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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity
Minor: Islamophobia, Fire/Fire injury
reflective
fast-paced
Really cool concept for a book that emphasizes how tiny our huge world really is. All the characters are connected and it’s exciting to put the puzzle pieces together. Besides the concept, however, the book is a bit unmemorable because you don’t have the character development to get connected to any of the characters or plot points. A fun read but it doesn’t leave me thinking for days after. 3.5/5 stars but not really worthy of rounding up to 4 stars.
fast-paced
Liked the format of this a lot -- thought the vignettes and interconnectedness was a unique and cute touch. Super digestible. Ultimately didn't feel like it did more than scratch the surface due to how fleeting each chapter was and how short the book was -- but maybe that's kinda the point. I do wish we got more, though.
3.5* rounded down.
3.5* rounded down.
The format was cool, following a series of flights and filling in gaps in stories from different perspectives. It read like a connected series of short stories but I wish there had been more closure for some of the characters. It did create much the sense of what can happen on a plane where you connect with someone for a brief period of time and then never hear from them again.
I spend a lot of time wondering about people's worlds; marveling at the depth and emotion of the lives that we intersect with every day but will never know the extent of, so this book—a series of vignettes of people who are connected by a dozen airline flights—was just perfect for me. It's easy, I think, to lose sight of the fact that every single person you meet, pass by, encounter—every! single! one!—has a life just as full and complicated as yours. I will never stop wondering about those lives and I appreciate David Szalay's skill at giving me a peek at some of what might be happening right in front of me but totally hidden from my view.
A little too much of a disjointed read for me and it was hard for me to get into and enjoy.
This book was just ok for me. I didn't love it as much as I thought I would but I didn't hate it either. It follows several characters, showing the interconnectedness of people and the mark they can leave on us even if only meeting briefly. The connection used here is through an airplane which I thought was an great idea!
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While this is a very quick intriguing read I did wish some of the characters got longer parts in the book. I didn't feel connected to any of them but felt I could have if they had gotten bigger chapters. But on the other hand I get what Szalay did here, and he does accomplish a lot in such a short novel. The writing was very good, I will definitely look into his other books.
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While this is a very quick intriguing read I did wish some of the characters got longer parts in the book. I didn't feel connected to any of them but felt I could have if they had gotten bigger chapters. But on the other hand I get what Szalay did here, and he does accomplish a lot in such a short novel. The writing was very good, I will definitely look into his other books.
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For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
Such an enjoyable read, I really liked how it is all interconnected. It's a short book that keeps you reading along at a good pace.