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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
What a perfectly wonderful, absorbing, hilarious and humane novel. Best thing I've read since [b: Life After Life|15790842|Life After Life|Kate Atkinson|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1358173808s/15790842.jpg|21443207]. I found a few 60s anachronisms, but I'm not going to quibble. This was a mighty book!
This book was well written and the last 30 pages had a sort of revelation or thoughts to think about, but given its length it went on with a story that while something not obvious and trite it didn't capture my attention enough to be great.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was trying to be too many things at once: interwoven stories of childhood trauma plus a fictional account of the Chicago police riots in 1968 plus ham-fisted enlightened centrist political commentary. The story was strongest when it explored Samuel’s childhood and his friendship with Bishop. It lagged basically everywhere else.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Police brutality
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
No. Just no. I know a lot of people love this book, but I think the author just loved to hear himself write. He went on way too many tangents. He had way too many point of views which were all just his own point of view. He took so long to get to the climax that reading became a chore and the payoff was meh at best because I just didn’t care at that point and wanted it to be over. I don’t care about Elfscape and don’t know what pwange added to this story. I didn’t care about anyone by the end. My apologies to my bookclub for suggesting we read this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes