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sallyhatchet's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those novels that I find difficult to rate, or to gauge my feelings on in any concise way. I definitely think that, if nothing else, it is an interesting read. I have certainly not read anything like it before. Initially, I had trouble getting interested because I was taken aback by the change in character perspective and then the location, but after about 150 pages things really picked up. One thing I do like is that we see how several of the characters thoughts about themselves and companions are reflected and confirmed or disproved by the other character's personal opinions. Had the entire novel been from say, Star's perspective, I would not have appreciated the things that made life difficult for Ronnie who, while still pretty despicable, becomes at least marginally forgivable when we are let into his often muddled chain of thoughts. The main thing I was unhappy with was the ending, I wish there would have been a tad more closure- not that I needed to necessarily know every detail of what happens to all of the characters but the ending was especially abrupt to me. Overall I would still recommend it, especially if like me the idea of living with the elements either in the hippie lifestyle or the rough Alaskan model is totally alien to you.
jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition
5.0
My mom and I have both been slowly making our meandering way through "1,001 Books to Read Before You Die". She discovered this gem and recommended it to me.
I've never really understood the appeal of communal living, free-love and the hippie culture. My mom, on the other hand, lived during this time and had dreams of running off and joining a commune. She said that this book showed her the darker side of communal living, and that she was thankful she never went off and followed this impulse. This book was great for a number of reasons, the most important of which was a better understanding of my mom's generation and hippie culture.
As an introvert, I'm inclined to being alone, so the thought of living in a communal situation like Drop City is pretty much one of my worst nightmares. There was no privacy, no boundaries, no comforts, and even no sanitation. Drop City and Drop City North were filthy; swamped with human waste and body odor.
I don't want to give too much away, but the author did a beautiful job of creating suspense and building up to the inevitable conclusion. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in hippie culture, the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in a communal living situation or anyone just looking for a good read.
I've never really understood the appeal of communal living, free-love and the hippie culture. My mom, on the other hand, lived during this time and had dreams of running off and joining a commune. She said that this book showed her the darker side of communal living, and that she was thankful she never went off and followed this impulse. This book was great for a number of reasons, the most important of which was a better understanding of my mom's generation and hippie culture.
As an introvert, I'm inclined to being alone, so the thought of living in a communal situation like Drop City is pretty much one of my worst nightmares. There was no privacy, no boundaries, no comforts, and even no sanitation. Drop City and Drop City North were filthy; swamped with human waste and body odor.
I don't want to give too much away, but the author did a beautiful job of creating suspense and building up to the inevitable conclusion. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in hippie culture, the dynamics of interpersonal relationships in a communal living situation or anyone just looking for a good read.
aneides's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books in which even the marginally sympathetic characters are extremely flawed and the unsympathetic characters are very, very unpleasant. Why spend so much time with people I despise? Maybe in part because I want to learn to like Boyle's longer fiction as much as I like the short stories that I've encountered.
The story turns out less brutal than I had expected. I was sure a lot of the Drop Citizens would freeze or starve to death or perhaps piss off the locals enough to murder them. Maybe I'm a bit disappointed that the privation and violence were fairly minimal.
I thought I detected several anachronisms in the text, mostly food-related, but I can't be sure because I wasn't around in 1970.
The story turns out less brutal than I had expected. I was sure a lot of the Drop Citizens would freeze or starve to death or perhaps piss off the locals enough to murder them. Maybe I'm a bit disappointed that the privation and violence were fairly minimal.
I thought I detected several anachronisms in the text, mostly food-related, but I can't be sure because I wasn't around in 1970.
readingrainbill's review against another edition
slow-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
2.0
Some people really love this book and I struggle to see why. If Seinfeld was called the show about nothing then this is the literary equivalent. I would classify Drop City as “literature” which to me means it’s needlessly pompous and airy. Trucknuts Chainchomp Boyle used 444 pages to tell a story that really only needed 222. There was no character development and most of the issues are almost instantly resolved or just get left on the side of the road and forgotten. There was one part of the story that revolves around a terrible crime being committed by some newer members of Drop City but there are no real repercussions and it’s basically forgotten, brought up only one or two more times in the second half of the book.
This book is about a group of hippies that move from California to Alaska thinking that Alaska will be their hippie haven when in actuality it’s cold and inhospitable. When they’re there they meet the locals and befriend their new neighbor who is newly married and has a feud with a hateful old man. That’s it. That’s the book. You can mark it off as “read” now, you’re welcome.
I do admit that Tinkertoy ColonelMustard Boyle does have a way with words. This mind-numbing slog through mediocrity was at least well written as far as the craft of wordsmithing is concerned. As far as storytelling is concerned it felt like he had a page count to reach for his publisher, had a novella, and decided to add pointless stuff until he reached his goal.
Even the final confrontation with the only clear villain the book had was lackluster. It just kind of ends. Traction Control Boyle tried to do something exciting with the climax but it was as disappointing as wet fireworks. The promise was there but no follow through.
At the end of the day nothing happens and this whole book was meaningless. It can’t even be classes as a character study because none of the characters change whatsoever the whole time. Worst of all is this book has some pretty racist moments in it and almost every male character is pretty misogynistic. So much so that while this book technically passes the Bechdel test, it’s not enough to save it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape
bvanwojcik's review against another edition
4.0
T.C. Boyle is my new favorite author. I think he gave a realistic viewpoint of the "back to the land" movement.
coralena's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Drug use
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
I probably never would have picked up this book if it weren't for book club. Thoroughly enjoyable, but you have to wade through some overly descriptive passages to even get to the real meat of the story.