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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
Really well written and thoughtful book. Was interesting to read a novel deliberately set in fall 2016 / winter 2017 and compare the characters' experiences to those I had / witnessed with regard to Trump's election.
I savored the wording, phrasing, and question raising and was impressed with the author's ability to create such tangible chemistry between the main characters. There was also a really well executed tension between the feeling of wanting things to work out "like they do in novels" and the reality that life rarely works that way.
Note: there are no quotation marks used in the book, which I found annoying at times.
I savored the wording, phrasing, and question raising and was impressed with the author's ability to create such tangible chemistry between the main characters. There was also a really well executed tension between the feeling of wanting things to work out "like they do in novels" and the reality that life rarely works that way.
Note: there are no quotation marks used in the book, which I found annoying at times.
Liked this one very much. It has flaws for sure, but I just enjoyed reading his little micro stories as he meandered towards the books climax. Looking forward to reading his next one.
No notes honestly. This book was so well written with such depth and character detail it hurts. Emotional but subtle and sincere. An important perspective, in a sea of a certain narrative Cole feels like he’s pushing in the opposite direction in this book. He’s crafted something really special, both heartwarming and heart wrenching. His simultaneous love and disgust for his home is palpable, relatable, and incredibly American.
I’m really excited to see what he does next.
I’m really excited to see what he does next.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Owen is struggling to find his life and we get to witness every angsty moment. Will he fail? Will he succeed. I liked the end a lot.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
a book about a writer can be very boring. expected more political conflict/insight since that was a main theme in the synopsis but it was about a very boring relationship :/
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In Groundskeeping, we meet Owen Callahan, who aspires to be a published writer. He returns to his hometown in Kentucky and takes a position as a groundskeeper at a local college, which allows him to take a course for free. He meets and begins a relationship with a visiting author from Serbia. The book takes place in 2016, so overlays the challenging environment that the country, especially in a college town in the South during that time period. Owen finds himself with some cognitive dissonance where he likes to think he is better than others in the town and smarter, while also strongly defending his family and others when pushed back on. His girlfriend Alma, while coming from an immigrant family, has attained success in the literary field after attending an Ivy League school and she struggles to fit in to the town. This novel provides some interesting nuance to character's backgrounds and political beliefs. It can be thought provoking at times, even though I struggled with the main character somewhat.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
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:
Complicated