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theloosepage's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emulcahy's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-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
4.0
connieevans's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Wasn’t sure how to feel about this one for the first half, but feel like it really came into its own in the second half. Really heartbreaking and at points I was finding it highly reminiscent of A Little Life, mostly when it came to the feelings of anger and desperation I had on behalf of Wallace and the level of violence he endures. Given the fact that I finished it in 24 hours, I think I enjoyed it more than I actually realised while reading it?
patriciaxh's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
wooyouknow's review against another edition
4.5
brandon taylor really popped off with chapter five and eight
lunaliz's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.5
foreverarose's review
medium-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
3.25
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
3.0
Actual Rating: 2.5 stars
It's the epitome of literary fiction, and I'm totally down for that. But it's a bit too thin for a novel and would have made a better short story. I was much more interested in Wallace's work in the lab and the dramas he encountered there with the other students. His and Miller's romantic drama was less compelling and their conversations felt repetitive and talking for the sake of talking, which, in turn, felt like Taylor was adding conversations for length, not character development or the forwarding of the story.
Also, it takes place in Madison, but Taylor never names the town. I spent the first quarter of the book second-guessing myself and asking, "Wait, is it actually Univ. of Michigan? Or Minnesota? No, it's Madison...right?" And I went to school at UW, so this just drove me nuts and felt unnecessary. I imagine Taylor had a reason for doing this, but I found it super distracting.
The ending was spot-on, though it would have been stronger (IMO) if we'd gotten one more day in the lab. Why not have Wallace go there in the morning so we get a bit more from the Karens he works with (such Karens)? The ending would have been even stronger.
Taylor is a skilled writer and I'll read his next novel. I hope it's better developed than this one.
It's the epitome of literary fiction, and I'm totally down for that. But it's a bit too thin for a novel and would have made a better short story. I was much more interested in Wallace's work in the lab and the dramas he encountered there with the other students. His and Miller's romantic drama was less compelling and their conversations felt repetitive and talking for the sake of talking, which, in turn, felt like Taylor was adding conversations for length, not character development or the forwarding of the story.
Also, it takes place in Madison, but Taylor never names the town. I spent the first quarter of the book second-guessing myself and asking, "Wait, is it actually Univ. of Michigan? Or Minnesota? No, it's Madison...right?" And I went to school at UW, so this just drove me nuts and felt unnecessary. I imagine Taylor had a reason for doing this, but I found it super distracting.
The ending was spot-on, though it would have been stronger (IMO) if we'd gotten one more day in the lab. Why not have Wallace go there in the morning so we get a bit more from the Karens he works with (such Karens)? The ending would have been even stronger.
Taylor is a skilled writer and I'll read his next novel. I hope it's better developed than this one.
elunapollo's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75