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brdgtc's review against another edition
3.0
I really didn't care for the last TC Boyle I read (The Women), so I was pleasantly surprised by this - I liked the characters and the juxtaposition of hippies and back to the landers. I don't know what kind of message Boyle was trying to get at, but it was a good story.
msrommy's review against another edition
2.0
I suppose a good summary of this book is "Thoroughly obnoxious and infantile hippies find themselves in Alaska. Hinjinks ensue." Perhaps I'm being childish, but when the most I can say about the characters is that they may be more interesting or sympathetic if a bear eats them, then I really didn't enjoy the book. I know much has been made of this author's writing style (and yes, he does know how to paint a picture with words) but it so did not make up for the fact I didn't care a bit about these people other than hoping they would become bear chow.
How horrible are they? Well let's see...stealing from "the man" is OK, they are too lazy to dig their own latrines in their hippie paradise, their only source of of income is food stamps for the government, LSD laden juice is given to a kid to shut him up, oh and my favorite, pedophilic rapists are given a pass because no one wants to appear racist (the rapists are black). By the time you get to the squirrelly Alaskans, you're predesposed to see them favorably, despite Cess's weird stalking tendencies and Pamela's daddy issues (marrying a guy simply because he hunts the best and reminds you of your wilderness loving papa who got lost years ago, yeah, that's normal), compared to the mess that is Drop City.
I will say this though - partway through the book I did have an epiphany that helped my understanding of my fellow man. The imbecillic utopia of Drop City is to the conservative what the totallitarian regime of the Republic of Gilead (The Handmaid's Tale) is to liberals. The specter of this sort of freakshow becoming any sort of reality is what keeps them up at night. I have a new found compassion in my heart, as a centerist, for the terror of a world filled with people like the ones in this book.
How horrible are they? Well let's see...stealing from "the man" is OK, they are too lazy to dig their own latrines in their hippie paradise, their only source of of income is food stamps for the government, LSD laden juice is given to a kid to shut him up, oh and my favorite, pedophilic rapists are given a pass because no one wants to appear racist (the rapists are black). By the time you get to the squirrelly Alaskans, you're predesposed to see them favorably, despite Cess's weird stalking tendencies and Pamela's daddy issues (marrying a guy simply because he hunts the best and reminds you of your wilderness loving papa who got lost years ago, yeah, that's normal), compared to the mess that is Drop City.
I will say this though - partway through the book I did have an epiphany that helped my understanding of my fellow man. The imbecillic utopia of Drop City is to the conservative what the totallitarian regime of the Republic of Gilead (The Handmaid's Tale) is to liberals. The specter of this sort of freakshow becoming any sort of reality is what keeps them up at night. I have a new found compassion in my heart, as a centerist, for the terror of a world filled with people like the ones in this book.
sheriberry3's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a really enjoyable read. It had great characterization and throughly detailed the downsides to the sunny hippie life of the 70s. Parts of it had great writing and some parts were much simpler, especially as the book went on. A fun read with some realistic dark patches and a fairly happy ending, definitely recommended.
ivanbiber's review against another edition
5.0
This was on my "to-read" list for years and thanks to Jo Sandgren, I finally got it read. Thank you, Jo! What an interesting dive into a world we hear so much about but generally only on the periphery. Boyle's ability to weave the hippy culture and the subsistence living of the Alaskan pioneer is unique and fun.
Without spoiling anything, I might have asked for one more paragraph or page for a slightly more satisfying ending, but overall I loved it.
Without spoiling anything, I might have asked for one more paragraph or page for a slightly more satisfying ending, but overall I loved it.
lflintsoms's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good for before-bed, and lounging around getting lost in a decent story. I enjoyed reading about the 60s counter-culture without rose-tinted glasses.
128a's review against another edition
4.0
Superb. Boyle does both funny and sober with style. I could’ve read a whole separate book about Pamela and Sess!
swinglifeaway's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
found it quite boring in parts. i don't mind a story that doesn't rely on a plot to move forward, but sometimes i wondered why i should keep reading if nothing captivates me. luckily i love alaska as a setting
caseymalsam's review against another edition
2.0
This took awhile to get through, almost gave up on it a couple of times. Kinda wish I did, the ending wasn't so much an ending, it just stopped. Had the potential to be good, just didn't make it there
c3j's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25