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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
A very insightful, wise, touching, funny take on the complications of friendships, class, and how we see and label ourselves and others. I would definitely read more by this author.
I found this to be quite a page-turner in its way, because it was felt almost voyeuristic reading about Elisabeth and Sam and their flaws and boundary-less relationship that forms.
It was also a compelling portrait of women at different stages in their lives, both struggling with what society (and their families) expect of them, and it definitely opened my eyes to the hard experience of IVF which I'd never read about before.
I don't think that these characters will stay with me longterm, but while I was reading the book, I was absorbed.
It was also a compelling portrait of women at different stages in their lives, both struggling with what society (and their families) expect of them, and it definitely opened my eyes to the hard experience of IVF which I'd never read about before.
I don't think that these characters will stay with me longterm, but while I was reading the book, I was absorbed.
this is one of those books that focuses on characters and how they interact. personally I love this type of writing because it leaves so much room for interpretation. it reminded me a little bit of conversations with friends in that way, which I enjoyed.
the writing is done so well - the way there’s kind of a narrative on capitalism and the wealth gap and privilege was done really well. it almost sneaks up on you that you’re even thinking about these things.
my only complaint is just that *some*parts of it felt like they dragged a little.
I enjoyed it though it’s just not one of those books that you put down and wonder what’s gonna happen next. it’s a good book to mull over with your coffee each morning
the writing is done so well - the way there’s kind of a narrative on capitalism and the wealth gap and privilege was done really well. it almost sneaks up on you that you’re even thinking about these things.
my only complaint is just that *some*parts of it felt like they dragged a little.
I enjoyed it though it’s just not one of those books that you put down and wonder what’s gonna happen next. it’s a good book to mull over with your coffee each morning
Too long and repetitive. Mostly unlikable characters.
Probably a 3.5 book that I’m rounding down to 3. This is a very character driven novel; things happen but the bulk of the novel is spent inside the characters’ heads. It reminds me of a mix of Such a Fun Age and The Female Persuasion - a young woman at a women's college becomes a nanny for a woman who recently moved from Brooklyn, and the two become close, forming a friendship beyond employee and employer.
It's about the stories we tell ourselves about people we know, and about how we don't always know them as well as we think we do. It reminded me that we shouldn't idolize people. There's a lot of themes here, and some of them are carried through to the end, but some of them feel like they get dropped. It was alright - a slow read but lots to think about.
It's about the stories we tell ourselves about people we know, and about how we don't always know them as well as we think we do. It reminded me that we shouldn't idolize people. There's a lot of themes here, and some of them are carried through to the end, but some of them feel like they get dropped. It was alright - a slow read but lots to think about.
I enjoyed all of Sullivan’s previous books and liked a lot of things about this book, but it was pretty chaotic and uneven.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Friends and Strangers is an exploration of different friendships and relationships. At first I struggled to shake off the feeling that it was very similar to Such a Fun Age”, and in many ways it is, with the relationship between a mother and her babysitter at its heart, but I was drawn into the story and the two central characters of Elizabeth and Sam and began to see it in its own light.
In many ways, nothing much happens in the book but it has a number of insightful moments and it is very gripping. I’ll definitely look for other books by the same author
I’m very grateful for my review copy. Thank you.
In many ways, nothing much happens in the book but it has a number of insightful moments and it is very gripping. I’ll definitely look for other books by the same author
I’m very grateful for my review copy. Thank you.
The author raised many hot topics - motherhood, friendships, privilege, wealth, class, adulting, relationships - and I was excited at first but it felt like too much was attempted. There wasn't enough depth in the topics to make the story work cohesively.
By the end I could not stand Elisabeth and did not care what happened to her at all. The interaction with George at the end was too small to show a change in her, or that she really learned something from the mess she made.
After all the idolizing of President Washington how could the author drop the chance for Sam to have a true moment with her and for Sam to be a part of Washington's downfall?
Elisabeth should have had a real moment and change when her dad reminded her that he bought the apartment that subsequently allowed her to buy the suburban house. She could have started her change here and really done something with that but it fell flat among the other threads the author was squeezing in. So many times Elisabeth did not acknowledge her privilege and it works in many ways but I thought Sam would be the trigger for her.
Smaller plot threads that were left hanging too much for me:
I thought Elisabeth's IVF experience would have made her struggle with Isabella's egg donation plan and we would see some character building but instead she simply talked her out of it.
I still don't understand why Clive wanted to be married immediately. Age? I thought it would come back to Laura and he needed to be married for some related reason, devious or honest, but another curve half thrown in that really wasn't necessary.
By the end I could not stand Elisabeth and did not care what happened to her at all. The interaction with George at the end was too small to show a change in her, or that she really learned something from the mess she made.
After all the idolizing of President Washington how could the author drop the chance for Sam to have a true moment with her and for Sam to be a part of Washington's downfall?
Elisabeth should have had a real moment and change when her dad reminded her that he bought the apartment that subsequently allowed her to buy the suburban house. She could have started her change here and really done something with that but it fell flat among the other threads the author was squeezing in. So many times Elisabeth did not acknowledge her privilege and it works in many ways but I thought Sam would be the trigger for her.
Smaller plot threads that were left hanging too much for me:
I thought Elisabeth's IVF experience would have made her struggle with Isabella's egg donation plan and we would see some character building but instead she simply talked her out of it.
I still don't understand why Clive wanted to be married immediately. Age? I thought it would come back to Laura and he needed to be married for some related reason, devious or honest, but another curve half thrown in that really wasn't necessary.