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sagecannon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
salimah's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this title from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Darling at the Campsite earned my investment right away. The prose reads effortlessly--without seeming to try to coax or convince the reader of anything. I found myself immersed in a tale where the stakes are obviously and immediately high, but with a narrator whose ease of telling made me relax into the story. This is a strength of Andy Abramowitz's. I recall the same easy, canter-like pace of writing in The Beginner's Guide to Freefall.
I am always a little wary of committing to stories that have at their center a protagonist's return to a place he or she left after a devastating betrayal because I know the pressure will be on for them to forgive said betrayal. Less capable authors can be heavy-handed with that plot point. But the craftsmanship evident in the structure, the sure-footed sentences and syntax, the subtle, deft humor and pathos of the central characters in this story were more than enough to make up for what can be a tiresome trope. Abramowitz rescues it by balancing the scales convincingly and leverages the trickster-like nature of memory to turn the concept of betrayal on its head. This forced me to rethink my loyalties and my own ideas about the protagonist, but not so much that I stopped rooting for him.
The story was ultimately redemptive and surprising. Every character was allowed complexity, no matter how minor or how seemingly incidental to the story. The resolutions felt real and earned while the overarching sadness was allowed to be there and accepted. I read this in one sitting and would happily read any other Abramowitz title on the strength of the writing in this one.
Darling at the Campsite earned my investment right away. The prose reads effortlessly--without seeming to try to coax or convince the reader of anything. I found myself immersed in a tale where the stakes are obviously and immediately high, but with a narrator whose ease of telling made me relax into the story. This is a strength of Andy Abramowitz's. I recall the same easy, canter-like pace of writing in The Beginner's Guide to Freefall.
I am always a little wary of committing to stories that have at their center a protagonist's return to a place he or she left after a devastating betrayal because I know the pressure will be on for them to forgive said betrayal. Less capable authors can be heavy-handed with that plot point. But the craftsmanship evident in the structure, the sure-footed sentences and syntax, the subtle, deft humor and pathos of the central characters in this story were more than enough to make up for what can be a tiresome trope. Abramowitz rescues it by balancing the scales convincingly and leverages the trickster-like nature of memory to turn the concept of betrayal on its head. This forced me to rethink my loyalties and my own ideas about the protagonist, but not so much that I stopped rooting for him.
The story was ultimately redemptive and surprising. Every character was allowed complexity, no matter how minor or how seemingly incidental to the story. The resolutions felt real and earned while the overarching sadness was allowed to be there and accepted. I read this in one sitting and would happily read any other Abramowitz title on the strength of the writing in this one.
salimah's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this title from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Darling at the Campsite earned my investment right away. The prose reads effortlessly--without seeming to try to coax or convince the reader of anything. I found myself immersed in a tale where the stakes are obviously and immediately high, but with a narrator whose ease of telling made me relax into the story. This is a strength of Andy Abramowitz's. I recall the same easy, canter-like pace of writing in The Beginner's Guide to Freefall.
I am always a little wary of committing to stories that have at their center a protagonist's return to a place he or she left after a devastating betrayal because I know the pressure will be on for them to forgive said betrayal. Less capable authors can be heavy-handed with that plot point. But the craftsmanship evident in the structure, the sure-footed sentences and syntax, the subtle, deft humor and pathos of the central characters in this story were more than enough to make up for what can be a tiresome trope. Abramowitz rescues it by balancing the scales convincingly and leverages the trickster-like nature of memory to turn the concept of betrayal on its head. This forced me to rethink my loyalties and my own ideas about the protagonist, but not so much that I stopped rooting for him.
The story was ultimately redemptive and surprising. Every character was allowed complexity, no matter how minor or how seemingly incidental to the story. The resolutions felt real and earned while the overarching sadness was allowed to be there and accepted. I read this in one sitting and would happily read any other Abramowitz title on the strength of the writing in this one.
Darling at the Campsite earned my investment right away. The prose reads effortlessly--without seeming to try to coax or convince the reader of anything. I found myself immersed in a tale where the stakes are obviously and immediately high, but with a narrator whose ease of telling made me relax into the story. This is a strength of Andy Abramowitz's. I recall the same easy, canter-like pace of writing in The Beginner's Guide to Freefall.
I am always a little wary of committing to stories that have at their center a protagonist's return to a place he or she left after a devastating betrayal because I know the pressure will be on for them to forgive said betrayal. Less capable authors can be heavy-handed with that plot point. But the craftsmanship evident in the structure, the sure-footed sentences and syntax, the subtle, deft humor and pathos of the central characters in this story were more than enough to make up for what can be a tiresome trope. Abramowitz rescues it by balancing the scales convincingly and leverages the trickster-like nature of memory to turn the concept of betrayal on its head. This forced me to rethink my loyalties and my own ideas about the protagonist, but not so much that I stopped rooting for him.
The story was ultimately redemptive and surprising. Every character was allowed complexity, no matter how minor or how seemingly incidental to the story. The resolutions felt real and earned while the overarching sadness was allowed to be there and accepted. I read this in one sitting and would happily read any other Abramowitz title on the strength of the writing in this one.
gerwigverse's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, any book about grief will always be a gut punch to me and this one wasn't different. Soulful, openhearted and sometimes just the tiniest bit too real, it was cathartic to read this one. Super recommend!
Honestly, any book about grief will always be a gut punch to me and this one wasn't different. Soulful, openhearted and sometimes just the tiniest bit too real, it was cathartic to read this one. Super recommend!
purrfectpages's review against another edition
4.0
“Anyone who speaks fondly of the simplicity of youth suffers from self-induced amnesia. It’s the great lie of adulthood that childhood was easy.”
I’ve always been enamored with angst. The more pining, the more longing- the better. Typically angst and coming of age go hand and hand, but not always. Sometimes there’s the angst that comes years later, one that revolves around the path not taken and what could have been. Darling at the Campsite tackles life from this perspective.
Rowan Darling is a 30-something man-child whose never quite grown up. Years ago he left his hometown of Maybee, leaving behind all the bad memories that came with it. These days he is content running a record store whose days are numbered, as if the words “record store” didn’t tell you that already.
I’ve always been enamored with angst. The more pining, the more longing- the better. Typically angst and coming of age go hand and hand, but not always. Sometimes there’s the angst that comes years later, one that revolves around the path not taken and what could have been. Darling at the Campsite tackles life from this perspective.
Rowan Darling is a 30-something man-child whose never quite grown up. Years ago he left his hometown of Maybee, leaving behind all the bad memories that came with it. These days he is content running a record store whose days are numbered, as if the words “record store” didn’t tell you that already.
jazzrizz's review against another edition
3.0
This caught my eye on the GR Giveaways. I can't believe I actually won a copy! It's been awhile since I've won a giveaway here. I skimmed the quick blurb, but I was a little surprised this has nothing to do with camping.
I have to say, this book definitely made me feel my age. The angst of a 33 year old man, still dealing with his GF/BFF's betrayal his senior year of high school, and the internal dialog he has throughout the book tends to get a bit distracting. I found myself loosing focus a few times.
Rowan has locked down his feelings and emotions, and decided to stay in Philadelphia and open a record store with his best friend Daisy (with occasional side benefits) after college. To say things in his life are not currently going well, is an an understatement. A call from his mom knocks his world off it's axis, and he's on his way home to deal with the death of his brother (who's been absent for most of his adult life), trying to avoid his betrayers, and then heading back to his dismal life as soon as it's over (as Daisy may be getting engaged).
The past 15 years has changed a lot of the landscape Rowan comes back to, and each encounter with former friends and family impacts him more than he's anticipated. This is a story of learning to let the hurt and anger go, as past recollections aren't always the facts you've believed them to be. Grieving the loss of time and memories decisions as a young adult caused you to miss out on, and embracing the current landscape with those you choose to include in it.
I loved the record store setting. I spent a LOT of time in those in my youth, and Empire Records is one of my favorite movies. It brought back found memories, but melancholy that their day in the sun has past. Also, Rowan's hometown is Illinois, so that added to the nostalgia.
I have to say, this book definitely made me feel my age. The angst of a 33 year old man, still dealing with his GF/BFF's betrayal his senior year of high school, and the internal dialog he has throughout the book tends to get a bit distracting. I found myself loosing focus a few times.
Rowan has locked down his feelings and emotions, and decided to stay in Philadelphia and open a record store with his best friend Daisy (with occasional side benefits) after college. To say things in his life are not currently going well, is an an understatement. A call from his mom knocks his world off it's axis, and he's on his way home to deal with the death of his brother (who's been absent for most of his adult life), trying to avoid his betrayers, and then heading back to his dismal life as soon as it's over (as Daisy may be getting engaged).
The past 15 years has changed a lot of the landscape Rowan comes back to, and each encounter with former friends and family impacts him more than he's anticipated. This is a story of learning to let the hurt and anger go, as past recollections aren't always the facts you've believed them to be. Grieving the loss of time and memories decisions as a young adult caused you to miss out on, and embracing the current landscape with those you choose to include in it.
I loved the record store setting. I spent a LOT of time in those in my youth, and Empire Records is one of my favorite movies. It brought back found memories, but melancholy that their day in the sun has past. Also, Rowan's hometown is Illinois, so that added to the nostalgia.
markbez's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
bookanonjeff's review against another edition
5.0
Quirky With Heart. This is one of those books where it doesn't seem like much is happening other than a loveable loser continually losing... except then you find its real heart, even amidst the continual "what the fuck" situations. If you're a fan of slower paced, zany, small town explorations... you're going to love this one. If that isn't normally your thing, you should still try it out, because this is a good example of that kind of story. Because sometimes people *do* wait until they're in their 30s to find out what they really want out of life. Even if it is both the same as and yet completely different from everything they ever imagined. Very much recommended.