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dinasamimi's review against another edition
4.0
Great writing and pacing. Though the story is set during the course of a couple days there is a lot of meat to the plot and characters. Some of the dialogue didn't hit for me, especially the circular Wallace/Miller convos, but otherwise great.
fantasynovel's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly one of the most depressing books I've ever read.
markcastaneda's review against another edition
5.0
extremely right for me. thoughts;
- i was NOT ready for how depressing (deflating?) this would be. or how existential
- this is certainly thinly veiled autobiography, fictionalized. It's clear that the author is speaking about himself, if nothing else in the way that the university town so closely parallels UW and Madison WI
- the writing style was initially jarring in its density. it's a more poetic prose, and things move slowly. it feels a little dramatized, but picking through it is like finding profundity where you don't expect. I think finding what resonated for me was a little like picking your favorite part out of chex mix? like, any line could be profound to someone, but you find what in this means something to you. idk bro
- i think it's beautiful and there's layers and very few cringey cliches which is really impressive for a book about friends and realationships in grad school tbh
- definitely a more gen z view of sexuality that normalizes queerness without erasing it which is nice for me tbh
- i have a lot of thoughts about miller and wallaces relationship but idk how to even put into words yet so sitting on that one
- last chapter fucked me up
- i was NOT ready for how depressing (deflating?) this would be. or how existential
- this is certainly thinly veiled autobiography, fictionalized. It's clear that the author is speaking about himself, if nothing else in the way that the university town so closely parallels UW and Madison WI
- the writing style was initially jarring in its density. it's a more poetic prose, and things move slowly. it feels a little dramatized, but picking through it is like finding profundity where you don't expect. I think finding what resonated for me was a little like picking your favorite part out of chex mix? like, any line could be profound to someone, but you find what in this means something to you. idk bro
- i think it's beautiful and there's layers and very few cringey cliches which is really impressive for a book about friends and realationships in grad school tbh
- definitely a more gen z view of sexuality that normalizes queerness without erasing it which is nice for me tbh
- i have a lot of thoughts about miller and wallaces relationship but idk how to even put into words yet so sitting on that one
- last chapter fucked me up
jcinf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
I have a tough time rating this one.
First, I appreciated the portrayal of tokenism and racism in LGBTQ+ spaces.
Two things I had mixed feelings toward (I promise no spoilers):
First, I appreciated the portrayal of tokenism and racism in LGBTQ+ spaces.
Two things I had mixed feelings toward (I promise no spoilers):
- Wallace’s friend group felt “meh” at best. I get that the author probably wanted to portray Wallace as being an outcast in his group. I know that’s the core part of the narrative here. ** BUT, I couldn’t tell… was Wallace having a hard time reconciling his friends’ problematic qualities against their redeemable traits? Or were they just shitty people that he became “friends” with solely out of proximity? It was well written, but I would have appreciated more clarity on this.
- Wallace’s dynamic with another character in the book. I won’t say who so I don’t spoil it. It’s hard for authors to walk the line between glorifying abuse and simply portraying it. I think in large pet he just portrayed in, but in certain parts I felt like it was getting perhaps a little close to romanticizing it. The second to last chapter brought those feelings up for me.
Overall, though, I felt largely positively about this book. A handful of the things I liked:
- The descriptiveness was stunning.
- The dialogue was realistic and appropriately emotional.
- The depiction of nuanced grief and the way some people try to simplify it.
- This one is a loose spoiler as far as character growth, but doesn’t reveal any specific plot points.
The acknowledgment that Wallace can be self-absorbed. Butttt also giving him wiggle room to be that way because of his intersecting struggles due to his sexuality, race, economic class, and generally feeling behind in his academics. .
As a whole, this book was wonderfully written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Eating disorder, and Racism
natyosch's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.5
nickscoby's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent! Deserves all of the flowers it is receiving and more. I added this book on my list because I knew it was a first-gen story. What I wasn't expecting is that it also is a story about graduate school and, man, it took me back and not in a good way. Has anyone else written with such perception what it feels like to be a first-gen student of color in a doctoral program? Taylor gets it JUST RIGHT. The dinner parties, the constant talk about work, the out of touch advisors. And look, I got my degree in the humanities where they have a greater sense of humor. Can't imagine being in the sciences. If anyone is looking for resources about this particular experience, they should start here.
My one pick to nit is that the book does take on a groundhog dog quality when it comes to Miller and Wallace. But overall, this is a winner.
My one pick to nit is that the book does take on a groundhog dog quality when it comes to Miller and Wallace. But overall, this is a winner.
michalow's review against another edition
4.0
Brandon Taylor's writing conveys so well the oppressiveness of pursuing a graduate degree in the biological sciences in an unnamed Midwestern town that is obviously Madison, I was instantly transported to that period of my own life. Against this backdrop, Wallace's story is a painful one: grim, maddening at times, and more violent than I expected. The final few pages of the book are crushing and perfect.
elleriekaren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
continuitea's review against another edition
4.0
Sad and heavy but buoyed by some really beautiful prose. I liked hanging out in Wallace's head, despite the circumstances