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Yeah, so guyfriend told me that I should read this book. He also gave me the book, and I saw that he marked it up he liked it so much. So I came into The Ask with pretty high expectations and hopes.
And it's not a bad book by any means. Lipsyte is very clever with words, particularly dialogue. He does a very good job with creating a very human, very intelligent protagonist. The dialogue between the protagonist and the rest of the characters is very lively and fun. The actual, literal, style of the book is a lot of fun and keeps the pages turning. You can tell that Lipsyte is a professor, and the actual form of The Ask is quite nice. For someone like me trying to learn how to write, it was good to pick up a few pointers, I think.
I just really didn't like the plot. This is again probably my fault; I don't like messy storylines, unlikable protagonists, and the sort of depressing awfulness that is end-of-empire New York at the heat of this book. I just don't have the heart for it, sadly enough.
The Ask is a well-written book, and I'm sure those of you more Vonnegut-y would really appreciate it. I think the book just kind of hit too close to home; for a guy like me trying to find his place in the world, it's tough to read a book about a guy who really does not like his place in the world. It's difficult to come face-to-face with a possible future and find that future just really, really, depressing. I would like to read more by Lipsyte, just maybe at a different point in my life.
And it's not a bad book by any means. Lipsyte is very clever with words, particularly dialogue. He does a very good job with creating a very human, very intelligent protagonist. The dialogue between the protagonist and the rest of the characters is very lively and fun. The actual, literal, style of the book is a lot of fun and keeps the pages turning. You can tell that Lipsyte is a professor, and the actual form of The Ask is quite nice. For someone like me trying to learn how to write, it was good to pick up a few pointers, I think.
I just really didn't like the plot. This is again probably my fault; I don't like messy storylines, unlikable protagonists, and the sort of depressing awfulness that is end-of-empire New York at the heat of this book. I just don't have the heart for it, sadly enough.
The Ask is a well-written book, and I'm sure those of you more Vonnegut-y would really appreciate it. I think the book just kind of hit too close to home; for a guy like me trying to find his place in the world, it's tough to read a book about a guy who really does not like his place in the world. It's difficult to come face-to-face with a possible future and find that future just really, really, depressing. I would like to read more by Lipsyte, just maybe at a different point in my life.