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nigel_hakeem's Reviews (118)
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book lives up to the hype.
Tart writes with beautiful prose and the characters are compelling in the most heart-wrenching way. They are so over their head and not at all prepared or ready to deal with the consequences of their actions once brought back down to earth. One could easily dislike the cast of characters, but sorrow is the more appropriate reaction.
Tart uses the first-person perspective expertly. We are never sure what is really happening because we only get the POV from Richard and information is only given to him in pieces, and we are never sure how trustworthy that information is. This could be a flaw in a lesser writer but Tart pulls it off and it makes the novel hard to put down.
The ending broke my heart and I want to recommend this book to everyone I meet.
Tart writes with beautiful prose and the characters are compelling in the most heart-wrenching way. They are so over their head and not at all prepared or ready to deal with the consequences of their actions once brought back down to earth. One could easily dislike the cast of characters, but sorrow is the more appropriate reaction.
Tart uses the first-person perspective expertly. We are never sure what is really happening because we only get the POV from Richard and information is only given to him in pieces, and we are never sure how trustworthy that information is. This could be a flaw in a lesser writer but Tart pulls it off and it makes the novel hard to put down.
The ending broke my heart and I want to recommend this book to everyone I meet.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't know if I actually enjoyed reading this book, but I'm glad I read it. Woolf moves from the perspective of one character to the next rapidly and often in the same sentence. This was difficult and confusing at first but as the novel goes on, the voices start flowing together and there is a rhythm to the characters. This culminates at the dinner scene when everyone starts to speak as one consciousness and you see how and why people are connected. The last third of the book dragged and felt like an elongated epiphany moment. I don't feel like I learned more about the characters, but the characters learned more about themselves. Ultimately, this is not a book about things happening, but about people thinking about things happening.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Chabon explores all the cliches of a university writing professor but never comes across as cliche. A very fun novel with great characters. Makes you want to grab a beer at the campus pub and talk about art all night.
If you wanna read stories about down-on-their-luck men in the 80s, this is the collection for you.
Really enjoyed the realist style and you can see the Carver influence on Ford. The first-person voice would start blurring together across stories, but it was an engaging voice. Often the stories felt like they were going off track and meandering, but they would always find their way and there was a fullness to each of the characters, that was appreciated.
Some highlights were Sweethearts, Winterkill, and especially Empire.
Really enjoyed the realist style and you can see the Carver influence on Ford. The first-person voice would start blurring together across stories, but it was an engaging voice. Often the stories felt like they were going off track and meandering, but they would always find their way and there was a fullness to each of the characters, that was appreciated.
Some highlights were Sweethearts, Winterkill, and especially Empire.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What an amazing novel! Painted such a clear picture of life in academia and the pitfalls that come with it. What could have been a passable campus novel became so much more. The best parts of the book were when the main character, Wallace, was left to think and ruminate on his own. His thoughts about being black in a group of white friends, the small uncomfortable and unspoken moments that would quietly eat away at him were heartbreaking. I had to put the book down several times because of how angry I was at the people around him. Other parts were hard not to skip ahead because I wanted to know what was going to happen so badly.
Taylor changes tenses 3 times in the book and though this sounds like it would be confusing, it fits with the narrative really well and shows what a fantastic writer he is; and this is his debut!
I can't wait to read more from Brandon Taylor and this book is an instant classic. A must-read for anyone in grad school.
Taylor changes tenses 3 times in the book and though this sounds like it would be confusing, it fits with the narrative really well and shows what a fantastic writer he is; and this is his debut!
I can't wait to read more from Brandon Taylor and this book is an instant classic. A must-read for anyone in grad school.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Classism
Minor: Vomit
