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spacebee's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
spearingsam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
krobart's review against another edition
3.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/review-1318-all-that-man-is/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/02/19/review-1318-all-that-man-is/
gzs_h's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lspargo's review against another edition
4.0
This is a set of nine unrelated stories about men at progressing ages and stages in their lives. Very well written, and I immediately felt invested in each new story.
chrisb0905's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful, beautiful writing, but such a bleak image of manhood that it was a bit hard to connect with. So much aloneness and very little consideration of family relationships.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
3.0
Nine stories of nine men at nine different stages in life, from arrogant teenager to regretful old man. They’re each journeying through Europe & each reveal flaws & pettiness, usually with women. The title’s meant to be ironic. If this is all that man is, well, then we don’t amount to very much. Can be sparsely sad & insightful. Can also be too self-aware for its own good. (Note to author: Avoid sentences that read “Life.”) A young Frenchman’s tryst with an obese mother & daughter feels like an ugly joke.
winter94's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
reads_ellen's review against another edition
4.0
A long book but doesn’t feel it. Easy to read- there are 9 (largely independent of each other) characters with their own respective sections, and common threads running throughout.
The blurb states that the book explores what manhood is in the 21st century, but it’s contents allude to the nuances experienced by people generally.
The richest aspect of the book is that the first character is the youngest and each subsequent character is at a slightly further stage in their life. There is a beautiful balance between continuity and difference.
The blurb states that the book explores what manhood is in the 21st century, but it’s contents allude to the nuances experienced by people generally.
The richest aspect of the book is that the first character is the youngest and each subsequent character is at a slightly further stage in their life. There is a beautiful balance between continuity and difference.
tenderdispatches's review against another edition
3.0
Good, but missing something essential. Part nine is startlingly beautiful, though.