Reviews

The Good Times Are Killing Me by Lynda Barry

lminca's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

katieproctorbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this memoir-feel novel of a sixth grade girl in the 60s. Lots of racial issues and music woven into the story. I loved the main character’s voice and her inner dialogue.

saragardinier's review

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funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.0

ria_brumbaugh's review against another edition

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5.0

This immensely readable novella was exactly the literary morsel I needed between longer works. Barry tells a remarkably quick-paced but thoughtful coming-of-age story, with thematic underpinnings of the power of music, the growth of social awareness, and what I consider her trademark existentialism carrying the reader through. I read through the whole thing over the course of a single morning!

kdburton's review

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

charlieschu's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective fast-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

3.0

ruby_fiora's review against another edition

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emotional funny sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

teanahk's review

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3.0

2.5 ish. I just didn’t care for this book at all. It’s probably a perfectly fine YA book.

(I received a free copy of this through a giveaway on goodreads)

dchristiok's review against another edition

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5.0

Very good. Touches on some stirring subjects. Great book about growing up and how children view adults and teenagers.

renatasnacks's review against another edition

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4.0

(I'm calling this a graphic novel but it's not comics, but there are a lot of paintings in it. IDK. The paintings are like their own story. I like them.) I liked this book. It has a really authentic child's voice, dealing with racism & gentrification & such in a genuinely childlike way. And it's funny. Yays.