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rizzfitz's review against another edition
2.0
Warning, this loses steam bigtime about 80% in when you've let your guard down.
treaclewaffle's review against another edition
3.0
Generally speaking, I thought this was a decent book for some light reading. Unfortunately, it's not without its flaws.
At the start, I was more than excited and curious to keep on reading. However, once the story approached its climax, I couldn't bring myself to care much anymore. The book lost a sense of reality as it progressed, which is a shame because overall I was able to picture the setting and scenery really well.
I also lost interest in the characters along the way. Sadly, I think Annie lost her good-willed sanity that at first made her the most interesting character in this story. Duncan on the other hand showed no change at all, and remained as much of a despicable asshole the whole time. Weirdly enough he kind of faded into the background though, with no note from the writer or storyteller at all. Tucker, I suppose, ended up being the only "normal" character in this book.
The ending didn't give me closure. I would've preferred a cliché ending much better, just to satisfy the reader.
At the start, I was more than excited and curious to keep on reading. However, once the story approached its climax, I couldn't bring myself to care much anymore. The book lost a sense of reality as it progressed, which is a shame because overall I was able to picture the setting and scenery really well.
I also lost interest in the characters along the way. Sadly, I think Annie lost her good-willed sanity that at first made her the most interesting character in this story. Duncan on the other hand showed no change at all, and remained as much of a despicable asshole the whole time. Weirdly enough he kind of faded into the background though, with no note from the writer or storyteller at all. Tucker, I suppose, ended up being the only "normal" character in this book.
The ending didn't give me closure. I would've preferred a cliché ending much better, just to satisfy the reader.
heidiimmes's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still digesting the ending. I will say that about halfway through the book, it stopped being, well, whatever it was, and started making me literally laugh out loud.
"This is what constitutes foreplay, when you get older--a woman who's prepared to look your medical condition up before she sleeps with you. I like it. It's kind of sexy. What did the Internet have to say?"
"This is what constitutes foreplay, when you get older--a woman who's prepared to look your medical condition up before she sleeps with you. I like it. It's kind of sexy. What did the Internet have to say?"
matthewwester's review against another edition
5.0
As I began reading this book, I wanted the narrative to channel through Malcolm. After all, he was the male music-nerd who was disastrously trying to balance his two loves: music and his girlfriend. I figured I'd relate to him the most, and who knows, it might even remind me a little of High Fidelity (which I loved).
But if you had asked me halfway through the book what I thought, I'd have said Malcolm was the most 1-dimensional character (merely a spark for the narratives of Annie and Tucker).
By the end of the book, my focus had shifted several times and I was delighted to see the significant, believable, hard-won growth of each of the three main characters. What a great balance -- and yes, I'd recommend this book.
But if you had asked me halfway through the book what I thought, I'd have said Malcolm was the most 1-dimensional character (merely a spark for the narratives of Annie and Tucker).
By the end of the book, my focus had shifted several times and I was delighted to see the significant, believable, hard-won growth of each of the three main characters. What a great balance -- and yes, I'd recommend this book.
alexisspeaking's review against another edition
3.0
One very long fictional anecdote in the frame of "gather ye rosebuds while ye may." If you've read Hornby, you know what to expect.
mtehan7's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
greyseav's review against another edition
3.0
pros: interesting scenario/circumstance
cons: kinda slow and not much happens
cons: kinda slow and not much happens
arnith87's review
4.0
This story is both clever and silly, and I enjoyed it. It is about self-realization, relationships falling apart and coming together, and how people deal with it all or don't. It also happens to be pretty humorous. Quick and smart beach reading.
kate66's review
3.0
Been a while since I read any Nick Hornby (I wasn't wild about How to be Good or A Long Way Down). Fancied something light so chose this. I laughed a few times and read it in a day so I can't say it was awful but I guess I loved About a Boy and Fever Pitch and High Fidelity so much that I expected it to be more like them. Instead it seemed a pale reflection. I suppose I could draw the fictional analogy of Juliet and Juliet, Naked. However I still think he's a fabulous writer and will try again with a different title.