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justplainbecca's review against another edition
1.0
This book just ended Catcher in the Rye's 20+ year reign as my most hated book. First, it was just *really* not my thing. I thought it was overly gimmicky (fourth wall breaking, backward writing, an entire chapter made up entirely of curse words) and boring (plot "twists" you could see coming from a mile away). More importantly, though, this was maybe the most misogynistic thing I've ever read. It was an extremely unpleasant reading experience and if it hadn't been for a book club, I would never have finished it.
timinbc's review against another edition
2.0
Well, this breaks new ground, but I'm not sure it was intentional.
It asks the question. "What if the first time traveller turned out to be a jerk?"
Tom seems to be about 14 all the way through this, and maybe reaches the equivalent of 18 by the end.
Reviewer Kogiopsis identifies the key problem: "every single significant female character seems to exist mostly to have their lives destroyed by a man."
There are a few good ideas here that could have led to a better result, but the book slips and falls too often. For example:
Tom reveals that he dealt with his mom's funeral by having sex serially with three friends who had previously been just friends. (1) Why did the plot need that? (2) Whatever method he used to persuade All Three of them is probably something the FBI need to be keeping an eye on.
Penelope has a problem on arrival in space. Ridiculous.
And then she makes a really bad decision that didn't ring true for me.
And it wasn't necessary to the plot for that to happen.
So he tells us about unlimited energy (doesn't show much), but not HOW it changed everything.
Where IS it and how is it tapped? Did it just magically suffuse the planet?
His apparent utopia has a tradition that when a couple splits, each will (quoting Kogiopsis again) " "Give your ex your genetic material so they can fuck your clone." Well, that fits in with the rest of the misogynist adolescent male wankfest that we have here.
Then, we approach the climax of the plot.
and 50 years without a haircut? We can only hope that some quirk of time travel made 50 seconds SEEM like 50 years. Lookit, I didn't even quibble when Peter Capaldi's Doctor Who hacked away at a wall for four billion years; at least he got to pass out after each time and there was some handwaving about how he looped around. Readers are generous but an author has to at least try.
Reviewer Justin sumemd it up well: "another example of a book with great ideas and flashes of hope that ultimately left me feeling annoyed and underwhelmed. "
It asks the question. "What if the first time traveller turned out to be a jerk?"
Tom seems to be about 14 all the way through this, and maybe reaches the equivalent of 18 by the end.
Reviewer Kogiopsis identifies the key problem: "every single significant female character seems to exist mostly to have their lives destroyed by a man."
There are a few good ideas here that could have led to a better result, but the book slips and falls too often. For example:
Tom reveals that he dealt with his mom's funeral by having sex serially with three friends who had previously been just friends. (1) Why did the plot need that? (2) Whatever method he used to persuade All Three of them is probably something the FBI need to be keeping an eye on.
Penelope has a problem on arrival in space. Ridiculous.
And then she makes a really bad decision that didn't ring true for me.
And it wasn't necessary to the plot for that to happen.
So he tells us about unlimited energy (doesn't show much), but not HOW it changed everything.
Where IS it and how is it tapped? Did it just magically suffuse the planet?
His apparent utopia has a tradition that when a couple splits, each will (quoting Kogiopsis again) " "Give your ex your genetic material so they can fuck your clone." Well, that fits in with the rest of the misogynist adolescent male wankfest that we have here.
Then, we approach the climax of the plot.
Spoiler
Tom goes backward in time ... 50 years experienced in real time. Oh really? Standing, with no water and food and bathroom breaksand 50 years without a haircut? We can only hope that some quirk of time travel made 50 seconds SEEM like 50 years.
Reviewer Justin sumemd it up well: "another example of a book with great ideas and flashes of hope that ultimately left me feeling annoyed and underwhelmed. "
ebrae04's review
4.0
Human, inventive, and a compelling read. Has its male-gazey faults but really overall a lovely and funny meditation on what matters in life - and how the idea and messy reality of utopia is a constant project.
rpannell's review against another edition
Started it. Thought it sounded familiar a few sentences in. Turns out I've borrowed it before. Twice. It obviously didn't leave an impression the first two times and it's not exactly grabbing me again, so I won't continue for a third.
trin's review
5.0
I keep trying to tell myself I am through with male fantasies, but then I get sucker punched by a really good one.
Mastai must either be super woke or just have amazing instincts, because he dances right up to the edge of a number of problematic elements that usually drive me insane (including much of what enraged me about [b:The Lives of Tao|15981711|The Lives of Tao (Tao, #1)|Wesley Chu|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361886088s/15981711.jpg|19932371]) -- and then he tweaks them, or subverts them just so. This is a very, very clever book; it's a finely crafted instrument that Mastai has strung with tons of tropes -- which he then twangs and plucks and makes dance in a unique, deeply satisfying way. I found it romantic and poignant and philosophically challenging.
Mastai approaches time travel in a manner I'd never encountered in any other story -- although weirdly, not long after I read it, I picked up [b:The Man from Primrose Lane|12476620|The Man from Primrose Lane|James Renner|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431521815s/12476620.jpg|17460972], which utilizes a similar concept, but completely defangs the idea. Similarly, the recent [b:Dark Matter|27833670|Dark Matter|Blake Crouch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472119680s/27833670.jpg|43161998] plays with alternate universes and identity much as Mastai does in All Our Wrong Todays, but again, I found Mastai's version toothier and more dynamic. That said, if you liked either of those books, I think you will love this one.
All Our Wrong Todays is a book by a man, about a man, in which the female characters are all seconded to the male protagonist's story and don't really have agency -- and yet, it's also such a rich, human story that I pretty much do not care. Would I prefer to read a version of this book with a woman at its core? Absolutely. But mostly I'm just so happy that this one exists.
Mastai must either be super woke or just have amazing instincts, because he dances right up to the edge of a number of problematic elements that usually drive me insane (including much of what enraged me about [b:The Lives of Tao|15981711|The Lives of Tao (Tao, #1)|Wesley Chu|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1361886088s/15981711.jpg|19932371]) -- and then he tweaks them, or subverts them just so. This is a very, very clever book; it's a finely crafted instrument that Mastai has strung with tons of tropes -- which he then twangs and plucks and makes dance in a unique, deeply satisfying way. I found it romantic and poignant and philosophically challenging.
Mastai approaches time travel in a manner I'd never encountered in any other story -- although weirdly, not long after I read it, I picked up [b:The Man from Primrose Lane|12476620|The Man from Primrose Lane|James Renner|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431521815s/12476620.jpg|17460972], which utilizes a similar concept, but completely defangs the idea. Similarly, the recent [b:Dark Matter|27833670|Dark Matter|Blake Crouch|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472119680s/27833670.jpg|43161998] plays with alternate universes and identity much as Mastai does in All Our Wrong Todays, but again, I found Mastai's version toothier and more dynamic. That said, if you liked either of those books, I think you will love this one.
All Our Wrong Todays is a book by a man, about a man, in which the female characters are all seconded to the male protagonist's story and don't really have agency -- and yet, it's also such a rich, human story that I pretty much do not care. Would I prefer to read a version of this book with a woman at its core? Absolutely. But mostly I'm just so happy that this one exists.
dell25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
amanda1793's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyed! Bit confused at times due to converging storylines and "mind/body shraing" just to call it something. Good way of examining the science and technology of the future.
_reading_with_kate_'s review against another edition
Was enjoying this book until John took over AND THEN when true love saved the day I was just thoroughly over it.
alondra_98's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
lilehmoo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25