Reviews

The Sarah Book by Scott McClanahan

stephen_rossetti's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

senordustin's review against another edition

4.0

McClanahan is a fun read but a sad guy. I mean I assume this is really what he's like. I liked Sarah and their relationship reminded me of a lot of couples I've known. Scott couldn't change and Sarah couldn't not change and I get that.

jshaiba1's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

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

3.75

hnahm's review against another edition

emotional funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bettyvd's review against another edition

3.0

Bijzondere stijl: direct en intens. Een huwelijksbreuk met veel pijn.

pandarius_pinkman's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.0

oatylime's review against another edition

dark funny sad fast-paced

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

4.75

I could not put this book down. His self-destructiveness is horrifying and  so darkly funny (“That’s the problem with adopted kids. You can’t hold some sort of secret surprise over their heads.”).

I love how it’s written though it leans a little too machismo-poetry for me at times.

jung's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-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

3.25

In a lot of this book, Scott comes off as mopey and self-destructive, so naturally i felt some identification with him. It was rather touching and charming in a good number of places, and was overall a raw and uncomfortable story - very much bolstered by the fact that it was real (i liked the photos that McLanahan included). Overall, though i never felt truly riveted by the content. 

Still enjoyable, and made for some enjoyable general quick reading. 

tommooney's review against another edition

5.0

A phenomenally painful and powerful autobiographical novel about the birth and death of a marriage.

McClanahan is like Willy Vlautin or Charles Bukowski, infused with a dash of Richard Brautigan's wit and turn of phrase.
Written with clear-eyed honesty, this is a candid narrative where all of McClanahan's pain and shame is fully on show, along with the hilarity and absurdity that comes with breakdown.

It's truly an unforgettable book that serves as a great tribute to the reasons we keep trying in life, and the reasons we fail. It will haunt me for a long time.

kianafer's review against another edition

4.0

while the narrator was infuriating (and very much a man) it was a thoughtful read + has some interesting lessons about reality vs. idealization