Scan barcode
A review by elderlyemo
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First of all - this is not my normal kind of book and I'd never read anything by the author before. I picked it up because I am an avid video game enthusiast and I love books about characters that are difficult to love. I've seen this book referred to as "two emotionally immature people that aren't supposed to be friends" but I think that's the point? There is no character arc here, no redemption. The main characters are trauma bonded and they never really deal with any of that trauma, and when even more trauma comes along, they actually get worse. It's bleak and sad and the characters are really hard to fight for for most of the book.
And having said that - I absolutely adored this story. It was refreshing to read a story about broken people that aren't trying to get over something, they're just trying to get through it. Sam and Sadie both just try to get through this entire book and that was something I could really relate to. Yeah, it's great when we heal and become better people, but sometimes it's more realistic that some things you don't just come back from. They change who you are and sometimes it's not for the better. Characters don't always have to become better people, sometimes they just have to be there at the end of it all.
A very niche book set to the backdrop of 90s tech and the art of making a video game, I understand why I loved this book but I'm not sure how so many others did. The "viral" nature of this story is still a bit lost on me because even though I cried at least four times reading it, I can't think of one person that I could recommend this book to in my real life because I don't think many people would "get it" - but judging by how popular it is, maybe there are more misanthropes out there than I thought.
Truly an amazing story that left me staring out the window waiting for my heart to pick up its rhythm again for days afterwards.
And having said that - I absolutely adored this story. It was refreshing to read a story about broken people that aren't trying to get over something, they're just trying to get through it. Sam and Sadie both just try to get through this entire book and that was something I could really relate to. Yeah, it's great when we heal and become better people, but sometimes it's more realistic that some things you don't just come back from. They change who you are and sometimes it's not for the better. Characters don't always have to become better people, sometimes they just have to be there at the end of it all.
A very niche book set to the backdrop of 90s tech and the art of making a video game, I understand why I loved this book but I'm not sure how so many others did. The "viral" nature of this story is still a bit lost on me because even though I cried at least four times reading it, I can't think of one person that I could recommend this book to in my real life because I don't think many people would "get it" - but judging by how popular it is, maybe there are more misanthropes out there than I thought.
Truly an amazing story that left me staring out the window waiting for my heart to pick up its rhythm again for days afterwards.