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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Franzen is a literary genius. He created a cast of characters who weren't very likable, but after learning the different back stories I actually ended up liking them all by the end of the novel. He also wrote things in a chronologically unique way that I found to be very innovative and smart.
If I could, I would give this 4.5 stars. The only reason why I didn't give it the full 5 stars was because there were some sections (namely the cruise ship segment) that dragged on. He also introduced some characters that I felt didn't really add anything to the story. Instead I wondered why they were even introduced at all.
Overall, amazing. I am looking forward to reading his other works.
If I could, I would give this 4.5 stars. The only reason why I didn't give it the full 5 stars was because there were some sections (namely the cruise ship segment) that dragged on. He also introduced some characters that I felt didn't really add anything to the story. Instead I wondered why they were even introduced at all.
Overall, amazing. I am looking forward to reading his other works.
Found it slightly bland and had other books I would prefer to read. Will come back to it
A brilliant novel. Sometimes it's okay for things to collapse.
Edit: Yep. Upping this to 5 stars.
Edit: Yep. Upping this to 5 stars.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Compellingly written. Loved Denise. Sort of unpleasant as an experience, so.
I cannot think of another time where I've read a book that was so depressing for 500+ pages and yet so completely hopefully in in the last line as to totally redeem the tone of the book. I loved this novel. The characters were just so full and complete and even though almost all convinced me that by my actions and thoughts I'm a saint compared to them, I could feel myself caring for their story, hoping things got better or at least resolved themselves suitably. And some did and some didn't. The book made me particularly sad because of the character's battle with Parkinson's (from which my grandfather suffers) and how it affects the rest of the family.
I found the writing exceptional (it did win the National Book Award), one of those fantastic novels where you are only told what you need to know and anything extraneous either adds to portrait of the character and his/her feelings or seems to not exist within the story. The plot moved at a wonderful pace and by the time the book was finished, I felt that maybe the story could continue, but to do so in this particular novel would have made it seem forced and fake.
I really couldn't recommend this book enough, with the exception of the seriously depressing nature of the story. This really was an incredible novel.
I found the writing exceptional (it did win the National Book Award), one of those fantastic novels where you are only told what you need to know and anything extraneous either adds to portrait of the character and his/her feelings or seems to not exist within the story. The plot moved at a wonderful pace and by the time the book was finished, I felt that maybe the story could continue, but to do so in this particular novel would have made it seem forced and fake.
I really couldn't recommend this book enough, with the exception of the seriously depressing nature of the story. This really was an incredible novel.
i bought this for 50 cents at the annual bar harbor library sale. i wait until august each year, so while my choices are often limited to 32 copies of liv ullman's autobiography, i can happen upon amazing deals like this, and giggle uncontrollably the entire walk home, my ears buzzing with excitement at the cheapness of the words i'm about to ingest, and the bees that come out in maine in the summer, slow and drunk from wild berries.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The passages from Denise's pov, the last one from Alfred's and the last chapter were the only things I enjoyed about it. Enid and Alfred were interesting characters but overall not a good reading experience and way too wordy, a slog to get through. Should've been edited down a lot.
slow-paced