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bookishbuket's review against another edition
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A fantastic read with a rather questionable ending for multiple reasons.
The way the book dissects and observes how celebrity obsession, stan culture (before 'stans' were a thing), and how the internet interacts with each of these is absolutely spot-on and fascinating. The book addresses the misogyny and delusion of internet fandoms so well, while candidly showing how it affects their daily life. The joke is difficult to land if you haven't spent enough time in these spaces, but if you grew up in the internet era, then you'll have a pretty good laugh. There were several remarkably hilarious and witty scenes.
The book isn't without its flaws. I went really back and forth on Tucker's casual misogyny.In fact, he doesn't get much of a redemption regarding his shitty life choices, but perhaps that's the point. I disliked the ambiguous ending, but even more so Annie's final moral and ethical failing, which left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall, I highly recommend it!
The way the book dissects and observes how celebrity obsession, stan culture (before 'stans' were a thing), and how the internet interacts with each of these is absolutely spot-on and fascinating. The book addresses the misogyny and delusion of internet fandoms so well, while candidly showing how it affects their daily life. The joke is difficult to land if you haven't spent enough time in these spaces, but if you grew up in the internet era, then you'll have a pretty good laugh. There were several remarkably hilarious and witty scenes.
The book isn't without its flaws. I went really back and forth on Tucker's casual misogyny.
Overall, I highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I'd forgotten how much fun Nick Hornby's books are to read. His world isn't shiny or glamorous; it's a little dull around the edges, messy and often regretful. But it's irreverent, funny and throws in the odd dose of hope. Quite a lot like life, really.
Music obsession has long been a Hornby staple, since High Fidelity, and here it brilliantly examines how the internet has changed the way people treat the music they love. The endless Tucker Crowe analysis (and how hilariously wrong so much of it turns out to be) is great to read; especially when a novice throws in an opinion that dares to differ from those of the self-professed Tucker Crowe scholars.
The characters are great, the story is fun and it's kind of delightfully mundane.
Music obsession has long been a Hornby staple, since High Fidelity, and here it brilliantly examines how the internet has changed the way people treat the music they love. The endless Tucker Crowe analysis (and how hilariously wrong so much of it turns out to be) is great to read; especially when a novice throws in an opinion that dares to differ from those of the self-professed Tucker Crowe scholars.
The characters are great, the story is fun and it's kind of delightfully mundane.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcoholism
rhymeswithnova's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Fails the Bechdel Test pretty miserably. It's a well-written novel, but I feel like Nick Hornby can't write a woman main character who doesn't build her entire life around desiring a man's companionship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Car accident, Miscarriage, and Stalking
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