Scan barcode
A review by cwiita
The Postmortal by Drew Magary
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed this storyline and the pacing in general, but man I struggle with John as a character. I sincerely hope that Magary wrote him to be an intentionally gray protagonist. He has his charm, but the womanizing, objectifying tendencies were sometimes hard for me to look past as a femme reader. Something about the fact that the only woman he was ever able to marry and admit intense love for was the one he spent decades sexually objectifying…not my favorite.
I actually feel like all of the characters fall flat across the novel. The concept and writing style kept me on board, but it’s hard to look back on it now and think more about the ways that female characters in particular were used as plot devices and little more. If I hadn’t been so hooked on the premise and types of societal reflection brought up by this book, I don’t know that I would’ve made it through.
In spite of it all, still another very readable piece from Mr. Magary. Finished it in just a couple of sittings. I would’ve taken 100 more pages if it meant that characters like Alison, Ernie, and Solara could’ve been more fleshed out. They had great potential.
I actually feel like all of the characters fall flat across the novel. The concept and writing style kept me on board, but it’s hard to look back on it now and think more about the ways that female characters in particular were used as plot devices and little more. If I hadn’t been so hooked on the premise and types of societal reflection brought up by this book, I don’t know that I would’ve made it through.
In spite of it all, still another very readable piece from Mr. Magary. Finished it in just a couple of sittings. I would’ve taken 100 more pages if it meant that characters like Alison, Ernie, and Solara could’ve been more fleshed out. They had great potential.