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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This book takes some effort to read and I found myself wondering if any of the characters would ever find redemption in life. I think some did and some didn't - either way I found the ending very powerful (maybe especially, though, because I'm currently hormonally pregnant!) I'd recommend this book but it's not one to pick up hoping for a quick read.
Whenever I want to give a book 1 star I am reminded of the quote..." do not fault the writer for what he did not set out to do.."
The book, no doubt deserves 5 stars. However 5 stars would imply that I enjoyed it. I found myself dreading picking this book up as much as I dread going to the dentist. For a period of weeks I was a little down and I did not realize why until I stopped reading. There is not one redeeming quality in the characters in this book. They are lost, broken people with out hope for a future. I kept hoping for something, anything to give me hope and yet the story line only grew more depressing.
Life isn't always happy. I don't expect literature to be either. But there is hope, beauty and wonder. None of which were present in this book. Now on page 400-something I decided my time was far too precious to finishing reading something that was a burden.
What I did LOVE was all the Philly references down to the Ikea from my hometown of Plymouth Meeting. Regardless of where life may take us there is something precious about references to our hometowns.
E
PS I have nothing against Mr Hankey, but the talking turd scene... what was THAT!? :)
The book, no doubt deserves 5 stars. However 5 stars would imply that I enjoyed it. I found myself dreading picking this book up as much as I dread going to the dentist. For a period of weeks I was a little down and I did not realize why until I stopped reading. There is not one redeeming quality in the characters in this book. They are lost, broken people with out hope for a future. I kept hoping for something, anything to give me hope and yet the story line only grew more depressing.
Life isn't always happy. I don't expect literature to be either. But there is hope, beauty and wonder. None of which were present in this book. Now on page 400-something I decided my time was far too precious to finishing reading something that was a burden.
What I did LOVE was all the Philly references down to the Ikea from my hometown of Plymouth Meeting. Regardless of where life may take us there is something precious about references to our hometowns.
E
PS I have nothing against Mr Hankey, but the talking turd scene... what was THAT!? :)
Another one of those train wreck books where I'm not really enjoying myself, but I really, really can't stop reading it.
The characters are, most of the time, loathsome. Spending most of their time making self destructive choices and blaming everyone else for their misery. But, I found the writing fantastic.
So there you have it. I loved and hated it.
The characters are, most of the time, loathsome. Spending most of their time making self destructive choices and blaming everyone else for their misery. But, I found the writing fantastic.
So there you have it. I loved and hated it.
reflective
slow-paced
this book is one of those epic family tales that i just love so much. i got so attached to the characters, especially Enid and Alfred. i see my grandparents in them, and although painful, the end was incredibly true and real for Enid. it gets a bit tedious around page 300, but other than that i sailed right through. franzen, i hate to say it, but you’ve done it again!
DNF. I started out really intrigued with the characters but then it seemed nothing was really happening for a long time and so lost interest. Also the no-chapter format felt never-ending.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
When I read this book I didn't know anything about Franzen and what to expect. I read it in Swedish (brilliantly translated by Kaj Lundgren) and was impressed by the author's language, but the real difficulty was getting past the first 70 or so pages, when I was tempted more than once to give it up.
The complexity of the story and the difficulty to actually feel any sympathy with any of the characters is, I believe, eventually outweighed by the compelling language and surprising evolution of the different plots. But you have to be patient to get to the point where the story actually gets interesting.
I can't give the book 5 stars for two reasons: the excessively boring first part, and the ending that feels like the author got tired and just wanted to tie all the loose parts together, no matter how.
The complexity of the story and the difficulty to actually feel any sympathy with any of the characters is, I believe, eventually outweighed by the compelling language and surprising evolution of the different plots. But you have to be patient to get to the point where the story actually gets interesting.
I can't give the book 5 stars for two reasons: the excessively boring first part, and the ending that feels like the author got tired and just wanted to tie all the loose parts together, no matter how.
Love his clear and creative sentences. Grotesquely readable. Has left me a puddle of emotions about relationships and old age. Some similarity but doesn't really stand a candle to Infinite Jest in my mind, as it seems to in others. IJ is just infinitely bigger.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Funny and incisive writing, great examination of an American family