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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
I tore through this book. It was such a great mix of pleasure and pain to read. But the afterglow is wearing off as I consider the author's parsing of science and religion. I also keep mulling over his explorations of feminism as a force in refashioning the novel and relationships, but I come up empty. I fear not much has really changed. A great read though; the kind of fiction that makes me need more fiction.
eugenides books are all the more precious to me since they only come about every 7 years or so. despite this feeling somewhat like a minor work to me - at least in comparison with "middlesex" - i really loved his evocation of college and the period just following it. the plot as a whole was so reminiscent of hardy and "madame bovary" that it really grabbed the inner english major in me - even though (or perhaps because of the fact) the characters were in many regards highly unlikable. also, the descriptions of manic depression were rather stunning.
The Marriage Plot has been in my 'Want to Read' queue since 2012, it could have stayed there.
This was my first Eugenides book. It was simply okay. The topic itself was interesting but I found the characters to be unlikable especially Madeleine whose privileged background made her story and actions even sadder.
This was my first Eugenides book. It was simply okay. The topic itself was interesting but I found the characters to be unlikable especially Madeleine whose privileged background made her story and actions even sadder.
As my friend, Monique, said, "If Jeffrey Eugenides continues to take 9 years to write a novel, I'm OK with that if they're this good."
Now I'll begin by saying that this is no Middlesex, so don't bother trying to make the comparison -- you'll be disappointed. (And yet, here I am about to make the comparison...it's inevitable.) The plot in this novel is much more mundane. It is, in short, a love triangle, a literal marriage plot. In fact, Eugenides admits this almost-cliche approach through the title (obviously) but also through one of the character's admission that she loves him, but he loves someone else, who loves someone else. He's playing with this timeless plot, and it works.
Amazingly, it is still an incredibly riveting read. I couldn't put it down and read it cover to cover over a long weekend, something I rarely do. Eugenides is brilliant at using forward tilt in his novels. You just can't wait to see what happens next because you get incredibly invested in these characters.
My favorite passages of writing in this novel had to do with exploring mental illness, particularly manic depression. Eugenides allows us to see the disease from all perspectives and the ways the characters try to rationalize it, "fix" it, and finally come to terms with it. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.
Now I'll begin by saying that this is no Middlesex, so don't bother trying to make the comparison -- you'll be disappointed. (And yet, here I am about to make the comparison...it's inevitable.) The plot in this novel is much more mundane. It is, in short, a love triangle, a literal marriage plot. In fact, Eugenides admits this almost-cliche approach through the title (obviously) but also through one of the character's admission that she loves him, but he loves someone else, who loves someone else. He's playing with this timeless plot, and it works.
Amazingly, it is still an incredibly riveting read. I couldn't put it down and read it cover to cover over a long weekend, something I rarely do. Eugenides is brilliant at using forward tilt in his novels. You just can't wait to see what happens next because you get incredibly invested in these characters.
My favorite passages of writing in this novel had to do with exploring mental illness, particularly manic depression. Eugenides allows us to see the disease from all perspectives and the ways the characters try to rationalize it, "fix" it, and finally come to terms with it. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.
Many other reviewers captured my sentiments about this book, but I'll add a few cents anyway. I was lured in by the idea of a modern take on the marriage plot. Unlike the heroines in novels by Austen or the Brontes, however, Madeleine is an incredibly flat character. There's little presented to redeem her and I disagree with the author that she's the post-feminist representation of Emma Woodhouse or Elizabeth Bennet. Even when those characters behaved foolishly or unthinkingly, they realized the error of their ways and atoned for it or took off the blinders that hindered them. Madeleine is closest to Anna Karenina, in my opinion, because she's just a pretty shell trying to force what she can't have into the life she believes she ought to have, although she doesn't end up under a train. Perhaps, that's another reason she's so unsympathetic and dull. Leonard and Mitchell are somewhat more fleshed out, but they just can't breathe life into a book about nothing. A bigger problem with the book is the amount of time it takes to wade through needless exposition. Did I really need to wade through almost one CD for Madeleine to get up and open the door? Am I really supposed to believe that the important phone call Madeleine gets a few minutes before graduation didn't actually take an hour, as opposed to maybe 5 minutes in the book?? The entire sequence pre-graduation is quite ridiculous, in fact.
One useful fact gleaned from this book is that 7Up once contained lithium! So, there's that, and the audiobook version took up a several commuting hours.
One useful fact gleaned from this book is that 7Up once contained lithium! So, there's that, and the audiobook version took up a several commuting hours.
I think this is one of those "You love it or you hate it" type of books. There's no in-between. For me, it was clearly the latter. I absolutely enjoyed this novel. It was my first Jeffrey Eugenides book and it did not disappoint. Interestingly enough, halfway through, I put this book down for a while, not for lack of interest, but just because other things got in the way (life). Yet, as soon as I picked it up again, I instantly jumped right back in with Madeline and Leonard. It never felt offputting to be away from the story so long and to force myself right back in the middle. On the contrary, it felt as though I had been gone for a couple minutes at the most, and was comfortably settling back in. I found myself thinking about both character's during my hiatus, wondering what path each was going to take (because let's be honest, they're both very self-destructive and selfish). Leonard's section was incredibly engaging, I really liked the way Eugenides wrote about his state of mind and delved into the complexities that make up maniac depression. Mitchell was also such a great character. One of his very last scenes surrounded by Quakers and coming to a realization about him and Madeline resonated so profoundly. Highly recommend to stick this one out and enjoy the ride.
I decided to give this book 3 stars because while it was entertaining, it's not a book I will reread. Madeleine was very annoying throughout the story. I did learn a few things, so that was great!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Yowza! I've really liked Eugenides, but the characters in this one about drove me nuts. The best thing was that they were all my age! But they went to Brown, were just full of themselves, and about drove me nuts. Mitchell is some kind of religious/but not religious nut who decides he'll marry Madeleine. Trouble is that Madeleine goes all wonky for Leonard, who happens to be bi polar. They all blah, blah, blah through the book spouting a lot of collegiate philosophy, which is just not my thing. I would write this one off completely, except that the ending is so absolutely right--it completely fits all of the rest of the darn book!