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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Lewis's book about a guy whose in a rut was largely boring, like the character.
Some great insights into attitudes of 100 years ago, if you don't mind overt racism and misogyny. Trigger warning for uncensored racist labeling of pretty much every minority except white American males.
Worth the read for the historical value and the main idea, about running the rat race, trying to keep up with the Jones, and conforming to social niceties is, sadly, still true.
Some great insights into attitudes of 100 years ago, if you don't mind overt racism and misogyny. Trigger warning for uncensored racist labeling of pretty much every minority except white American males.
Worth the read for the historical value and the main idea, about running the rat race, trying to keep up with the Jones, and conforming to social niceties is, sadly, still true.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
A relatively entertaining satire. Overall I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The ending was incredibly abrupt.
enjoyed a lot more as it went on. Started very slow with no plot at all, but the pace picks up.
Similar themes to Gatsby but all a lot more fleshed out and the characters seem more human i think?
Similar themes to Gatsby but all a lot more fleshed out and the characters seem more human i think?
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Widely read in his time but later overshadowed by contemporaries like Fitzgerald and Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis's work exposes America's deepest beliefs about class, labor, business, consumerism, and what makes a life meaningful (or not). Though Babbitt was written in 1922, the prejudices and values it expounds on are still those of America today, shown through the hypocritical, people-pleasing, conservative-leaning real estate mogul George Babbitt.
Reading this book in 2025 reveals how little has changed about American society as the title character loudly trumpets "good old American values" of free business enterprise, quashing labor movements, deregulation, and keeping out immigrants, the dark side of which is shown at the novel's conclusion.
But more valuable than Sinclair's political commentary is his social commentary, in that, scene by scene, and over the course of the novel, we come to realize that George Babbitt's life of complacent, consumerist conformity is ultimately an empty one, vacant of deeper meaning or accomplishment, with Babbitt himself understanding this to varying degrees throughout the novel. I can't recommend this novel enough, and fully intend on reading more of Lewis's work, both as a way of understanding this important period of American history, and the inner workings of American values.
Reading this book in 2025 reveals how little has changed about American society as the title character loudly trumpets "good old American values" of free business enterprise, quashing labor movements, deregulation, and keeping out immigrants, the dark side of which is shown at the novel's conclusion.
But more valuable than Sinclair's political commentary is his social commentary, in that, scene by scene, and over the course of the novel, we come to realize that George Babbitt's life of complacent, consumerist conformity is ultimately an empty one, vacant of deeper meaning or accomplishment, with Babbitt himself understanding this to varying degrees throughout the novel. I can't recommend this novel enough, and fully intend on reading more of Lewis's work, both as a way of understanding this important period of American history, and the inner workings of American values.
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting perspective on middle class, small town life early in the twentieth century.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced