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A review by whatyouegg
The Land of Steady Habits by Ted Thompson
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel is a really genius exploration of the soul-sucking effect that capitalism has on the idealistic nuclear family. It asks the question: once you’ve dedicated your life to fulfilling the American dream, and you’ve succeeded, will you be happy?
It’s not particularly unique or ground-breaking, but what I liked about it was that it was actually enjoyable to read. The characters were endearing even if they weren’t particularly likeable, and Thompson is a master of situational humour. Anders is your typical Boomer-aged white man who might remind you of why you don’t get along with your dad, but by some miracle, he is a sympathetic character. I think it’s the fact that his 3/4 life crisis arises out of his frustration in upper-middle class society, which I found to be very relatable. I just wish there was a bit more character development from him in the end. Otherwise, this was a great casual read.
It’s not particularly unique or ground-breaking, but what I liked about it was that it was actually enjoyable to read. The characters were endearing even if they weren’t particularly likeable, and Thompson is a master of situational humour. Anders is your typical Boomer-aged white man who might remind you of why you don’t get along with your dad, but by some miracle, he is a sympathetic character. I think it’s the fact that his 3/4 life crisis arises out of his frustration in upper-middle class society, which I found to be very relatable. I just wish there was a bit more character development from him in the end. Otherwise, this was a great casual read.