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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
This book sounded fascinating from the description, and for the most part lived up to it. The four characters, two men and two women in a group of friends/acquaintances go back and forth from their Post 9/11 College/early adult years to their Post Trump election middle-age years. They are just about exactly my age so a lot of it was relatable. The characters were well developed with complicated histories and motivations. . I definitely invested in the characters and the story and really enjoyed it. It was on track to be a five star read, but the ending didn't really bring it all together for me.
This is a unique, unusual novel. The characters and their circumstances are complex. David, Tazio, and Tess have been good friends for years. Tess and David got married, but the last several months of their married lives have really given a lot of meaning to the “in sickness” part of their vows after David takes a fall and is chronically dizzy and fatigued, leaving Tess to be the breadwinner and the caretaker of their young boys and also her husband.
Part of what makes this book different is there is a lot of modern-day politics in it. I’m not used to reading fiction that talks a lot about Trump and other men guilty of sexual assault who do just fine financially without ever being punished. Oh, boo hoo, you got fired from Fox News with a $38 million severance after years of destroying innocent women’s lives.
This is not a fun book, but it’s intriguing. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MARCH 3, 2020.
Part of what makes this book different is there is a lot of modern-day politics in it. I’m not used to reading fiction that talks a lot about Trump and other men guilty of sexual assault who do just fine financially without ever being punished. Oh, boo hoo, you got fired from Fox News with a $38 million severance after years of destroying innocent women’s lives.
This is not a fun book, but it’s intriguing. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MARCH 3, 2020.
The Body Politic is a unique and candid character-driven novel that dives into the complexities of marriage, friendships, careers and how interconnected our physical and emotional selves can be.
While much of the novel follows main character Tess, we also meet David, Tazio, and Angelica whos lives have been interwoven since their post 9/11 college years. We follow these characters as they navigate mental and physical health issues which are all interwoven with contemporary politics.
This book is a heavy read with dark topics and quite messy relationships. The characters are imperfect which I found could be quite frustrating at times. The jumps back in time took some getting used to but they ultimately helped build the history that helps us understand the complexities of each of these characters. Trauma and complicated pasts have not only formed who these characters are today but also their paths forward. The subtleties really are what make this book what it is.
Platzer's writing is nuanced and layered and he shines at having his reader examine the gray of what initially could look like black and white decisions. While there are moments of frustration as the reader, this also led to great reflection. The Body Politic was one of those books that felt a little out of my comfort zone but ultimately pushed me as a reader. This would make a fascinating and timely book club discussion and I am glad to have read it.
Thank you to Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
While much of the novel follows main character Tess, we also meet David, Tazio, and Angelica whos lives have been interwoven since their post 9/11 college years. We follow these characters as they navigate mental and physical health issues which are all interwoven with contemporary politics.
This book is a heavy read with dark topics and quite messy relationships. The characters are imperfect which I found could be quite frustrating at times. The jumps back in time took some getting used to but they ultimately helped build the history that helps us understand the complexities of each of these characters. Trauma and complicated pasts have not only formed who these characters are today but also their paths forward. The subtleties really are what make this book what it is.
Platzer's writing is nuanced and layered and he shines at having his reader examine the gray of what initially could look like black and white decisions. While there are moments of frustration as the reader, this also led to great reflection. The Body Politic was one of those books that felt a little out of my comfort zone but ultimately pushed me as a reader. This would make a fascinating and timely book club discussion and I am glad to have read it.
Thank you to Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
After reading this book, I took awhile to write my review which was different for me. I had conflicted feelings of the book and had to sit on it for a bit. I will admit to reading some reviews to see if anyone had the same feelings and although I saw some same sentiments, most reviewers had some similar feelings but praised the book. I on the other hand just didn't love this one.
After reading this book, I took awhile to write my review which was different for me. I had conflicted feelings of the book and had to sit on it for a bit. I will admit to reading some reviews to see if anyone had the same feelings and although I saw some same sentiments, most reviewers had some similar feelings but praised the book. I on the other hand just didn't love this one.
This was a very well written and thought provoking read with complex characters, but I don't think I was in the right frame of mind when I read this, therefore I didn't quite enjoyed reading it. But it's still a 3 maybe 3,5
Brian Platzer is an author whose writing I enjoy but this particular novel did nothing for me because of the constant talk of the current president. I am so sick of everything about this current political age, especially now that we're in the middle of a pandemic. I was hoping for a little bit of relief from reality but this novel allows no escape from current troubles. But that's more about this reader than the novel. I'm sure there are many people out there who will take to the skewering like a duck to water.
emotional
reflective
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
Tends to meander a bit too much, but perhaps it’s going somewhere…Update: it was a clever exploration into the complexity and imperfections of human emotion and behavior.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes