gmmersereau's review against another edition
Realized after I started that it's 4th in a series and that's probably why I felt really lost, like I had literally jumped into the middle of a story. I liked the writing style so will likely go back and start the series from the beginning at some point.
admacg's review against another edition
4.0
I first met Frank Bascombe back in the mid 90's, when he was grieving over the death of a child in 'The sportswriter.' Later, he was divorced and putting his life together again as a real estate agent. Later still, in 'Independence Day,' he was putting things together again and had met someone. And here he is again, 68, back in Haddam where it began, for this short novel, in four parts.
Frank has always been good company in these books. In each of them, he's usually funny, often wise, and trying to work things out the best he can. These four stories find Frank moving towards his last stage in life. He visits ex-wife Anne, has an unexpected visitor to his home, and goes to visit an old friend. It all takes place in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, where he goes to survey the damage to his old home, now sold.
I'm glad I've read these novels in order. We meet Frank at different stages of his life, over a thirty year period, carrying his life experiences. Now towards the end, he's trying to keep returning to his 'default self,' keeping things as simple as possible and just being with people, where possible. He's still living his quiet, introspective life.
I always enjoy Frank's company and part of me hopes this isn't the last instalment. He's often hilarious and I enjoy his momments of homespun wisdom, which are optimistic. In one of his books, I think the sportswriter, which I read 25 years, there's a line about 'There's no such thing as a false sense of wellbeing' and it's always stuck with me. Ford's prose is pitch perfect. I think I need to start the Frank Bascombe series again, and look forward to it, as there's something to learn from them each time.
Frank has always been good company in these books. In each of them, he's usually funny, often wise, and trying to work things out the best he can. These four stories find Frank moving towards his last stage in life. He visits ex-wife Anne, has an unexpected visitor to his home, and goes to visit an old friend. It all takes place in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, where he goes to survey the damage to his old home, now sold.
I'm glad I've read these novels in order. We meet Frank at different stages of his life, over a thirty year period, carrying his life experiences. Now towards the end, he's trying to keep returning to his 'default self,' keeping things as simple as possible and just being with people, where possible. He's still living his quiet, introspective life.
I always enjoy Frank's company and part of me hopes this isn't the last instalment. He's often hilarious and I enjoy his momments of homespun wisdom, which are optimistic. In one of his books, I think the sportswriter, which I read 25 years, there's a line about 'There's no such thing as a false sense of wellbeing' and it's always stuck with me. Ford's prose is pitch perfect. I think I need to start the Frank Bascombe series again, and look forward to it, as there's something to learn from them each time.
aczimprich's review against another edition
5.0
Dumb title but smart book. I love Frank Bascombe and hope that Ford doesn't write another Bascombe book because I don't think I could bear him aging anymore than he has.
elisabeth1st's review against another edition
4.0
I true Elisabeth fashion, I read Ford's last Frank Bascombe book first. I love his sarcastic self deprecating personality and expect I will go back and read the earlier books. How embarrassing to admit I haven't read the first three.
isthar23's review against another edition
2.0
Sentimientos dispares en nuestra lectura común. Hay quien ha disfrutado mucho y hay quienes no. Yo soy de las segundas. Me ha costado mucho entrar en el mundo de Frank.
renee_pompeii's review against another edition
2.0
I think if I were twenty years older I would better understand and probably love this book. It's for an older demographic, in terms of the subjects, humor, references and characters.
bookladyreads's review
I read this not realizing it was book four in a series. I'm going to reserve providing a review until I read the previous three books and then read this one again.
littlefemur's review against another edition
2.0
I'm wondering if I'd like Frank more if I had read the other books; I think not. I'm also wondering if The Sportswriter was a better book than this one since it won a Pulitzer, or if it's just a mediocre, white man thing. Some things in the book made me laugh but if you ask me what they were now, I wouldn't be able to tell you.
This book brought me back to the age-old question of: if I hate the main character, can I still appreciate the book? It didn't work here because even though it's good writing, the whole book centers on the thoughts of a boring, racist, misogynistic, and transphobic character. He calls black people Negroes and when there's a gender-ambiguous/transgender character, Frank refers to them as him/her, which made me physically cringe.
Overall, Frank is cynical and cruel, but somehow still boring and I was paying very little attention by the end of the book. No thanks
This book brought me back to the age-old question of: if I hate the main character, can I still appreciate the book? It didn't work here because even though it's good writing, the whole book centers on the thoughts of a boring, racist, misogynistic, and transphobic character. He calls black people Negroes and when there's a gender-ambiguous/transgender character, Frank refers to them as him/her, which made me physically cringe.
Overall, Frank is cynical and cruel, but somehow still boring and I was paying very little attention by the end of the book. No thanks
greggmpls's review against another edition
4.0
Nice short read about a retired Realtor living in New Jersey post hurricane, and coming to terms with the realities of middle-age.
p.s.
Did I offend you in some way, Mr. Ford? Next time you're in the area, stop in for a nice Tater Tot hotdish and we'll chat.
Sincerely,
Minnesota
p.s.
Did I offend you in some way, Mr. Ford? Next time you're in the area, stop in for a nice Tater Tot hotdish and we'll chat.
Sincerely,
Minnesota