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A review by iancolton
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
4.0
A wonderful work of historical fiction. Rebecca Makkai’s characters are vivid, full of hope and joy, and so human.
I love this book’s title, I think it so perfectly encapsulates everything the book has to say. Believing.
I love the way this book centers around so many interesting topics— Paris, 1920s Art, Ambition, Love, Family, and, essentially the AIDS crisis in Chicago. But it does so through the distinct lens of chosen family and a group of fun and hopeful young men, “waiting for everything to begin”.
I think this book was paced maybe just a bit too slow… I didn’t always care for the split narratives and the way tension was cut by transitioning to the other generations story. I didn’t understand Claire’s reasons for hating her mom all that much so thatttt alll seemed very strangeeee… and I think sometimes the book was maybe just including moments I thought, well, do we really need this??
Overall though, this book was really easy to connect with. A great group of characters and an engaging and informative story to tug your heartstrings and remind you, in so many ways, to stay hopeful— to be a great believer.
I love this book’s title, I think it so perfectly encapsulates everything the book has to say. Believing.
I love the way this book centers around so many interesting topics— Paris, 1920s Art, Ambition, Love, Family, and, essentially the AIDS crisis in Chicago. But it does so through the distinct lens of chosen family and a group of fun and hopeful young men, “waiting for everything to begin”.
I think this book was paced maybe just a bit too slow… I didn’t always care for the split narratives and the way tension was cut by transitioning to the other generations story. I didn’t understand Claire’s reasons for hating her mom all that much so thatttt alll seemed very strangeeee… and I think sometimes the book was maybe just including moments I thought, well, do we really need this??
Overall though, this book was really easy to connect with. A great group of characters and an engaging and informative story to tug your heartstrings and remind you, in so many ways, to stay hopeful— to be a great believer.