A review by trin
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

This is the third Makkai novel that I've read, after being blown away by [book:The Great Believers|45304101] and [book:I Have Some Questions for You|61053829]. It's the earliest, and definitely the least weighty, but the writing is still spritely and compelling -- I love the interstitials aping various children's books -- and the characters so vivid and memorable. 

I have to say, it's depressing to observe how much this novel is concerned with Bush-era politics, and what they mean for issues like book bans and the bolstering of the religious right, and to think: oh babe. It's gonna get worse. It did get better, but then it got <i>worse</i>.

But I guess like this protagonist's Russian ancestors: you fight, and then when you can't fight anymore, you run.