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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Interesting. I'm calling it Joanna Trollope meets global conspiracy theories. (And I do like global conspiracy theories up to a point.)
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to quit this book so many times. The only reason I didn't was because at the time I had no other option for reading material and a bad case of insomnia, so I reluctantly slogged through it. While Franzen's knack for description, detail and depth are admirable, I found the book depressing and at many times, boring. "Freedom" was much better!
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
At first this book was hard 'to get into' - as many reviewers have stated, the characters are very unlikeable. But then a reviewer will say, "and (insert character here) really reminded me of my mother" and I'm like, BINGO! The characters are authentic and unlikable but based on Midwesterners who talk a LOT without REALLY getting to the heart of the matter, because it's a Midwestern thing (mostly with the older generations) to overlook huge problems and pretend they don't exist. I could relate to it in that respect. Also, as the book goes along, the characters become more sympathetic. Overall it was worth the read and I don't think, IMO, it's overhyped. It's also very satirical and if you don't understand that you'll think it's crap - I think that may be the misunderstanding of some people who didn't like it - though I too did find it at turns tedious. At first I had to force myself to keep up with it, but once I got into the second half, really got sucked in. Worth sticking with it.
This entire novel read like the author was marveling at his own intelligent writing. Verbose, affected. Went off on long tangents. I would not read more by this author.
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Awful characters. Weird internal dialog, so wordy, never ending chapters/sections
It was hard for me to get past the first chapter and the ending definitely fell a little flat for me, the middle was just ok.