A review by frameturtle
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book is hard for me to rate because while the writing is objectively high quality, there were a lot of small grievances that added up to me not really enjoying it for a large portion of the readtime. 
Some examples:
  • the author hits you over the head with the whole 'platonic, not romantic' thing. I counted roughly 10 times where the book explicitly or near-explicitly spells out this particular theme. Some of these are justifiably in context, some less so. Like, I got it the first time.
  • a large portion of the conflict stems from miscommunication. This isn't inherently wrong or anything but I personally have a strong distaste for it.
  • There are moments where I get the sense that the author is interjecting with her personal opinion. There is a difference in how Sadie's opinions on
    marriage
    and her opinions on
    the younger generation and cultural appropriation
    are portrayed. 
  • In the beginning of the book, Sadie gets into an abusive relationship with her professor. Throughout, the book seems to 'forgive' him.
    She attends his wedding where he marrys another student. Near the end, she gets brunch with him and refers to him as an old friend.
    I find this choice to be icky to say the least.

This is not to say there wasn't anything I liked about the book. I enjoyed
the sequence at the end in the pioneer game.
I also liked the quote
during Marx's death sequence about how the fact that everything is dying is existentially terrifying,
along with some others.

In conclusion: you may really like this book if you aren't me. Unfortunately I am me and can only give 3.25 stars.
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