angera 's review for:

The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez

4.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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i think this book would only appeal to a specific audience. i wouldn't say the narrator is lovable but relatable. she's flawed, and her rumination and reflections during the covid-19 pandemic are relatable. she's a stereotypical boomer sometimes, but she's also a person in her 60s struggling with isolation and loneliness. it's not just about the covid-19 pandemic but also about the epidemic of loneliness, especially amongst the elderly. she goes through some heartwarming and bittersweet character development as she opens up through her forced cohabitation with a gen Z-er. they have almost nothing in common, but their friendship is sweet and hopeful that humans can find connection in the most unlikely places. it's a very human novel that is easy to simply cast aside as "boring," "nothing happens," and "boomer narrator," but if you like books about relatable flawed human experiences, then you might like this.