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enoemo's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Honestly, this was such a fun classic read. It took me a couple pages to fully get into it, but the author did a great job at introducing the characters and reminding the reader of them if they didn't appear for a while - essential for me as someone who tends to forget side characters easily if they're not always in the picture, especially in a book that spans multiple years like this one. This was entertaining, the characters were well developed and I felt for each one of them in a strange way. I also like how the content foreshadows some of the fascinations that were then again picked up by the beat generation. Beware though, as a lot of books from this era, you will find some -isms here and there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny, Infidelity, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Drug abuse, and Classism
kejan's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
The book overall is quite challenging to read but allows the reader to be introspective. The characters are significant to the time period and very realistic with both flaws and redeeming features. There are slow parts to the book that sometimes discourage the read, but the final chapter is in a surprising way worth the entire read.
The writing does have tones of sexism, racism and anti-semitism that are sometimes difficult to ignore even when considering the time this book was written in. That is also the reason I deducted a point from my score.
The writing does have tones of sexism, racism and anti-semitism that are sometimes difficult to ignore even when considering the time this book was written in. That is also the reason I deducted a point from my score.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Antisemitism
Minor: Addiction
laurenw's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Death, Racial slurs, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Car accident, Child death, Infidelity, War, and Murder
Minor: Antisemitism
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