lola425's review against another edition
3.0
Read this if you like male protagonists who have literally nothing to complain about but complain anyway. Rich is miserable because he makes bad choices, generally originating from between his legs instead of his ears. In trying to prove himself he proves nothing.
Klam is funny and he creates a world that is so self-involved and self-reverential and ridiculous that it is believable and recognizable.
The characters are well-written and yet I felt zero empathy for Rich. I cringed when he and was almost disappointed .
I like to read books where characters are struggling with who they are. I enjoy existential crisis. So even if I didn't like Rich, I did like the book.
Klam is funny and he creates a world that is so self-involved and self-reverential and ridiculous that it is believable and recognizable.
The characters are well-written and yet I felt zero empathy for Rich. I cringed when he
Spoiler
gave Amy that over-priced bracelet meant for his wifeSpoiler
when the belt broke during his half-hearted suicide attemptI like to read books where characters are struggling with who they are. I enjoy existential crisis. So even if I didn't like Rich, I did like the book.
mommasaystoread's review against another edition
2.0
Who is Rich? is very well written and Klam's story-telling is often quite compelling, but the inner dialogue of this character quickly became tedious. Rich is sad and unhappy in his life. He can't accept that his time in the limelight of being a published graphic novelist may be over, that kids and responsibilities often come before intimacy in marriage, and things aren't always just handed to you. Instead of doing something about his sad life, he is whiny, self-absorbed, at times petty, indecisive, and when he does manage to make a decision, it's often the wrong one, which leads to more whining and inner turmoil. He waffles back and forth between his wife and his mistress, and in all honesty, I found them as sad as he is. Several times, I laid this one aside because I just couldn't take any more of Rich's angst. I did push through, hoping for a good outcome, but didn't find any improvement in this man's life when I turned the last page. For me, it became one long, depressing story. I felt as though I could skip any given part of this book and pick back up with Rich still complaining about everything wrong in his life. As I said in the beginning, Klam's writing is very good and I would read another book by him, but this one just wasn't for me.
erincharp's review against another edition
3.0
Who is Rich? Rich is kind of annoying and doesn't really garner much sympathy from the reader. Rich is also a father of two, a husband, a has been illustrator/cartoonist, and unfaithful to his wife. Every summer, Rich spends a week in New England at a teaching conference, where he rubs elbows with the wealthy elite. This time, he finds himself making decisions that spiral his family into debt and aim to ruin his marriage.
I'll be honest, I found Rich to be whiny and annoying. I could sympathize with his views on how unfair it is that some people make so much money, while others work hard but barely get by. Otherwise, Rich needed to grow up.
I'll be honest, I found Rich to be whiny and annoying. I could sympathize with his views on how unfair it is that some people make so much money, while others work hard but barely get by. Otherwise, Rich needed to grow up.
paixful's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book off and on - struggled to get into it at times. An interesting read in that it is from the perspective of the male in the relationships. Definitely made me put a lot of energy into looking at my own relationships.
jaclynday's review against another edition
3.0
An existential crisis is rarely pretty and this is no exception.
jeremyhornik's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. The prose is incredibly funny, with strange and incongruous connections made. The characters are deep, detailed and precise and unexpected. The narrating white dude has-been cartoonist is self-aware enough of his position to count his blessings and volatile enough to throw them all out at any second.
It took a long time to read this, because it was so good and dense with detail and action, and also because the terrible actions of the narrator kept making me squirm. I kept reading a chapter quickly, then putting the book down with an "OH MY GOD" feeling, and dreading to pick it back up but needing to see what happened.
Adultery, art, class war (of the Cold War type), marriage, parenting, comics. Check it out.
It took a long time to read this, because it was so good and dense with detail and action, and also because the terrible actions of the narrator kept making me squirm. I kept reading a chapter quickly, then putting the book down with an "OH MY GOD" feeling, and dreading to pick it back up but needing to see what happened.
Adultery, art, class war (of the Cold War type), marriage, parenting, comics. Check it out.
jenniferdemieville's review against another edition
1.0
I received this book for free from First to Read. Unfortunately, this book did not connect with me. I did not find the characters interesting or likeable. The non-linear nature of this story made the flow choppy, making me even less invested in the tale. I did enjoy the drawings scattered throughout.