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skynet666's review against another edition
5.0
I had to give this book 5 stars just because it was so much better than so many others that I rated at 4 stars. It's really more like a 4.5 for me. It was long and there were a few parts in the middle that dragged, but overall I enjoyed the feeling of understanding the characters (well not the son, but the others). Patty's relationship with her son was portrayed very differently than other mother/son situations that I've read about before. Also, her belief in where she went wrong rang true for me, but maybe it's because I could identify. This was not a fun or super enjoyable book, but I felt as if I was truly invested in the story, which is rare. Again, I wouldn't recommend it to anybody because it's so long and I know a few others who hated it.
kstar902's review against another edition
3.0
I was fairly engaged with this book, despite the fact that none of the characters were very likable. I can't explain it.
racyspacy's review against another edition
3.0
This book, I just found it odd but something kept me reading. 3.5 stars.
pria42's review against another edition
2.0
It’s a bit like a car wreck - you can’t look away and awfully depressing.
erickibler4's review against another edition
5.0
I found this one to be a lot sloppier in storytelling than The Corrections, but still engaging.
Set in the backdrop of 9/11 and the ramp-up to the war in Iraq, this book concerns the Berglands, a dysfunctional family. Walter, the father, is an environmental lawyer. Patty, his wife, is an ex-jock searching for meaning and direction. Joey, their son, rebels by entering the conservative camp and becomes embroiled in a money making scheme to sell useless truck parts to the U.S. military. The estrangements and reconciliations are all intertwined with the issues of the day.
I could especially identify with the friendship between the reliable Walter and the hedonist musician, Richard Katz. Richard admires Walter for his integrity and envies him his wife. Walter craves Richard's freedom. I'm a Walter, and have a friend who's a Richard. There's a type of toxic relationship between male friends that occurs when the "Richard" is unable to abandon the competitive paradigm of youth, and continues to sabotage the "Walter's" success. When men are young and immature, such sabotage moves usually involve women, and there's a name for it: "c*ck block". When these types of moves are made by adults, it could involve anything in the realm of envied success, and it's just pathetic. At the same time, the "Walter" has matured, is fully looking out for his friend's best interest, and helps him in his every endeavor. But, as is always the case, no good deed goes unpunished, and when "Richard's" unforgivable betrayal comes, it comes hard.
This book captures that type of relationship perfectly.
Set in the backdrop of 9/11 and the ramp-up to the war in Iraq, this book concerns the Berglands, a dysfunctional family. Walter, the father, is an environmental lawyer. Patty, his wife, is an ex-jock searching for meaning and direction. Joey, their son, rebels by entering the conservative camp and becomes embroiled in a money making scheme to sell useless truck parts to the U.S. military. The estrangements and reconciliations are all intertwined with the issues of the day.
I could especially identify with the friendship between the reliable Walter and the hedonist musician, Richard Katz. Richard admires Walter for his integrity and envies him his wife. Walter craves Richard's freedom. I'm a Walter, and have a friend who's a Richard. There's a type of toxic relationship between male friends that occurs when the "Richard" is unable to abandon the competitive paradigm of youth, and continues to sabotage the "Walter's" success. When men are young and immature, such sabotage moves usually involve women, and there's a name for it: "c*ck block". When these types of moves are made by adults, it could involve anything in the realm of envied success, and it's just pathetic. At the same time, the "Walter" has matured, is fully looking out for his friend's best interest, and helps him in his every endeavor. But, as is always the case, no good deed goes unpunished, and when "Richard's" unforgivable betrayal comes, it comes hard.
This book captures that type of relationship perfectly.
cindysal's review against another edition
1.0
Disappointing. Bleak, unlikeable characters that I had a difficult time caring about. The beginning of the book seemed promising but. the vast middle became nearly intolerable ...not sure why I stuck with it.....the end was somewhat redeeming but not enough to recommend it.
mmboo's review against another edition
1.0
With less than 100 pages left I gave up on this book, I just could not take it any more. In my opinion the the book could have been half the length. The author writes on and on and on without actually adding anything of value to the story. None of the characters were likable, and they were not developed or even interesting. They all struck me as pathetic in their own ways and not like real people. I continued to read because I was waiting for something to develop for a plot or theme or something. but after 509 pages of 562 I just did not care any more.
iwnbh's review against another edition
4.0
It's like... highbrow soap opera? What amazes me is how easy this book is to read on a surface level (until you get to some intense conversations), but how complicated the characters and the relationships truly are. A part of me loved the ending, a part of me hated it. And obviously it's easy to take Walter's side, but some passages from him were so hard to stomach. Like I completely understand why you're acting like that but also wow you do come off as very repressed and unhinged! On many levels it is a heartbreaking story.
Joey's whole story arc verges on surreal, a fever nightmare that kind of clashes with the rest of the story. Like someone else said, a lot like Chip's improbable shenanigans in Lithuania (complete with the echo of financial fraud). Very incoherent review I know, but the verdict is that I really like it and I recommend.
Joey's whole story arc verges on surreal, a fever nightmare that kind of clashes with the rest of the story. Like someone else said, a lot like Chip's improbable shenanigans in Lithuania (complete with the echo of financial fraud). Very incoherent review I know, but the verdict is that I really like it and I recommend.
maralisephoto's review against another edition
4.0
I should qualify my rating given that I HATED the first 2/3rds of the novel. The high rating has something to do with the novel's connection to one of my favorite themes (marriages that stay and even more importantly how they stay) and the nuance of its commentary on my country, its people, our dreams, our manias, the perils and price of what it means to be American. I'm not saying it's the best commentary on these subjects, nor am I saying that the trade craft of the novel is particularly outstanding, but unlike its precedents (James' works comes to mind), the commentary feels uniquely home-grown and almost incestuous, making it more uncomfortable and more real; something that muddies the hands of us all.