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hales2000's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mizz_performer's review against another edition
3.0
The story was interesting but the women characters are really one dimensional stereotypes. Used by the main character (who is like a toddler) and picked up like toys only when someone else wants them.
deathmetalheron's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Violence
Minor: Drug use
kikala's review against another edition
4.0
So angsty in that oh so addictive way. I bought the second before I was even done with the first.
klparmley's review against another edition
1.0
This is just all over the place. Grossman couldn't decide what story he want to tell so he told everything that came to mind as it occurred to him.
carladay83's review against another edition
2.0
I can appreciate what this book is trying to say. Even if magic were real, it wouldn't necessarily happy. Especially if you struggle with depression. Still, the book as a whole is boring. I could have forgiven it a lame, self-centered and nihilistic main character if something interesting was happening around him. The story doesn't really pick up until the very end and it drags getting there. More realistic it may be but who reads fantasy for that kind of realism. I think I'm going to stick with the TV show.
peterkeep's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a lot of things, but one thing that it isn't is subtle.
The comparisons to Harry Potter and Narnia are pretty obvious, and it's clear that Grossman is playing with those ideas and twisting them all about. While reading, there were parts where the comparison of Fillory or Brakebills to Narnia or Hogwarts were almost too heavy-handed and I wondered, "Can this guy write anything original?"
And then he does this great thing, where he twists everything up. Hogwarts (Brakebills) is a magical school, but it's not removed from the same problems as any college. The characters are magicians, but that doesn't make them perfect people. The stories about Narnia (Fillory) end up being a lot more interesting than just small children's stories.
I really liked everything Grossman did. He took a kind of status quo and turned it upside down, injecting some realism into an unrealistic (magical) setting.
It's a really well-done book, and captured my attention pretty easily.
The comparisons to Harry Potter and Narnia are pretty obvious, and it's clear that Grossman is playing with those ideas and twisting them all about. While reading, there were parts where the comparison of Fillory or Brakebills to Narnia or Hogwarts were almost too heavy-handed and I wondered, "Can this guy write anything original?"
And then he does this great thing, where he twists everything up. Hogwarts (Brakebills) is a magical school, but it's not removed from the same problems as any college. The characters are magicians, but that doesn't make them perfect people. The stories about Narnia (Fillory) end up being a lot more interesting than just small children's stories.
I really liked everything Grossman did. He took a kind of status quo and turned it upside down, injecting some realism into an unrealistic (magical) setting.
It's a really well-done book, and captured my attention pretty easily.
harleyrae's review against another edition
DNF’d at 41%
I really wanted to enjoy this book. This was a book that had been in my shelves for years that I had always planned on getting to at some point. Well I finally got to it and I couldn’t stand it! Never has a book given me as much anxiety as this book! As far as I got in this book I was expecting some sort of plot to arise, but honestly I have no idea what the point of this book is. It was written in a weird way that made time not important. But the time I stopped reading we had already lived through 5 years. Nothing made sense. I was at the point where it felt like a chore to read this book, so unfortunately I decided that I couldn’t continue on. I have no plans to ever pick this book up again. Was not a fan.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. This was a book that had been in my shelves for years that I had always planned on getting to at some point. Well I finally got to it and I couldn’t stand it! Never has a book given me as much anxiety as this book! As far as I got in this book I was expecting some sort of plot to arise, but honestly I have no idea what the point of this book is. It was written in a weird way that made time not important. But the time I stopped reading we had already lived through 5 years. Nothing made sense. I was at the point where it felt like a chore to read this book, so unfortunately I decided that I couldn’t continue on. I have no plans to ever pick this book up again. Was not a fan.