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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
Overall, the best thing about this book was its cover (whose art and title did not fit the story, sadly), and the quote about my favorite beverage (kombucha): "Effectively, yes, it tasted like a perfectly fresh seltzer that someone had used as a receptacle for their nasal drip." No it does not, thank you very much, but speaking of nasal drip...Richard Haddon, the main character, is pretty lame by my standards and not a real clear thinker which irritated me, but I did like that it took place in Paris and England and that an artist was the protagonist; it was also well-written.
If you want a great novel about relationships/marriage, please try these instead: [b:Mating|527513|Mating|Norman Rush|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320393331s/527513.jpg|1691965] & [b:Mortals|27607|Mortals|Norman Rush|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388941505s/27607.jpg|28220]. Now I'm going to go wash this review down with some very refreshing kombucha!
If you want a great novel about relationships/marriage, please try these instead: [b:Mating|527513|Mating|Norman Rush|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320393331s/527513.jpg|1691965] & [b:Mortals|27607|Mortals|Norman Rush|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388941505s/27607.jpg|28220]. Now I'm going to go wash this review down with some very refreshing kombucha!
I hated to like Richard but I did, the poor sap. Well, written story about a man trying desperately to make up for his huge transgression. I didn't really like his wife but who knows how one who behave in this situation...? I would for sure read another book by this author!
I could not get through it, at page 70 I was sick of every character, sad for them and did not care. Other people felt the same way.
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the beginning of this book more than the end. The narrator is not a likeable person but he's understandable. I thought the parts where he talks about the problems in his marriage and the reasons for his affair, you could at least see where he was coming from even if you didn't agree with what he did. It was honest. But by the time he had to go out on his own the book became less of a "reverse love story" and more just the endless whining of a naval-gazing artist. The whole war-wash thing was obnoxiously overwrought and the ending tied things up too neatly in a bow. I never really got the feeling that any problems in the marriage would be fixed - just that the author needed to end it. I didn't get the motivation for any of the ending.
I don't have much to say about this book. Characters were lame, art was lame, the premise was annoying and I honestly don't know why I finished it. I wholeheartedly do not recommend this book.
I'm not sure how this was one of the 10 best summer books or whatever Glamour called it...this was not really a great novel. The protagonist was whiny and seemed to never be content with his life as it was. His decisions were made without any forethought, but he didn't want to face the consequences of those decisions. He seemed too self-centered to really be able to make the ending work.
It has its moments, but it's pretty ordinary overall. I didn't care what happened and I could have put it down at any point. There's a very minor character named Harold; I would much rather read a whole book about him than this main character. This is billed as "Where'd you Go, Bernadette? meets Beautiful Ruins," and, just, no.
