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madswhitaker 's review for:
Little Children
by Tom Perrotta
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I'm being honest, this wasn't a great book from a craft stance, but I did find myself unable to stop reading it. The writing was incredibly predictable. I could have almost told you exactly what was going to happen after the two main characters were introduced. It was such early 2000s literature it almost hurt.
I do love the idea of exploring how adults exhibit child like behaviors and fantasies regardless of age, status, life stage, etc. but it almost felt that Perrotta didn't trust his readers to get it. He named the book Little Children, then laid the metaphor on so thick, it felt insulting at times.
What I do think redeemed this book for me was the pacing (like I said, a quick read) and Perrotta's addition of the Ronnie McGorvey's character. He wasn't afraid to shy away from a full spectrum of adults who were obsessed with childhood to varying degrees, even to uncomfortable extents. Putting this criminal character up against very normal characters who are also struggling with facing reality was a great touch that made this book feel a bit more mature.
I am really between a two and a half and three stars here. If there was even one more intramural touch football scene? Immediate two stars. I truly skipped three whole pages of this descriptive football writing. Of course, it had a purpose, to show that Todd still had this desire in him to be an athletic star, the same as he was in high school etc, etc. But truly, who cared to read that?
Long story short, it was decent and a fast-paced read, but my biggest issue was the predictability and the thick, heavy-handed metaphor that was laid into so much, he even made it the title. Just in case his readers were too shallow to get it by just reading the book.
I do love the idea of exploring how adults exhibit child like behaviors and fantasies regardless of age, status, life stage, etc. but it almost felt that Perrotta didn't trust his readers to get it. He named the book Little Children, then laid the metaphor on so thick, it felt insulting at times.
What I do think redeemed this book for me was the pacing (like I said, a quick read) and Perrotta's addition of the Ronnie McGorvey's character. He wasn't afraid to shy away from a full spectrum of adults who were obsessed with childhood to varying degrees, even to uncomfortable extents. Putting this criminal character up against very normal characters who are also struggling with facing reality was a great touch that made this book feel a bit more mature.
I am really between a two and a half and three stars here. If there was even one more intramural touch football scene? Immediate two stars. I truly skipped three whole pages of this descriptive football writing. Of course, it had a purpose, to show that Todd still had this desire in him to be an athletic star, the same as he was in high school etc, etc. But truly, who cared to read that?
Long story short, it was decent and a fast-paced read, but my biggest issue was the predictability and the thick, heavy-handed metaphor that was laid into so much, he even made it the title. Just in case his readers were too shallow to get it by just reading the book.