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enterprisingyoungman's review against another edition
5.0
Pulitzer-prize winning novel about a gay author in his 50s, living in SF. Makes you think about love and mortality in the midst of the Protagonist's 2/3rds life crisis.
A rocky start, but the somewhat contrived plot structure (that was introduced in the beginning) evolved into an excellent middle. I didn't particularly enjoy the end, but that's just my opinion.
Made me laugh out loud quite a few times!
5 stars despite the fact that the Protagonist is a writer... writers writing about writers- c'mon, branch out of your comfort zone!
A rocky start, but the somewhat contrived plot structure (that was introduced in the beginning) evolved into an excellent middle. I didn't particularly enjoy the end, but that's just my opinion.
Made me laugh out loud quite a few times!
5 stars despite the fact that the Protagonist is a writer... writers writing about writers- c'mon, branch out of your comfort zone!
arrkay's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
carolsm10's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Very bad writting. Couldn't understand what was happening most of the time. This is one book that is hard to read, no good story.
porbee's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
3.75
I really did enjoy this book and there are some great stand-out conversations and events. The perspective between narrator/protagonist was very rewarding. The setup of the book really pays off between Germany and Morocco. It didnt seem like Arthur really actually learned anything about himself, or changed at all. Utterly without true self reflection- even when he seems to decide Swift is a fool he fails to realize art is a reflection of the self. I kind of liked this- a protagonist who is so caught up in running away that he doesn't look at everything around him in any way that matters. Reader and narrator make connections, Arthur stays stuck.
I just really disliked that it wasn't a stand alone, though I might not have read it at all if I'd known that going in. There was a preview chapter of the sequel included in my copy - really ruined the atmosphere of the end and I wish I hadn't read it.
I thought it would stick with the Proust reference and end with 20 or so blank pages.
I just really disliked that it wasn't a stand alone, though I might not have read it at all if I'd known that going in. There was a preview chapter of the sequel included in my copy - really ruined the atmosphere of the end and I wish I hadn't read it.
xaracelli's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
The prose was brilliant and I am having a full on existential crisis on love and life so thank you for that Andrew
sunny_r's review against another edition
5.0
funny! witty! less could be annoying but also self-aware about that, which i enjoyed :)
sarahgri's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
leggup's review against another edition
3.0
A little navel-gazy, a little *throws hands in air,* but ultimately very cheesy. I thought it was leading up to something bigger than what it did.
Great one liners the whole way through, though.
Great one liners the whole way through, though.
tonatyuh's review against another edition
5.0
technically 4.5 **
Ok ok...
at first I rlly thought I was only gonna give it maybe 3.5 or 4 stars but the ending kinda did hit for me and I was compelled to give a higher rating.
ironically, for half of the book I felt a little like what Less hears abt his book. no one cares about a middle aged white man just wandering around. but it's prose and less himself rlly did move me by the end. I feel like this book would hit a little more if I was older, but it still made me feel-- at least to some degree-- what it was trying to accomplish.
Ok ok...
at first I rlly thought I was only gonna give it maybe 3.5 or 4 stars but the ending kinda did hit for me and I was compelled to give a higher rating.
ironically, for half of the book I felt a little like what Less hears abt his book. no one cares about a middle aged white man just wandering around. but it's prose and less himself rlly did move me by the end. I feel like this book would hit a little more if I was older, but it still made me feel-- at least to some degree-- what it was trying to accomplish.