.
Thomas is an unreliable narrator and I loved how you could piece together the real account of what happened through his little slip-ups.
There was a little too much about Opera for me in this book, but hey I'm no Thomas and I understood why it was there. I really craved just one chapter from his wife's perspective or his sister's because I wanted a little more on how others saw Thomas.
Either way, I devoured this morbid novel and cackled along the way at this man's reasoning. Sadly, there's far too many men who are just like Thomas in the world and if you haven't already met one read A GOOD MAN and be scared.
*Spoiler*
A dog die, but I did appreciate the lack of detail in the dogs death so no worries to animal lovers.