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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Can Babbitt escape the early 20th Century web of conformity, boosterism, and bland hypocrisy that is so much a part of him that his name is literally used to describe it? What are you some kind of four-flushing, flap-doodle socialist?!?
Babbittry is here in all its glory. Despite being a shallow, dull, nitwit, Charles F. Babbitt is a likable boob. You end up hoping that every single effort he makes will turn out for the best. Oftentimes, it’s a spectacular failure.
This is one of those books that you really need to read after you’ve experienced striving and failure. Babbitt’s heart is in a good place, he’s just not very good at listening to it.
The language is full of funny slang, which is surprisingly modern, given that the book was written 100 years ago.
If you liked how preposterous Pete Campbell was on Mad Men, you will love Babbitt.
Babbittry is here in all its glory. Despite being a shallow, dull, nitwit, Charles F. Babbitt is a likable boob. You end up hoping that every single effort he makes will turn out for the best. Oftentimes, it’s a spectacular failure.
This is one of those books that you really need to read after you’ve experienced striving and failure. Babbitt’s heart is in a good place, he’s just not very good at listening to it.
The language is full of funny slang, which is surprisingly modern, given that the book was written 100 years ago.
If you liked how preposterous Pete Campbell was on Mad Men, you will love Babbitt.
This was an interesting book. George F. Babbitt is a successful 1920s businessman (real estate) in a moderately sized and relatively anonymous American city. At the outset, he seems to lack a modicum of self-awareness, but as events escalate he begins to feel more and more dissatisfied with his conservative and respectable life. He veers of the rails of respectability until he comes to understand how that would negatively affect his life and business. Still, his experiences allow him to see other possibilities, changing the way he responds to his son's unconventional behavior.
I read this for a book project in tenth grade, and distinctly remember abandoning it after I finished the project. I have no recollection of what it was about, though.
funny
reflective
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
Maybe I didn't pay enough attention, but all I can remember is small parts here and there that were funny and interesting. I thought this was supposed to be about a henpecked husband who rises above all that, but Babbitt seemed pretty well together and not as pathetic as I expected him to be.
An interesting read, nothing special or amazing.
An interesting read, nothing special or amazing.
Too slow a start, though I got a very long way in. Apparently the main character changes his very modern urbanite selfish ways shortly after I gave up & becomes real hero ...
A good tale of the consequences associated with trying to step outside one's established social profile and one man's tendency to see everything as a potential catastrophe.
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
This book was written in the 1920’s but reads like it was written last year. I have to say that what I liked most is that even though it is a pretty searing satire of modern society, it end with hope.
funny
reflective
medium-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
Babbit was such an interesting read. He is a hypocritical, ignorant, unthinking man at first. He is just so funny to read about how he lives his life. However, he decides to rebel, gets a mistress, and joins her group of friends. They don't conform to the social norms of the time. When he starts thinking in a non-conformative way and becomes more liberal, he is shunned. He realizes how it isn't worth it and eventually gives back into conformity to save his family. The novel shows how powerful conformity can be to self-expression. Even though it has an important message, it isn't boring one bit and is such a fun read to see his life and affairs.