smaravetz's review
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
esther_talbdt's review
challenging
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
turnedherbrain's review
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Dense, tedious, frustrating, but occasionally very funny. Never had a harder time rating a book.
lindseyzwilson's review
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
michelleka's review
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
giroflee's review
4.0
On a sentence-by-sentence level, I loved this book. I was highlighting one brilliant observation after another.
I also thought that Batuman does a great job of capturing the dislocation, loneliness, and boredom that come with living in a foreign country where you don’t know the norms or the language. I’ve experienced it myself, and it really is like that.
But there isn’t much in the way of plot, and some of the scenes drag. Selina is wonderfully observant but so passive; I’d love to read another novel from Svetlana’s perspective as she was so sharply drawn.
I also thought that Batuman does a great job of capturing the dislocation, loneliness, and boredom that come with living in a foreign country where you don’t know the norms or the language. I’ve experienced it myself, and it really is like that.
But there isn’t much in the way of plot, and some of the scenes drag. Selina is wonderfully observant but so passive; I’d love to read another novel from Svetlana’s perspective as she was so sharply drawn.
lilacswans's review
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kajpm's review
It was boring and I couldn’t get into it and frankly didn’t want to keep pushing myself to read something I didn’t like.
liambaker19's review
emotional
funny
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
3.5
gillyking's review
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0