matthewmeriwether's review
4.0
satisfying and enjoyable, without ever, in my opinion, expressing anything that unique or insightful regarding the themes and questions which plague its characters. the narrative pacing was so smooth and readable, the characters felt real and interesting and frustrating as in life. it ends somewhat predictably, romanticizing a kind of well-treaded literary tone of melancholy, but it was well done.
r3nea's review
medium-paced
5.0
sad is the only way to describe these book. Bernard deserved better. Roman is a jerk and really loved Lucy and Bernard's friendship, I wished it was explored more. I would definitely re-read these
margaret_adams's review against another edition
A lot of people have complained that this novel about poets & writing programs sentimentalizes the literary academy, but dang, if I was looking for a book that would make me feel less bad about being an outsider fogging up the windows of that world, this was it. A beautiful book about a romantically toxic world.
audaciaray's review against another edition
1.0
UGH.
Characters are all over-privileged self-important douchebags with a heavy dose of misogyny thrown in for the main character. Story is supposed to be heavy and about love and betrayal, but I just didn't see it. Blech. Also: novels about writers? Over it.
I'm so done with fiction for a while now. Back to my regular diet of non-fiction!
Characters are all over-privileged self-important douchebags with a heavy dose of misogyny thrown in for the main character. Story is supposed to be heavy and about love and betrayal, but I just didn't see it. Blech. Also: novels about writers? Over it.
I'm so done with fiction for a while now. Back to my regular diet of non-fiction!
dlarca's review against another edition
5.0
The year is 1986; Roman, Lucy and Bernard are part of a seminar run by the feared and revered poet, Miranda Sturgis. Miranda is notorious for her harsh critiques ("bludgeonings"), yet Roman and Bernard find themselves vying for her attention and praise. As these four lives intersect over the course of twenty years, secrets are revealed, friendships are tested, and love is found and lost. Prevalent throughout the novel is the question of craft vs. talent in relation to writing. Can poetry be taught? Is it possible to improve as a writer over the course of time? Can you write without soul?
Lan Samantha Chang's elegant and vivid prose will draw you into this slip of a novel and haunt you long after you read the last page. In All Is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost, Chang tackles some deep questions about writing, art, love, betrayal and self-worth.
Lan Samantha Chang's elegant and vivid prose will draw you into this slip of a novel and haunt you long after you read the last page. In All Is Forgotten, Nothing is Lost, Chang tackles some deep questions about writing, art, love, betrayal and self-worth.
jackieeh's review against another edition
4.0
Three things:
--Ah, writing about writing. So easy to do poorly, so difficult to do well. This book wriggles through and past the usual obstacles to come uncomfortably close to success. Why uncomfortable? There were some things about Miranda that reminded me of one of my own undergrad creative writing teachers who is notorious for picking favorites, crushing spirits, and having people sign up in droves for her classes. So that was not so personally wonderful.
--To me, the best thing about this book is how it gestures towards three types of writers: 1) the writer everyone wants to be: who's in it for the glory and who is wildly successful and gets mainstream plaudits from graduation onwards, 2) the writer everyone claims they'd settle for: the genius who spends years on one thing and doesn't care if it ever gets published so long as its perfect, 3) the writer most people actually are: who gets started late in life, to reasonable acclaim. Roman, Bernard, and Lucy (and Miranda) are fully realized characters, but they're also archetypes.
--Now I really want to write an epic prose poem about Lewis and Clark.
--Ah, writing about writing. So easy to do poorly, so difficult to do well. This book wriggles through and past the usual obstacles to come uncomfortably close to success. Why uncomfortable? There were some things about Miranda that reminded me of one of my own undergrad creative writing teachers who is notorious for picking favorites, crushing spirits, and having people sign up in droves for her classes. So that was not so personally wonderful.
--To me, the best thing about this book is how it gestures towards three types of writers: 1) the writer everyone wants to be: who's in it for the glory and who is wildly successful and gets mainstream plaudits from graduation onwards, 2) the writer everyone claims they'd settle for: the genius who spends years on one thing and doesn't care if it ever gets published so long as its perfect, 3) the writer most people actually are: who gets started late in life, to reasonable acclaim. Roman, Bernard, and Lucy (and Miranda) are fully realized characters, but they're also archetypes.
--Now I really want to write an epic prose poem about Lewis and Clark.
jules32reads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5
alannah1309's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0