madskeo's review against another edition
2.0
So. Many. Adjectives.
So. Many. Drawn. Out. Sentences.
But somehow I felt compelled to finish (maybe because I was on a plane and had nothing else to do?) and still can say it helped the time fly. Not one I would recommend but not one I would say don't read. Writing style improved as the book progressed, the beginning was hard to get through. Almost stopped.
So. Many. Drawn. Out. Sentences.
But somehow I felt compelled to finish (maybe because I was on a plane and had nothing else to do?) and still can say it helped the time fly. Not one I would recommend but not one I would say don't read. Writing style improved as the book progressed, the beginning was hard to get through. Almost stopped.
offbalance80's review against another edition
1.0
I have absolutely no idea what's "invincible" about a bunch of boring people making really terrible choices over the course of a few decades, but it's entirely possible that the author didn't name the book. I'll bet $5 that it was some editorial assistant that thought it up while her boss took the credit (such as it goes in the industry). If you truly loved "One Day," you'll probably enjoy this, as it has an extremely similar conceit. Character studies are all well and good, but these characters need something to do other than make moon eyes at each other, failing to act on their feelings and making oblique cultural references. I don't mind light, but this was transparent.
iamqueenfal's review against another edition
3.0
Another really good summer read. The story didn't blow me away (but to be fair to the author and story, I've read some pretty epic tales lately and everything is being unfairly compared), but it's the perfect book to bring to the beach.
treepark's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
marissa2843's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
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
3.75
vdecar's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Beginning in 1995, Invincible Summer by Alice Adams is an engrossing novel that follows the friendships of four college friends through an array of ups and downs over the course of twenty years.
Despite the very different directions their lives take, Eva, Benedict, Sylvie and Lucien remain friends after graduation. Eva, the daughter of a professor with Socialist leanings, casts off her father's ideology and climbs the corporate ladder as an investment banker. Benedict, whose family is wealthy, continues on with his education as he seeks his PhD in physics. Sylvie, a free-spirited budding artist, appears destined to a great career as a painter while her brother Lucien becomes a successful club promoter. Although their friendship waxes and wanes over the years, the friends maintain contact, (albeit sporadically on occasion), as they weather the various storms that life brings them. However, as they reach different levels of success, jealousy and discontent lead to unpleasant confrontations and hurt feelings.
Instead of continuing on to grad school, Eva abandons her dream of becoming a physicist to work in finance. Working eighty hours a week, she slowly but surely works her way up the ranks but her personal life suffers as she concentrates on her building her career. Eva does find time to date, and a surprising romance leads to a long term relationship but are they destined to live happily ever after?
Benedict is a bit of a science geek but he knows exactly what he wants to do once he completes his PhD. His life takes a rather unexpected turn when he is close to completing his degree but he still manages to secure his dream job. Benedict makes a few missteps in his personal life but overall, he is mostly satisfied with what he has achieved although he suffers a few pangs of regret for some of his choices.
Of the four friends, Sylvie's path in life seemed crystal clear but surprisingly, she never quite achieved the success everyone expected. Despite her very obvious talent, her career as an artist never quite came together and she works one dead end job after another. Drinking too much and indulging in numerous one night stands, Sylvie is on a fast track for disaster when her friendship with Eva takes an ugly turn. Finally deciding to get her act together, she spends a restful summer away from London, but will this hard-won tranquility last once she returns to her regular life?
Lucien's charm and devil may care attitude translate into a successful career as a club promoter but how long can he sustain this hard drinking, partying lifestyle? Never taking anything or anyone too seriously, he is charismatic and well-liked but he never lets anyone get too close to him. When his world falls apart in a somewhat spectacular fashion, Lucien is rather pragmatic about his fate but will he learn from his mistakes?
Spanning twenty years, Invincible Summer by Alice Adams is a captivating novel of friendship. The chapters alternate between the different characters' perspectives which provides intriguing glimpses of the friends at various points in their lives. Although they drift apart occasionally through the years, their friendship evolves and strengthens as they undergo some very unanticipated and sometimes heartbreaking, life-altering events.
Despite the very different directions their lives take, Eva, Benedict, Sylvie and Lucien remain friends after graduation. Eva, the daughter of a professor with Socialist leanings, casts off her father's ideology and climbs the corporate ladder as an investment banker. Benedict, whose family is wealthy, continues on with his education as he seeks his PhD in physics. Sylvie, a free-spirited budding artist, appears destined to a great career as a painter while her brother Lucien becomes a successful club promoter. Although their friendship waxes and wanes over the years, the friends maintain contact, (albeit sporadically on occasion), as they weather the various storms that life brings them. However, as they reach different levels of success, jealousy and discontent lead to unpleasant confrontations and hurt feelings.
Instead of continuing on to grad school, Eva abandons her dream of becoming a physicist to work in finance. Working eighty hours a week, she slowly but surely works her way up the ranks but her personal life suffers as she concentrates on her building her career. Eva does find time to date, and a surprising romance leads to a long term relationship but are they destined to live happily ever after?
Benedict is a bit of a science geek but he knows exactly what he wants to do once he completes his PhD. His life takes a rather unexpected turn when he is close to completing his degree but he still manages to secure his dream job. Benedict makes a few missteps in his personal life but overall, he is mostly satisfied with what he has achieved although he suffers a few pangs of regret for some of his choices.
Of the four friends, Sylvie's path in life seemed crystal clear but surprisingly, she never quite achieved the success everyone expected. Despite her very obvious talent, her career as an artist never quite came together and she works one dead end job after another. Drinking too much and indulging in numerous one night stands, Sylvie is on a fast track for disaster when her friendship with Eva takes an ugly turn. Finally deciding to get her act together, she spends a restful summer away from London, but will this hard-won tranquility last once she returns to her regular life?
Lucien's charm and devil may care attitude translate into a successful career as a club promoter but how long can he sustain this hard drinking, partying lifestyle? Never taking anything or anyone too seriously, he is charismatic and well-liked but he never lets anyone get too close to him. When his world falls apart in a somewhat spectacular fashion, Lucien is rather pragmatic about his fate but will he learn from his mistakes?
Spanning twenty years, Invincible Summer by Alice Adams is a captivating novel of friendship. The chapters alternate between the different characters' perspectives which provides intriguing glimpses of the friends at various points in their lives. Although they drift apart occasionally through the years, their friendship evolves and strengthens as they undergo some very unanticipated and sometimes heartbreaking, life-altering events.
adriennnne's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this one but it was a slow read for me. Felt a little tough to keep up with time jumps and often had to flip back to the last chapter to check when it was. Overall, a sweet story of friendship, love, and growing older
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
3.0
Eva is the product of a bohemian left-wing family, her mother died when she was young and there was never much money. In contrast to the friends she meets at Bristol University, Eva knows she will have to work hard to survive. Eva joins the corporate world of finance and becomes very successful very quickly whereas her best friend Sylvie drifts. Sylvie's brother, the fey but glamorous Lucian, works in Clubland with a side-line in drug-dealing, he is a contrast to Benedict, a research scientist who is the love of Eva's life. Following a group of friends over 20 years, this book charts the ups and downs of their lives.
This is a very quick read of a book, the language is simple and the plot not too demanding. Adams has targeted a certain audience and written a book that is sure to please them, the characters are not merely one-dimensional (but not much more than that!) and the intertwined stories chug along nicely. Of course it is massively cliched - poor, socialist girl becomes corporate highflier, posh awkward boy never declares his love, drug dealer gets caught out and artistic girl has a wake-up call with the onset of motherhood. As far as chick-lit goes it is more intelligent than most but still feels like an insubstantial bit of froth.
This is a very quick read of a book, the language is simple and the plot not too demanding. Adams has targeted a certain audience and written a book that is sure to please them, the characters are not merely one-dimensional (but not much more than that!) and the intertwined stories chug along nicely. Of course it is massively cliched - poor, socialist girl becomes corporate highflier, posh awkward boy never declares his love, drug dealer gets caught out and artistic girl has a wake-up call with the onset of motherhood. As far as chick-lit goes it is more intelligent than most but still feels like an insubstantial bit of froth.