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bjr2022's review against another edition
3.0
I'm glad I read Falconer, I admire the writing, but I don't think I will want to reread this book.
Cheever masterfully wrote men (and I do mean men, not women) in their most degraded state. Because of this, the humor, when it came, made me belly laugh, and, for that, I love the book. Degraded men stuck in a cage with nothing to lose have nothing to do but talk. And talk, they do.
I grew up near Sing Sing, which I'm guessing is the model for Falconer. Cheever, who lived near me, may have even been an acquaintance of my parents; my mother Edna Robinson revered his writing. I've come late to the party, but I understand the reverence. Next, I'll read his short stories.
Cheever masterfully wrote men (and I do mean men, not women) in their most degraded state. Because of this, the humor, when it came, made me belly laugh, and, for that, I love the book. Degraded men stuck in a cage with nothing to lose have nothing to do but talk. And talk, they do.
I grew up near Sing Sing, which I'm guessing is the model for Falconer. Cheever, who lived near me, may have even been an acquaintance of my parents; my mother Edna Robinson revered his writing. I've come late to the party, but I understand the reverence. Next, I'll read his short stories.
zensesroom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
greenblack's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jwmcoaching's review against another edition
1.0
Did Not Finish.
Frustrating. I love Cheever's short stories, but this was so far from those as to be almost unrecognizable. The writing is accomplished, maybe even very good, but the narrative is barely even there. It reminded me a little of Our Lady of the Flowers, which is an extremely tough read, but at least has the saving grace of beautiful, poetic language. I read 1/3 of this and just felt like it wasn't worth the effort.
Frustrating. I love Cheever's short stories, but this was so far from those as to be almost unrecognizable. The writing is accomplished, maybe even very good, but the narrative is barely even there. It reminded me a little of Our Lady of the Flowers, which is an extremely tough read, but at least has the saving grace of beautiful, poetic language. I read 1/3 of this and just felt like it wasn't worth the effort.
johnpaulgatenby's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
infinitejoe's review against another edition
3.0
This was on Time's Top 100 List? I'm not sure I see why. It's not that the book wasn't good, it just wasn't great. Farragut seemed to be a drug addicted hollowed out soul going through the motions of surviving in prison, and nothing more, which was probably the point, but I felt both a lack of character depth and a plot, and I at least like to have one of those in a book. Aside from these flaws, it was still a book that kept my attention throughout, and I did like the writing, so I wouldn't say it was a waste of my time. It's just not a book that will stay with me for very long.
ellisknox's review against another edition
1.0
I tried, I really did. But I simply didn't care about the characters. I couldn't finish it.
lavina_l's review against another edition
2.0
Everything I love about Cheever's fiction seems to have been sucked out of these pages.