A review by anthonyocampo
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The writing in this book is brilliant. Vinson Cunningham’s sentences are gorgeous. When I started the book, I almost quit 40 pages in because the read wasn’t flowing. But then I realized that his writing is the literary equivalent of fine dining. Scarfing it down runs the risk of missing out on the beauty of hte story and the journey of the protagonist. I started over and instead of breezing through, I slowed my bites so I could taste all the flavors that went into a single sentence. And then I was like, hot damn Vinson Cunningham is next level. When it comes to prose, he’s in a league of his own. 

Admittedly, I went in thinking I’d get juicy deets about the inner workings of “the senator’s” 2008 presidential campaign, but the campaign ended up being incidental, secondary to the coming of age of David, our protagonist. As a reader, I really fell for him, got invested in what was at stake for him. I’ll say this: How VC was able to make working a political campaign provocative is a feat, that’s for sure. For anyone aspiring to write, this book is a masterclass in rendering characters and scenes. One of the best I’ve ever read. You’ll find yourself reading a paragraph purely to study the brilliance that went into it. I surely will.