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A review by tay_af
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Update 2021: I was pleasantly surprised by how much more I liked the book overall the second time I read it. I think the dynamics are a lot more intricate than I really gave Rooney credit for, and I found myself really liking the characters’ decisions to be honest with each other (when they were). The non-normative relationship dynamics are quite well done in the end, too.
2019: I’m incredibly torn about how I feel about this book. As a rule, I find adultery plots boring and this was mostly no exception, although the dynamics later changed in such a way that I found it much more interesting. I think the dominant romantic relationship of the text was much less interesting then the other combo romantic platonic relationship, which also improved in focus near the end, but I wish it had ended more on that than on anything else. Phenomenal writing style, which makes it so I can’t go below 4 stars, and I think I would feel differently if I liked the characters more as well.
2019: I’m incredibly torn about how I feel about this book. As a rule, I find adultery plots boring and this was mostly no exception, although the dynamics later changed in such a way that I found it much more interesting. I think the dominant romantic relationship of the text was much less interesting then the other combo romantic platonic relationship, which also improved in focus near the end, but I wish it had ended more on that than on anything else. Phenomenal writing style, which makes it so I can’t go below 4 stars, and I think I would feel differently if I liked the characters more as well.