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quinndm's review against another edition
2.0
Self-indulgent. Laborious. And exasperating!... but, also, beautifully written.
There is a moment in the book when the character thinks, feels, he’s being pitiful. And, the truth is: he is. But he’s also frustrating, and confusing, aggravating, and not that enjoyable to read about.
Aciman is a true master of simile and description, of memory and emotion, but even his power with words can’t keep this story together. It drags. It lags. It falters. He spends too much time on the inane, and neglects the true heart of the book: the character’s relationship with his father.
Aciman is a literary role model, and this book proves our idols can’t always be perfect. But it is this misstep that makes me admire him even more.
There is a moment in the book when the character thinks, feels, he’s being pitiful. And, the truth is: he is. But he’s also frustrating, and confusing, aggravating, and not that enjoyable to read about.
Aciman is a true master of simile and description, of memory and emotion, but even his power with words can’t keep this story together. It drags. It lags. It falters. He spends too much time on the inane, and neglects the true heart of the book: the character’s relationship with his father.
Aciman is a literary role model, and this book proves our idols can’t always be perfect. But it is this misstep that makes me admire him even more.
bellaroobookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Whoa. That was a whirlwind, and I don't know how to feel.
First off, I know that this book isn't everyone's cup of tea. Not everyone wants to be trapped in the mind of a man whose thoughts move faster than a whirling dervish. But the beauty of Aciman's novel is that the protagonist thinks the same thoughts that everyone who has experienced love has thought, if maybe to a higher degree. There's pain and glee and heartbreak and beauty, all wrapped together, and trying to tease them apart does no good.
The name Clara has forever been changed for me. Aciman's book was one of the most engaging things I've read in a long, long time.
First off, I know that this book isn't everyone's cup of tea. Not everyone wants to be trapped in the mind of a man whose thoughts move faster than a whirling dervish. But the beauty of Aciman's novel is that the protagonist thinks the same thoughts that everyone who has experienced love has thought, if maybe to a higher degree. There's pain and glee and heartbreak and beauty, all wrapped together, and trying to tease them apart does no good.
The name Clara has forever been changed for me. Aciman's book was one of the most engaging things I've read in a long, long time.
gkcf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
suchikaashyap's review against another edition
4.0
A very beautiful book where nothing happens and a result everything does. There was an element of being dragged out towards the end that seemed to sour the taste a wee bit but there were enough beautiful lines and sense of mystique about the book to keep the reader guessing provided you are patient.
It is one of those books that will keep a reader engaged or not at all and would entirely depend on their mood at the time.
You might find Clara prickly or smart, cruel or clever, sarcastic or funny. Oskàr as she calls him engages in a mental dialogue throughout the book and either you take to it or not at all.
Eight beautiful white nights or one big mental dialogue, the decision is yours.
It is one of those books that will keep a reader engaged or not at all and would entirely depend on their mood at the time.
You might find Clara prickly or smart, cruel or clever, sarcastic or funny. Oskàr as she calls him engages in a mental dialogue throughout the book and either you take to it or not at all.
Eight beautiful white nights or one big mental dialogue, the decision is yours.
la_ooo_ra's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
smupple's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
your_local_leo's review against another edition
1.0
I found this book kinda boring as it went along as it was a steady stream of concicuous Andre acimen is a good writer don't get me wrong but this book just seemed to drag on for me.
julie_loves_books's review against another edition
1.0
Gave this a go as I had just finished Call Me By Your Name and wanted to check out some more Andre Aciman. This one didn't grab me. Going to abandon.
eviecj's review against another edition
2.0
some really beautiful sentences here and there but honestly the two main characters were so pretentious and unlikeable that i did not care about their love story and i just wanted the book to be over lol
softstarrynights's review
4.0
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For once I'm going to avoid waxing lyrical over how much I love Aciman, and how excited I was to read this book. I'm also going to get the obvious out of the way; this was no Call Me By Your Name. It was, however, and extremely competent and lovely pice of writing. Following two people who meet nightly, int he eight nights leading up tot he new year, Aciman gives us a whimsical realism, that doesn't feel too contrived. There is that high-brow air to it, the same as CMBYN, which isn't for everyone but I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a romance, that's a little different, where you have to read between the lines, then give this a try.
For once I'm going to avoid waxing lyrical over how much I love Aciman, and how excited I was to read this book. I'm also going to get the obvious out of the way; this was no Call Me By Your Name. It was, however, and extremely competent and lovely pice of writing. Following two people who meet nightly, int he eight nights leading up tot he new year, Aciman gives us a whimsical realism, that doesn't feel too contrived. There is that high-brow air to it, the same as CMBYN, which isn't for everyone but I really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a romance, that's a little different, where you have to read between the lines, then give this a try.