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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lovely prose. A deep dive into the insecurities of a young artist living abroad, a very deep dive. Adam is a terrible person, really. He drinks too much, takes too many pills, and generally simply uses the people who are generous to him to create a wildly imprecise narrative about his place in their world. I hope, for the sake of the people Ben Lerner has met in his life, that this is only loosely autobiographical, or that he has used this story as an apology for his youthful behavior.
Q: 5
E: 4
I: 4
qxe + I = 24
Q: 5
E: 4
I: 4
qxe + I = 24
I liked this less than Lerner's "The Topeka School", but I still enjoyed reading it for the most part. The question is: why? There is hardly any story and what there is is thin and often-read-before. The main character is quasi the author, on a poetry fellowship in Madrid, in semi-relationships with two Spanish woman. He takes too many drugs and doesn't really feel like a real "poet", he doesn't even seem to like poetry in the first place. We don't really get that get close to any of the characters and none seem very interesting or nice.
I can only conclude that I really liked the writing, why else did I find this engaging?
While I liked this less than "The Topeka School", the fact that it's trying to do less, makes this a much easier read. It's quite straight forward and simple, which is a weakness and strength at the same time.
I can only conclude that I really liked the writing, why else did I find this engaging?
While I liked this less than "The Topeka School", the fact that it's trying to do less, makes this a much easier read. It's quite straight forward and simple, which is a weakness and strength at the same time.
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
The narrator was the most whiny, self-important, insufferable twat ever encountered in literature. HOWEVER, I have also been the annoying foreigner having existential crises in Madrid and could (unfortunately) relate to a lot of what he felt and experienced. Also, it was kind of funny.