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gabicalvo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
readingwithathena's review against another edition
4.0
The writing in this was *chef kiss* though I'm still deciding if I would rather have had a novel/novella about Lionel/Sophie/Charles instead of the vaguely interconnected short stories.
Either way, now that I've read something from Brandon Taylor and vibe with his writing, I'm even more excited to pick up Real Life eventually.
Either way, now that I've read something from Brandon Taylor and vibe with his writing, I'm even more excited to pick up Real Life eventually.
marmoo's review against another edition
4.0
OK, but, like: America’s current poet laureate of stressful dinner parties, Brandon Taylor.
These stories were masterfully tense, especially the handful that track recurring characters. A few of the stand-alone stories had a somewhat same-y narrative voice, but Taylor’s eye for character details and fraught social interactions more than carried the collection through.
These stories were masterfully tense, especially the handful that track recurring characters. A few of the stand-alone stories had a somewhat same-y narrative voice, but Taylor’s eye for character details and fraught social interactions more than carried the collection through.
letterstoayoungmel's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
elvadot's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
naharobed's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliantly written, as I’ve come to expect of Brandon Taylor. This book is a series of interconnected short stories that deals with trauma, violence, vulnerability, and belonging. It actually read like one cohesive novel to me—rather than individual short stories, they felt more like chapters. This book was melancholic without being over-the-top depressing and was a brutally honest look at modern people and relationships.
asliyase's review
dark
tense
4.0
I struggled a lot to rate this book.
I enjoy dark books with flawed narrators/characters in general, and was really excited to read this. There were many identities, life events and decisions I could relate to in this book, so I wonder why I felt like something was off about the book, and not just in the way one would want to feel adter finishing such a book. Maybe I’ll be better able to define that element that was missing after I have some time to digest the book.
On the positive side, I enjoyed the intrigue I felt at certain points,, and that this book managed to make me think “IS THIS HOW A LOT OF MEN CAN THINK?” many, many times (& the jury is still out by the way). I finished the book with a lot of remanining questions to myself, to the author, and about humanity in general, which I appreciate.
One thing I will say is that this book may not be for everyone, every mood, or every mental state so I would read the blurb and glance at the content warnings before jumping into it.
I enjoy dark books with flawed narrators/characters in general, and was really excited to read this. There were many identities, life events and decisions I could relate to in this book, so I wonder why I felt like something was off about the book, and not just in the way one would want to feel adter finishing such a book. Maybe I’ll be better able to define that element that was missing after I have some time to digest the book.
On the positive side, I enjoyed the intrigue I felt at certain points,, and that this book managed to make me think “IS THIS HOW A LOT OF MEN CAN THINK?” many, many times (& the jury is still out by the way). I finished the book with a lot of remanining questions to myself, to the author, and about humanity in general, which I appreciate.
One thing I will say is that this book may not be for everyone, every mood, or every mental state so I would read the blurb and glance at the content warnings before jumping into it.
jackancell's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
smtate's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5