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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you like unlikeable characters that all do bad things, this is the book for you. Once you get past that, I did want to know how it all played out. Eh, it’s not bad, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content
Minor: Infertility, Pregnancy
After seeing this movie multiple times, I came across the book at a used book sale and picked it up. I've read other stuff by Tom Perrotta and always find his writing amusing and pleasant to read. This is not as strong as some of his other novels, but was a quick and enjoyable read.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The novel hates its characters far less than Alexander Payne’s film adaptation. For cynics this is probably a point in the movie’s favor, but I think Payne’s misanthropic take on the material does too much to obscure the central lesson that can be gleaned from this story: Our institutions aren’t kind to us, so we should be kind to each other. The novel is sharply written and well thought out enough that typing that doesn’t feel as trite as it normally would.
I so desperately wish this had been written from a single character's POV!
Read for my Craft of Fiction class. At first, I hated all the characters, but I kept reading anyway. The book moves really fast, and sucks you in. Plus, the ending was redemptive without being cheesy, and I thought it was pretty perfect. This is a nice little novel.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes