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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this book, but I didn't enjoy it as much as "Middlesex" or "The Virgin Suicides." Eugenides is a wonderful writer, but a lot of the writing in this book is overwrought -- I got the impression Eugenides was trying too hard to create the Next Great American Novel by a Great American Male Novelist instead of focusing on crafting a solid story. With that said, I enjoyed the characters and the passages on literature and philosophy (reminded me of my grad school days). I also felt he portrayed Leonard's manic depression/bipolar disorder well, and that the conflicts between Madeleine, Mitchell, and Leonard were compelling.
I gave it three stars because it just didn't grip me as much as Eugenides's previous novels. If you're new to Eugenides, read "Middlesex" first. But I still recommend it. Despite its length, I was able to get through it quickly. I listened to it on audiobook, and the actor who read it was really good, so that helped.
I gave it three stars because it just didn't grip me as much as Eugenides's previous novels. If you're new to Eugenides, read "Middlesex" first. But I still recommend it. Despite its length, I was able to get through it quickly. I listened to it on audiobook, and the actor who read it was really good, so that helped.
Maybe I like this book so much because I was an English major myself, with my own romantic notions of love and marriage. Or because I appreciate the author's deft pacing and character descriptions. Or because he knows how to have fun with words.
Whatever the reason, I'm surprised so few reviewers here get the subtext of what Eugenides was doing with The Marriage Plot. It's about taking the old formulas and putting them into the 20th century, with 20th century problems. It's about poking a little fun at the issues of class, wealth, position, intellectual thought and higher education in the Reagan years - issues which weren't all that different 100 years earlier. It's about matters of love, relationships, marriage and kids. The WHOLE BOOK is the Marriage Plot.
Think of it this way: if we slapped Jane Austen's name on the spine, changed all the 20th century references to 19th century ones, maybe slightly altered a few subplots (some unnamed mental illness as opposed to manic depression), readers would think they'd just read a newly discovered Austen novel. The only giveaway would be the ending.
For that very reason, I think this book is ingenious. Some of the time jumps are a little clunky, some of the prose, ehh. But I love a writer who plays with form on a deeper level. It makes me want to go back to college just so I could write a paper comparing The Marriage Plot to Bronte or Austen.
Whatever the reason, I'm surprised so few reviewers here get the subtext of what Eugenides was doing with The Marriage Plot. It's about taking the old formulas and putting them into the 20th century, with 20th century problems. It's about poking a little fun at the issues of class, wealth, position, intellectual thought and higher education in the Reagan years - issues which weren't all that different 100 years earlier. It's about matters of love, relationships, marriage and kids. The WHOLE BOOK is the Marriage Plot.
Think of it this way: if we slapped Jane Austen's name on the spine, changed all the 20th century references to 19th century ones, maybe slightly altered a few subplots (some unnamed mental illness as opposed to manic depression), readers would think they'd just read a newly discovered Austen novel. The only giveaway would be the ending.
For that very reason, I think this book is ingenious. Some of the time jumps are a little clunky, some of the prose, ehh. But I love a writer who plays with form on a deeper level. It makes me want to go back to college just so I could write a paper comparing The Marriage Plot to Bronte or Austen.
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
To compare this book to "The Virgin Suicides" or "Middlesex" is not a good idea. Mostly, because the book falls short of his previous work. Eugenides explores the old marriage plot novels (none of which I'm familiar with) and tries his hand at dissecting a manic love triangle. His main characters may have been interesting, but how in the world do you compete with five suicidal sisters and a Greek hermaphrodite? Sadly, I don't think it's with "The Marriage Plot."
I could not get into this book. I read about 50 pages, then skipped to the end and read the last 10. That told me everything I needed to know & I was fine putting it down.
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
:((