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jrodick's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
damesies's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This isn't a massively novel concept but what a rich, humorous and touching story well told. Haig's words sing in a flawless rhythm and all of a sudden you're laughing at a razor sharp joke from two pages back. Delightful!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity
conny_b's review against another edition
4.0
I let out an audible gasp while reading this book on a busy train. A few people looked up and I think they took note of the title of the book I was reading :)
barbells_and_books_'s review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
isabelawith1l's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. I love any media that approaches humanity from an outside perspective/point of view (indomitable human spirit alien stories, anyone?) so this book was right up my alley. There were so many introspective moments that force you to recognize how humanity is severely flawed but also how humanity still thrives through their lows.
** spoilers ahead **
"Sometimes, to be yourself you will have to forget yourself and become something else. Your character is not a fixed thing. You will sometimes have to move to keep up with it."
I truly loved the narrator slowly realizing how much he craved connection, even if the civilization that he came from was more "logical" or "civilized."
I loved the theme of humanity being terrible as a whole but individually worth of living the lives that they have decided to live.
The narrator's relationship with Gulliver was amazing to me because I loved how he recognized someone in pain and tried to help (as a side note, I appreciated how the narrator from the very beginning was always a character who wanted to help first, even before he "turned" human). I genuinely got really emotional during the rooftop scene because of how desperately the narrator was trying to reach out to Gulliver.
I will say, I did have to debate with myself multiple times if the narrator's relationship with Isobel was weird because she was essentially having sex and a deeply emotional relationship with her husband's murderer. Grated, this is the same for Gulliver, who was creating a paternal relationship with his father's murderer, and Andrew was a terrible person anyway, but it's something that I'm still trying to justify for myself.
** spoilers ahead **
"Sometimes, to be yourself you will have to forget yourself and become something else. Your character is not a fixed thing. You will sometimes have to move to keep up with it."
I truly loved the narrator slowly realizing how much he craved connection, even if the civilization that he came from was more "logical" or "civilized."
I loved the theme of humanity being terrible as a whole but individually worth of living the lives that they have decided to live.
The narrator's relationship with Gulliver was amazing to me because I loved how he recognized someone in pain and tried to help (as a side note, I appreciated how the narrator from the very beginning was always a character who wanted to help first, even before he "turned" human). I genuinely got really emotional during the rooftop scene because of how desperately the narrator was trying to reach out to Gulliver.
I will say, I did have to debate with myself multiple times if the narrator's relationship with Isobel was weird because she was essentially having sex and a deeply emotional relationship with her husband's murderer. Grated, this is the same for Gulliver, who was creating a paternal relationship with his father's murderer, and Andrew was a terrible person anyway, but it's something that I'm still trying to justify for myself.
krista_billings's review against another edition
4.0
I Iove Matt Haig. I don't know if I love this book. I suspect I am not in the right frame of mind to read it and if I read it at another point in the future and with a different lens, I would adore it.
caustic_moomoo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5