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A review by margaret45678
The Everlasting Story of Nory by Nicholson Baker
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I can't quite explain why I love this book so much. I wouldn't consider myself someone who is endlessly charmed by kids in real life, but I find this book so funny and sweet, without being overly cutesy. I've wanted to read it since I was a child myself and saw the cover when my mom was reading it, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. I did end up asking my mom, "Why did he write this book?" (to which she replied "I don't know"), but like, in a good way.
Generally it felt very real, although it bothered me slightly that the third-person narration would sometimes make Nory-esque mistakes/wordplay ("crucifiction") but not always. I loved the malapropisms ("what in the Blue Blazers" etc) but the occasional misspelling of individual words was a bit distracting (it might have been different if he'd just gone full Riddley Walker with it).
Generally it felt very real, although it bothered me slightly that the third-person narration would sometimes make Nory-esque mistakes/wordplay ("crucifiction") but not always. I loved the malapropisms ("what in the Blue Blazers" etc) but the occasional misspelling of individual words was a bit distracting (it might have been different if he'd just gone full Riddley Walker with it).