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leer_amor's review against another edition
2.5
I thought this started out really good. It had the exact vibes that I was looking for. I also appreciated the ending and the slight twist. But the middle really bogged down and left a bitter taste in the mouth. The premise got me excited but the more I listened to this audiobook the more I realized it was just another book about a white American man being sad. It wasn’t original. It was also full of these little racial barbs and microaggressions. And maybe Im not the right person to comment on this, but the attempted accents the audio narrator copied just seemed offensive. Perhaps this novel was something new and exciting when it first came out, in 2017 I believe, but I couldnt help but think that we can do better. That Ive read better and that we, as readers, deserve a little better. Yes, Arthur Less was gay, but he was also just another melancholy novelist roped up in a romantic drama facing heartbreak. The novel itself talked about Less being a “bad gay” and Im inclined to agree. I feel like he could have easily been replaced by a straight man whose wife has left him. And that’s certainly not anything new. I know it’s important to normalize being gay and emphasize that queer people are just like everyone else, but I also think there’s an intrisic difference between straight people and queer people that has to do with life experience and the facing of discrimination.
Less spent the whole book moping and wallowing in self-pity when his life REALLY WASNT THAT BAD. There were a couple off-handed comments about his father, but other than that there was no mention of homophobia. I think the most noteable thing about Less is that his life was boring. That’s even brought up during the portion spent in Germany!
The whole premise also kinda surrounded his white privelege. I mean, he’s traveling all around the world, butchering languages and insulting cultures while getting into little inconvenient mishaps, and ALL HIS EXPENSES ARE BASICALLY PAID FOR HIM. And he spent most of his time abroad just feeling sorry for himself. It didnt seem like he really enjoyed any portion of this all-expenses-paid vacation (because, lets be honest, he really didnt do much work either). This could have been the trip of a lifetime but he was too busy failing not to think about A MAN™, who also didnt really know what he wanted. Less was bland and indecisive and he lacked passion. He wasnt a very likeable character and I wont be reading the sequel.
Less spent the whole book moping and wallowing in self-pity when his life REALLY WASNT THAT BAD. There were a couple off-handed comments about his father, but other than that there was no mention of homophobia. I think the most noteable thing about Less is that his life was boring. That’s even brought up during the portion spent in Germany!
The whole premise also kinda surrounded his white privelege. I mean, he’s traveling all around the world, butchering languages and insulting cultures while getting into little inconvenient mishaps, and ALL HIS EXPENSES ARE BASICALLY PAID FOR HIM. And he spent most of his time abroad just feeling sorry for himself. It didnt seem like he really enjoyed any portion of this all-expenses-paid vacation (because, lets be honest, he really didnt do much work either). This could have been the trip of a lifetime but he was too busy failing not to think about A MAN™, who also didnt really know what he wanted. Less was bland and indecisive and he lacked passion. He wasnt a very likeable character and I wont be reading the sequel.
bookwyrm_kris's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
leighreadsalot's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ttimbrook's review against another edition
4.0
A fun journey around the world and I was giggling the whole way!
janeleng's review
4.0
A cute rom-com with a lot of heart and plenty of introspection. I found Arthur Less to be a refreshingly relatable character as he travels his way through mediocrity, self-doubt, and aging. The story drags in a couple of places, but the ending is next to perfect and well worth the trip.
minaegg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
haydobbs's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
bkparker's review against another edition
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
4.25