whitmc's review
3.0
This book will provide a lot of fodder for discussion by college English majors, for sure. But as a book to tag along with you in life, there are better companions.
I always want to like the book that my boss passes along as he comments on the literary prose, a book that has things like "'One of the Top Ten Novels of the Year' --Time and NPR" printed on the cover. But I didn't. Literary, yes. Well written, yes. But it was trying too hard to be all of that. I disliked the main character but he was so blah that I couldn't even muster a passionate dislike for him. I added one star because the author gives you express permission at the end to dislike the narrator, so I think dislike was part of the point, but by then I didn't care. He was like a wet piece of cardboard. Completely lost in life. The whole premise of the book is that he is lost. SPOILER ALERT: He never finds himself. And he is a coward. And it's all likely because his dad died at a pivotal age and his mom was also a lost soul. There's your essay thesis.
So maybe the fact that I am so worked up about how lame this guy is, despite being a doctor, obviously well educated, etc. is the entire point of the book? I don't know. There were parts where the author had on point observations of human feelings and life, but they were floating randomly among prose about painters, poets, history, that made me feel like the author was trying to show off how smart he was. Or maybe he was doing that to showcase how out of touch with reality the narrator is. I don't know.
Skip, unless you are assigned it in English at a university. Then analyze the shit out of it.
I always want to like the book that my boss passes along as he comments on the literary prose, a book that has things like "'One of the Top Ten Novels of the Year' --Time and NPR" printed on the cover. But I didn't. Literary, yes. Well written, yes. But it was trying too hard to be all of that. I disliked the main character but he was so blah that I couldn't even muster a passionate dislike for him. I added one star because the author gives you express permission at the end to dislike the narrator, so I think dislike was part of the point, but by then I didn't care. He was like a wet piece of cardboard. Completely lost in life. The whole premise of the book is that he is lost. SPOILER ALERT: He never finds himself. And he is a coward. And it's all likely because his dad died at a pivotal age and his mom was also a lost soul. There's your essay thesis.
So maybe the fact that I am so worked up about how lame this guy is, despite being a doctor, obviously well educated, etc. is the entire point of the book? I don't know. There were parts where the author had on point observations of human feelings and life, but they were floating randomly among prose about painters, poets, history, that made me feel like the author was trying to show off how smart he was. Or maybe he was doing that to showcase how out of touch with reality the narrator is. I don't know.
Skip, unless you are assigned it in English at a university. Then analyze the shit out of it.
thatone2112's review
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
annikabro's review
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
crystal_reading's review
4.0
I mostly enjoyed this because it takes place in NYC and the main character walks all over the place. It helped me get a sense of where things are in Manhattan. Since I'm going there this summer and have never been, that made the book more interesting.
** sort of spoilery below ***
I was startled to find some #MeToo type content in here in a twist toward the end.
** sort of spoilery below ***
I was startled to find some #MeToo type content in here in a twist toward the end.
alisuevincent's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
soulpopped's review against another edition
2.0
i don't think i'm educated enough to enjoy this book the way i should. i was mostly ambivalent throughout it, hoping it'd catch me or win me over, and the fact that it never did made me ultimately like it less than i had been throughout.
come join our book club. our seventh episode came out thursday, and our ninth episode is about this book. learn more: cageclub.me/lottery
come join our book club. our seventh episode came out thursday, and our ninth episode is about this book. learn more: cageclub.me/lottery
dllh's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book of well crafted, painfully boring prose. It took me a while to warm up to it even while I enjoyed individual sentences throughout. It's a bit of a novel of ideas, though I don't remember any one idea that Cole stuck with for very long at all. Until I was well into it, it was hard for me to read more than 4 or 5 pages in a sitting.
diggitalot's review
3.0
James är en psykiatriker som promenerar i New York och reser till Bryssel. Bokens behållning för mig är diskussionen om Mellanöstern mellan James och en missförstådd doktorand vid namn "Farok" och att Cole klart fastslår att det är synd om drottning Sylvia då hennes man är homosexuell.
giomarg's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sadiesargar's review
5.0
Most walking books are quiet, and Coles' is no different, though his peregrinations take him through systemic racism, profound alienation, a broken family, the horrific legacy of slavery in New York City, and one violent street beating. His protagonist isn't as erudite as Sebald in Rings of Saturn (who is?), but his softness of touch makes "Open City" a moving read. Highly recommended.