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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Hard to get through. The pace is sooo slow but not in an interesting way. The characters are realistic, I have definitely met people like them. But that's what makes it so mundane. May as well just go outside instead of reading the book.
Do I have the nerve to ask for this one for Christmas? It's huge and not my usual style. Maybe better from the library. . .
Well, I got it from the MDIHS library and skimmed it. Started reading it, and then it just got too glum. EVERYONE was messed up, EVERYONE was suffering, and EVERYONE's life was going down hill. . . . Just couldn't do it. He has some great lines and such, but I need some likable characters and some rays of hope SOMEWHERE. Whew. It was tough going!
Well, I got it from the MDIHS library and skimmed it. Started reading it, and then it just got too glum. EVERYONE was messed up, EVERYONE was suffering, and EVERYONE's life was going down hill. . . . Just couldn't do it. He has some great lines and such, but I need some likable characters and some rays of hope SOMEWHERE. Whew. It was tough going!
Excellent narrative on the complexities of modern families. Some of the characters I could have done with a little less of - but definitely recommend it. The ending is quite satisfactory - not pollyanna - but very realistic, I think.
I am finally freed from Freedom. It has taken me about a month to read this book in part because the characters had ZERO redeeming qualities about them. I kept waiting for someone to have a change of heart, to stop whining about their disappointing lives and do something positive, but they are all dispicable people who thrive on being horrible and petty to others - especially their own families. Nevertheless, I was determinded to finish because by the time I decided to cut my losses it felt too late to abandon with only 100 pages left. On to better stories...
I really enjoyed reading about the family dynamic--the political backdrop against which the plot was set felt contrived and was generally unconvincing.
This book blew my mind, and it isn't even a mind-blowing kind of book. It is simply a story about one woman's life, including the ups and downs and the plateaus of motherhood and daughterhood. But it is also a story about one man's life, and the ups and downs of fatherhood and husbandhood. I wish I would have/could have written it, and I was sad when it ended. I was actually not a big fan of [b:The Corrections|3805|The Corrections|Jonathan Franzen|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5102ZF98GDL._SL75_.jpg|941200], which is Jonathan Franzen's uber famous, bestselling book of the decade, so I was surprised when I loved this book so much.
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Billed by many reviewers as "the Great American novel". I find that phrase interesting, does a "Great Canadian or British" novel exist as a moniker for anyone? Anyway, that's by the by. This book is a epic in an insular way in that it deals with two generations of the same family. A very long read, took me over a month to complete but i savoured it for the most part. Since different chapters are written from the perspectives of different characters, it is done at different time points so there isn't overlap (like IQ84 for instance).
The most striking thing about this novel is it's level of detail. Turn to p.365 as an example as he lists all the names considered for an organisation one of the protagonists is setting up. The level of thought that must have gone into the detail is amazing although I think the book would be more readable without it. Another thing I liked about the book is the description of characters' motivation and thinking: very realistic. Last of all, the sarcastic tone of the book makes it amusing in parts.
All in all, highly recommended!
The most striking thing about this novel is it's level of detail. Turn to p.365 as an example as he lists all the names considered for an organisation one of the protagonists is setting up. The level of thought that must have gone into the detail is amazing although I think the book would be more readable without it. Another thing I liked about the book is the description of characters' motivation and thinking: very realistic. Last of all, the sarcastic tone of the book makes it amusing in parts.
All in all, highly recommended!
Wow. I am not one for writing reviews, but felt my rating needed an explanation. This novel was, at times, an extremely thought provoking look at contemporary society, and the accompanying societal and political issues, through the lives of one family. I detested every single character in this book, however, and while some portions of the book were brilliantly written, at other times, it was a slog. I thought, as a SAHM, I might identify with Patty, and while I identified with some of her issues, wow, was she an asshat. Every character in this book was an asshat. While this was a dark look at our society, and with our current political climate I can appreciate that view, I was looking for just one moment of redemption. Yep, nope. So my rating pays credence to the fact that many hailed this as the "must read" in 2010, and while there is some very worthy social commentary in the novel, it was not likable, and at some points, was laborious reading. In other words, at times it rated 4 stars and at times it rated 1, so I generously gave it a 3.