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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where to begin? This monstrosity of a book is really 3 books in one. They take place in different eras with alternative societal norms. The writing is good and uses many literary devices throughout. At times I was in grossed in the characters lives (book 1 and 3 had this effect) and at times flat out bored.
I’ll come back to this review to make it more thorough after I’ve digested a little more.
I’ll come back to this review to make it more thorough after I’ve digested a little more.
I can appreciate the way the narratives all wove together but this was a dull book overall and the narrative that appealed to me most was the one that ended the most frustratingly unclear. Way too long of an investment to be worth it
Some people stayed home and hibernated during the Covid pandemic. Hanya Yanagihara wrote this gorgeous epic of a book, and seemed to do it with ease, if this book. is any indication. I was immediately engrossed from the beginning, though I felt like it started to drag in the middle, which landed the reader in the midst of the late 80s/early 90s AIDS epidemic. Even though it lagged in the middle, there was a particularly touching scene in which a group of gay men say goodbye to a friend who is dying of AIDS. The details were so evocative that I felt like I was in the r0om and observing what was happening. Looking forward to reading "A Little Life," and appreciating Yanagihara's writing style, which is deceptively easy to read, but dense with all shades of emotion.
4.75
Masterful manipulation of time , space and character. Each of the thirds stand strong alone but the last third is my fav and perhaps a glimpse of an almost future.
So glad I didn’t let the length hold me back. Spectacular story telling, easy to fall into, many times I did not want to put it down.
I can’t say much more,
Buy for spoilers; but just an incredible accomplishment…
Masterful manipulation of time , space and character. Each of the thirds stand strong alone but the last third is my fav and perhaps a glimpse of an almost future.
So glad I didn’t let the length hold me back. Spectacular story telling, easy to fall into, many times I did not want to put it down.
I can’t say much more,
Buy for spoilers; but just an incredible accomplishment…
DNF. This book is 700 pages and there are a lot of words on the page. I borrowed from the library and will not be able to finish it before it’s due.
in every time, in every version of reality, in every piece of land that has ever been called or claimed by America, there will be men who promise us paradise, and we will have no choice but to trust them.
Let's preface this review by saying this is my first book by this author. I'm not sure if Hanya's writing style is "go big or go home", but this book was all about go BIG...as in 700+ pages.
I felt that while reading this book I could liken it to what it must feel like to climb Mt. Everest....that is, if I was someone who is physically fit. My cardio includes running copies on the copier at work.
The first section of the book was the ascent part of climbing Mt. Everest. You keep telling yourself the journey is going to be amazing and you can do it. The view looks great and you are in great spirits. You are starting to understand all the hype. I would rate the first part of the book, 3 stars.
Now here we are continuing our climb up the mountainside and you begin asking yourself, "why am I doing this?" The journey seems to be never-ending and you have no idea how you landed yourself here. I can honestly tell you that I have no idea what happened in part 2 of the book, it was that bad. If I wasn't nearing the half-way part of the book, I would have DNF it. 1 star.
Just when it seems like all hope is lost and we are going to end up a casualty of Mt. Everest, part 3 comes and you are revived. You recall why you picked up this book in the first place, for the dystopian world that has been crafted in 2093. As you have reached the summit of Mt. Everest you realized how much you thoroughly enjoyed part 3 and wished that it was a standalone book. This part of the book was easily 5 stars for me.
Climbing down from Mt. Everest you start reevaluating your life. Would I do this again? No, I would not read this book in its' entirety again. Is there anything I would have changed? Yes, skipped parts 1 & 2 of the book and read only part 3. Did I enjoy the journey? I like that I can brag that I read a book that is at least 3.5 times longer than an average adult book.
Also, I hope that you will never have to personally climb Mt. Everest with an individual named: David or Charles/Charlie. Because after this book, you will want to run the other way or quickly give a new nickname if you encounter someone that is named David or Charles.
I felt that while reading this book I could liken it to what it must feel like to climb Mt. Everest....that is, if I was someone who is physically fit. My cardio includes running copies on the copier at work.
The first section of the book was the ascent part of climbing Mt. Everest. You keep telling yourself the journey is going to be amazing and you can do it. The view looks great and you are in great spirits. You are starting to understand all the hype. I would rate the first part of the book, 3 stars.
Now here we are continuing our climb up the mountainside and you begin asking yourself, "why am I doing this?" The journey seems to be never-ending and you have no idea how you landed yourself here. I can honestly tell you that I have no idea what happened in part 2 of the book, it was that bad. If I wasn't nearing the half-way part of the book, I would have DNF it. 1 star.
Just when it seems like all hope is lost and we are going to end up a casualty of Mt. Everest, part 3 comes and you are revived. You recall why you picked up this book in the first place, for the dystopian world that has been crafted in 2093. As you have reached the summit of Mt. Everest you realized how much you thoroughly enjoyed part 3 and wished that it was a standalone book. This part of the book was easily 5 stars for me.
Climbing down from Mt. Everest you start reevaluating your life. Would I do this again? No, I would not read this book in its' entirety again. Is there anything I would have changed? Yes, skipped parts 1 & 2 of the book and read only part 3. Did I enjoy the journey? I like that I can brag that I read a book that is at least 3.5 times longer than an average adult book.
Also, I hope that you will never have to personally climb Mt. Everest with an individual named: David or Charles/Charlie. Because after this book, you will want to run the other way or quickly give a new nickname if you encounter someone that is named David or Charles.