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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
mandembaby's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kyra_c_c's review against another edition
5.0
Shriver knocks it out the park again. Such nuanced and witty exploration of human relationships. Loved it and read it in 1 sitting.
esther_a_'s review
3.0
Interesting characterisation. Found it frustrating at times but I also couldn’t stop reading. Was short so the plot moved along quickly.
paulsnelling's review against another edition
5.0
No book can answer the question of can men and women be friends. But it does shed clear white light on whether these three can be friends. Shriver's prose and observations are razor sharp, and though I couldn't help but wonder whether better communication all round might have helped (it always does), there was an inevitability to the quickly developing plot. The characters are well enough drawn that I couldn't help but identify favourites and areas of blame-worthiness. They are all self absorbed I wondered about genuine connection, there seemed to a disconnection between what had to be done and how it was done. There was more than a shred of callousness which perhaps we all have potential for. There's enough here for a full novel, and it would to great on stage. Highly recommended.
blackoxford's review against another edition
3.0
Love Has Limits
When A loves B, and B loves C, but C hates A, none of the relations are stable. Especially if B is a male who defines himself by these relations and therefore puts himself emotionally at the mercy of females A and C. Thanks to B, everyone is confused and hapless. Men! Who’d have ‘em?
Women are more resilient than men, less naive and generally more capable of guile. Is that sexist? Perhaps. But that’s Shriver’s opinion, and I trust her. Personally, I’ve never understood why women aren’t the only candidates for Army generalships, which demand strategy-savvy intelligence; and why men aren’t restricted to the lower ranks that require only myopic muscle.
When A loves B, and B loves C, but C hates A, none of the relations are stable. Especially if B is a male who defines himself by these relations and therefore puts himself emotionally at the mercy of females A and C. Thanks to B, everyone is confused and hapless. Men! Who’d have ‘em?
Women are more resilient than men, less naive and generally more capable of guile. Is that sexist? Perhaps. But that’s Shriver’s opinion, and I trust her. Personally, I’ve never understood why women aren’t the only candidates for Army generalships, which demand strategy-savvy intelligence; and why men aren’t restricted to the lower ranks that require only myopic muscle.
queencleo's review against another edition
5.0
Heartbreaking! Far too short
The story of friendship and relationships and how easily people's intentions can be misconstrued or interpreted differently to their intent
Brilliantly written. People are jerks
The story of friendship and relationships and how easily people's intentions can be misconstrued or interpreted differently to their intent
Brilliantly written. People are jerks
victoriayates's review against another edition
5.0
Shriver writes so well about the human condition that even the most minute and mundane of details of domestic life are a pleasure to read. This emotional, but not literal, menage a trois is sympathetic to all three flawed characters and their contradicting yet understandable standpoints. And that is the simple joy of this novella; the author gives the reader the generous responsibility of deciding on who is morally at fault. A perfect, short, snappy and sophisticated novella.
allybally's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bbboeken's review
4.0
Nice descriptive writing, interesting plot and characterisation and a good ending.