104 reviews for:

Margarettown

Gabrielle Zevin

3.5 AVERAGE


Odd but OK read.
dark sad 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

In my opinion, a book can be as inventive and clever as it wants to be, but as long as it attempts to discuss something relating to the human condition, it will always require a strong emotional core to feel sincere and compelling. Like a glass minature, the writing was technically skilled and beautiful, but ultimately hollow and somewhat depthless.
emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous funny inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

This was an extremely weird book, but it was charming at the same time. I tend to not like the trope of a story not making sense because the narrator is insane since it can often excuse bad writing, but I do think there is something touching in the idea that N feels very distraught on his death bed knowing that his only daughter will lose both of her parents at a young age. I think while it doesn't make me like the trope more, it at least was a satisfying emotional beat. 

I think that Zevin's later works are better, and I'm unsure if I'd recommend this one unless they particularly like her writing style. That said, I still really liked it, and I appreciate Zevin trying something creative for a story format that could easily have been dull. I look forward to reading more of her books.
challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
lighthearted reflective medium-paced