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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Based on reviews I'd read, I expected this book to be funny. I did find some parts funny, but mostly I was struck by the sad state of the relationships in the Foxman family. I know real families and relationships aren't perfect, but this family seemed to have unusually bad luck all around. I enjoyed getting to know the dysfunctional Foxmans, and the end left me hoping that at least some of them would do better moving forward. This was a good read, but a bit slower than normal for me.
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape
I read this quickly , it is engaging and I did want to find out what happened and what the resolution was amongst the family. I usually love reading stories of brothers/sisters with complicated histories and interactions but this just fell a little flat for me.
I think I just wasn't the target audience for this book.
funny
reflective
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
emotional
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Rape
This is a great story. Funny. Relatable. Appealing. Thoughtful.
And yet, the protagonist's douchey qualities are almost too many to ignore. Almost without exception, the women in this book are spoken of only in regards to their sex appeal, love life, or ability/inability to procreate. Had the book's treatment of women been more thoughtful and nuanced, I might have really loved it.
And yet, the protagonist's douchey qualities are almost too many to ignore. Almost without exception, the women in this book are spoken of only in regards to their sex appeal, love life, or ability/inability to procreate. Had the book's treatment of women been more thoughtful and nuanced, I might have really loved it.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really well written, an engaging story, and an enjoyable read!
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
This made me chuckle more than a few times, and some of the Foxman family's dysfunctions are novel. Tropper's insights into the mind of a person whose comfortable life is in the process of falling apart were, at times, interesting, as well. That said, I found myself saying, "of course," a lot to the various plot points that felt too convenient. At a certain point, it almost felt like, with the pieces having fallen where they did, the third act of the book was working through a checklist to resolve them. That didn't strike me as realistic.
Even with that, the ending felt a bit like a cop out. While it would be ridiculous to try to have it end in a way that closed Judd's problems (death?) out completely, it really did seem like this book was a preamble to the real story. I liked his use of sitting Shiva as a way to bring all the family problems to the surface, and I understand that he needed a vehicle to compress the Foxmans into a small space for a long period of time. But to me, the reality of this isn't going to focus on a week or even a month. I suppose that's why he has books published, and I don't...
Even with that, the ending felt a bit like a cop out. While it would be ridiculous to try to have it end in a way that closed Judd's problems (death?) out completely, it really did seem like this book was a preamble to the real story. I liked his use of sitting Shiva as a way to bring all the family problems to the surface, and I understand that he needed a vehicle to compress the Foxmans into a small space for a long period of time. But to me, the reality of this isn't going to focus on a week or even a month. I suppose that's why he has books published, and I don't...