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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
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
Fascinating depth of character through the first about 200 pages, and then he stagnates. Maybe the three main characters' catharses are subtle and understated, more generously. The book is very well read, however, and constant allusions and critiques make the reading engaging. Eugenides also dances around the feminist movement in a way that I'm not convinced isn't mysoginist. The author can really fall into his characters; self-involved, privilaged undergraduates in the eighties, in this case. Maybe I've never been a fan of the Victorian marraige novels, even if it is a modern one with a modern ending. Still, his prose is thoughful and well wrought, and he describes modern Greece perfectly in a single paragraph, for which I will always respect him.
I really didn't enjoy the first third or so of this book. It felt forced somehow, as if I were being pushed into various positions about the characters instead of just reading the story. The language was still lovely but I felt this part wasn't as well written. It could also be that I am either too young or too old to not feel irritated at characters this age :P
The middle third was good.
The last part was AMAZING. Heartbreaking and intelligent.
The middle third was good.
The last part was AMAZING. Heartbreaking and intelligent.
Enjoyed the evocative images of a pretentious liberal arts degree cohort at an Ivy League
I've never read Eugenides before. I enjoy his style and will have to pick up a different book. The two characters in this are insufferable. After reading over half of the book, I realize that's probably intentional. But recovering-from-a-pandemic Tia lacks the patience to push through.
From the time I started the book, the one word that kept jumping into my mind was "pretentious." I don't know if it was the topics, or the writing, and I kept thinking it would improve, but the story dragged on in the same manner up to the very end. I was thinking (hoping?) I would at least get invested in the characters themselves; from Leonard's mental illness and scientific inclinations, to Madeleine's literary interests and Mitchell's pursuit of religious meaning, these are all topics I would generally find interesting, but I was unable to identify with any of the characters, and in fact I didn't really like any of them at all.
I've heard good things about Jeffrey Eugenides and plan to read Middlesex, but I hope this isn't representative of all of his books, because I don't think I could make it through another one like this.
I've heard good things about Jeffrey Eugenides and plan to read Middlesex, but I hope this isn't representative of all of his books, because I don't think I could make it through another one like this.
It’s been awhile since I read such a well crafted novel where I hated every character. The Marriage Plot is a bit of The Catcher In the Rye meets The Graduate which should give one the sense why these characters are so unappealing. Then again-I’m sure we were all a bit unappealing when we’re navel gazing 22 year old college grads. It’s that basis that turns this novel into a compelling read. The story sticks the landing in a rather unforgettable scene on the streets of New York City on a sweltering summer evening. You can’t help but begin to sympathize for these characters as they navigating their opening acts of adulthood for all its glories and mishaps. At its heart this really is just a novel about growing up.