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erboe501's review against another edition
3.0
From the outset, I was drawn to this book because it was set in New Orleans (my father's hometown and a frequent family vacation spot). Who doesn't enjoy recognizing street names and restaurants so you can place your characters in a setting that you've experience firsthand? The New Orleans of Binx Bolling is a mystical, almost spiritual place, but Binx is never fully satisfied with his place in it. In fact, he's never fully satisfied with anything. Except, maybe, his job as a stock-broker. I love the section in the first 10 pages in which Binx says that he's a "model citizen and take[s] pleasure in doing all that is expected of me." He likes carrying cards that identify him, as if this validates his right to existence. I don't think Binx ever realizes what the point of his existence is. He doesn't know if he's a liberal or a conservative; he's merely invigorated by each side's strong hatred for the other. He lusts after his many secretaries, but the relationships always fizzle out with mutual disinterest. The only thing that truly stimulates him is the cinema (it's called The Moviegoer for a reason).
This all sounds rather depressing, but the novel is also hilarious. I was snorting out loud as I read, doodling smiley faces and lols in the margins. I enjoyed the beginning of the novel moreso than the middle or end, but overall I am happy that I picked this up. Percy does a wonderful job of making the characters and setting come alive, much like you'd see in a movie.
This all sounds rather depressing, but the novel is also hilarious. I was snorting out loud as I read, doodling smiley faces and lols in the margins. I enjoyed the beginning of the novel moreso than the middle or end, but overall I am happy that I picked this up. Percy does a wonderful job of making the characters and setting come alive, much like you'd see in a movie.
maylant's review against another edition
Slow, racism, not my cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Suicide attempt
jetia13's review against another edition
3.0
a very quick read - i enjoyed it, but the supposed drama of the denouement went over my head.
chillcox15's review against another edition
5.0
Walker Percy is like "there's a new type of guy, he's around 30 years old, and is full of spiritual malaise, to the point that he just goes to the movie theater too much, and then fantasizes about talking about movies with women."
Film twitter and the like: "Seems like a cool kind of guy!"
Film twitter and the like: "Seems like a cool kind of guy!"
jacoblost's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
krobart's review against another edition
3.0
This is an existentialist novel that is supposedly heavily influenced by the writings of Søren Kierkegaard. Although Jack Kerouac’s On the Road reflects the alienation experienced by some young men following World War II, The Moviegoer shows that this alienation was still felt by young men following the Korean War, ten years later. Essentially, these two novels examine the same themes, only Binx’s explorations are followed in more socially acceptable ways.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-moviegoer/
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-moviegoer/
aych's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mosesp's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely character study and sketch of a time and place. A very small book in the best way: focused, unified in vision and tone. Not remarkable in today's world, but I think at the time of publication it might have provided a few shocking moments in its frank presentation of certain topics. Some similarities in theme to Updike, but I much prefer this book for depicting self-absorbtion without being self-absorbed.
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
2.0
I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that perfectly captured that feeling of just listlessly meandering though life, but I absolutely despised the main character, Binx Bolling. My hatred of him made this an absolute chore to get through.
lucia_bell's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating, more adult and more southern take on Catcher in the Rye—also focusing on the ennui and lack of meaning in life and the struggle to find it, but more intelligent