Reviews

Bookworm: A Novel by Robin Yeatman, Robin Yeatman

crysannie's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

5.0

Cute and surprisingly dark, loved it

mylibrarybooks's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of the best books I've read this year, and maybe even for the past few years. It was so smart, yet the lead was so self unaware. This is the best example of an unreliable narrator I've ever read, but it was so entertaining and just fun to read. I think about it all the time and I really hope this isn't the only book the author ever writes, because it was just SO great!

hexie88's review against another edition

dark 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

1.0

Really did not enjoy this book. It was supposed to be darkly humorous, but just felt dismal to me. 

schiems's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.0

bakerisreading's review against another edition

3.0

Definitely dark. Not sure I laughed much. But, it was creative, unexpected and leaves you wondering what happens next.

fictionandfungi's review against another edition

5.0

Victoria is a housewife, a masseuse, an avid reader. Mostly though, those in Victoria's life have given value to Victoria because she is Eric's wife. Eric, who hates every bodily function Victoria has. Eric, with his puffy nipples. Eric, who turns his nose up at Victoria's love of books, preferring instead to get lost in TV dramas. Eric, who is making Victoria miserable. Eric, who, plausibly, could accidentally die soon. Not that Victoria is manifesting anything of the sort. It's just something that could happen.

Bookworm is one of the best debuts I have read in ages. I felt like I was personally being targeted as Victoria read some of my favorite unhinged fiction, taking more characteristics from these characters as the book went on. Victoria was a diverse reader, and the specificity of her reading habits made her all the more real to me. I loved the way Yeatman was able to weave levels of self-awareness into the book even as Victoria lacked it so often. The ending caught me so completely off guard, and I loved it. For me, personally, Bookworm has the added value that I could read it again and again. I can not wait to read future work by Yeatman, and to force everyone in my life to read this as soon as I can grab a physical copy for myself.

Thanks so much to Harper Perennial as well as NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eGalley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

lily_t_h's review against another edition

Put me in a weird mood; character is depressed, first person narration 

readerpete1's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

artsyandbookishme's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

carlatemis's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-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

3.5