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loosetoothfool's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this was sooooo cool. absolutely loved this. such a creative fascinating unique way to tell a story I'm obsessed. I've always loved photos of random objects so that aspect appealed to me, as well as how these items and letters told the story, how cool. I loved Lenore and hated hal. don't know if that's what I was meant to take away but oh well. its crazy to me that there aren't real people, they seem so real, so fleshed out and their life around them. this would've taken so much work and thought. the photographs of the couple especially are mind blowing to me like how are these not real photos of a real couple???
never seen another book like this, I think this is the coolest thing ever
never seen another book like this, I think this is the coolest thing ever
hmnewell's review
2.0
This book has an unconventional but very intriguing way of telling the story of the relationship between cake columnist Lenore Doolan and magazine photographer Harold Morris through items being sold at an estate sale. I loved the concept (how much are our things part of us?) and therefore wanted so badly to love the book but it just fell short for me.
It was hard to get to know the characters (Morris came across as pretty unlikable to me), and without that connection I just didn’t care whether their tumultuous relationship worked out in the end or not.
Also, in order to tell parts of the story, we are given very convenient notes the characters left on old grocery lists for example. I’ve never been to an estate sale, but I can’t imagine anyone would buy that for $15.
TLDR: fun concept but story was meh
It was hard to get to know the characters (Morris came across as pretty unlikable to me), and without that connection I just didn’t care whether their tumultuous relationship worked out in the end or not.
Also, in order to tell parts of the story, we are given very convenient notes the characters left on old grocery lists for example. I’ve never been to an estate sale, but I can’t imagine anyone would buy that for $15.
TLDR: fun concept but story was meh
didis_diaries's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
tine_nielsen's review
4.0
This book has two things going for it:
1) The format. Telling a love story through an auction catalogue is a charming idea, and I for one am buying it.
2) The characters. They are surprisingly fleshed out considering the format. There's a real "when Harry met Sally" New York kind of charm to them. They read books, they go to parties, they discuss ideas, they work too much. It's cute!
1) The format. Telling a love story through an auction catalogue is a charming idea, and I for one am buying it.
2) The characters. They are surprisingly fleshed out considering the format. There's a real "when Harry met Sally" New York kind of charm to them. They read books, they go to parties, they discuss ideas, they work too much. It's cute!
bassoonerfortip's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
3.0
It was inventive ! I enjoyed it but also felt oddly too personal and not fictional enough!?
gbatts's review
4.0
A beautifully shot and complied list of objects and mementos from a failed relationship. The two main characters are the type of bougie hipster that you love to hate but (especially if this novel appeals to you) you see a lot of yourself in. Shapton works poignancy and humour into the list of artefacts and the story comes alive through the subtleties that are shared, such as Lenore listing the food she's eating when she's feeling anxious. Is this a coping mechanism or part of an anxiety spiral? Who knows! But it's details like this that make the characters more real.
joeholmes's review
3.0
Clever, fairly satisfying, and easily worth the couple hours it took to read. But no surprises.
lurdesabruscato's review
2.0
Somewhere there is a college professor touting this as a avante garde approach to literature. I think it's a thinly veiled gimmick; a lukewarm story told through pictures of someone's stuff.
pattydsf's review
3.0
This has to be one of the oddest books I have ever read. It is the whole story of a relationship told through the possessions of the two people involved. It is a catalog of their life as if everything associated with their love affair has been put up for auction.
Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris meet at a Halloween party and so the artifacts start with that invitation. The catalog progresses through the highs and lows of Morris' and Doolan's life for the next few years.
I am fascinated not only by the book, but by the author. How did Shapiro ever think of this and then execute it. Amazing. I will be curious to see what her next book is like.
Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris meet at a Halloween party and so the artifacts start with that invitation. The catalog progresses through the highs and lows of Morris' and Doolan's life for the next few years.
I am fascinated not only by the book, but by the author. How did Shapiro ever think of this and then execute it. Amazing. I will be curious to see what her next book is like.
susanalcr's review
4.0
A very different book to experience. I really liked the idea behind and that story somewhat. It does not have a proper flow as most books but it is very enjoyable to “read”. The couple seems to belong to a special world where everything is vintage and cool. Even though this goes a bit into too unrealistic for me it was good escapism to imagine these characters actually existed.
I recommend if you you to try something different.
I recommend if you you to try something different.