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ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
5.0
His Favorites by Kate Walbert is a novel best read with as little knowledge about it as possible. The book begins with fifteen-year-old Jo hanging out with her two best friends one night, when they decide to steal a golf cart and go joy-riding around the course.
His Favorites is a very short novel, that covers a lot of ground, but each paragraph and sentence is so well-crafted, and the book is so well put together that it has the impact of a much larger work. If you decide to read it, I highly recommend learning as little about the plot as possible.
His Favorites is a very short novel, that covers a lot of ground, but each paragraph and sentence is so well-crafted, and the book is so well put together that it has the impact of a much larger work. If you decide to read it, I highly recommend learning as little about the plot as possible.
johndiconsiglio's review against another edition
2.0
I’ve never read Walbert before. She has a reputation as an insightful feminist writer. This not-a-short-story, barely-a-novel is disappointing. Its power imbalance tale—troubled 15-year-old boarding school girl & predatory male teacher—feels depressingly familiar. (Are #MeToo books done already?) I like the time-means-nothing structure. But considering the page count, she devotes a lotta real estate to Autumn Fest parades & prep school landscaping. Maybe the abuse is so painful that she’d rather focus on anything else—and I do mean anything else. Maybe that’s the point. Or maybe her heart just wasn’t in it.
aliraebanz's review against another edition
5.0
This book was SO GOOD. I just honestly wanted MORE. I went into this book with no expectations, but I definitely based it on the cover, which made this look like a romance novel. BOY was a I wrong.
ncrozier's review against another edition
3.0
It's short, it keeps you engaged, but it was also a little unsatisfying.
jpark414's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written. Read this bc Becca loved it.
I love the last image of Jo and Stephanie in the magnolia tree and I love the poetics woven into the pattern of the text. It’s both beautiful and ominous
But this book is like The Vegetarian or Lolita. I can appreciate it, but I can’t say that I ...like it?
I love the last image of Jo and Stephanie in the magnolia tree and I love the poetics woven into the pattern of the text. It’s both beautiful and ominous
But this book is like The Vegetarian or Lolita. I can appreciate it, but I can’t say that I ...like it?
theknitpick's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
suzydemric's review against another edition
5.0
I had seen this book on a few lists, and finally picked it up at the library. I am not familiar with the author, and really hadn't read the summary so went into it completely blind.
Perhaps that is why the initial event felt so devastating to me; others who reviewed the book knowing more of the plot may have focused on the writing style and found it off putting.
This style worked for me for a number of reasons. It revealed things at various points, which not knowing the plot, gave me a nice sense of Jo, her memories, her beloved friends, and the devastating event that happens one night.
Followed by a perfect set-up for a manipulative male teacher. I felt the author described all of this horridness beautifully.
I plan on looking up Walbert's other titles.
Perhaps that is why the initial event felt so devastating to me; others who reviewed the book knowing more of the plot may have focused on the writing style and found it off putting.
This style worked for me for a number of reasons. It revealed things at various points, which not knowing the plot, gave me a nice sense of Jo, her memories, her beloved friends, and the devastating event that happens one night.
Followed by a perfect set-up for a manipulative male teacher. I felt the author described all of this horridness beautifully.
I plan on looking up Walbert's other titles.
brylkayyy's review against another edition
2.0
I loved the plot and the overall story. However, I found the book to be jumpy and the story nonlinear. I found myself questioning the placement of storylines. I wanted to connect with Jo(e) but I couldn't seem to get myself to do so