380 reviews for:

The Moviegoer

Walker Percy

3.45 AVERAGE

jenna_le's review against another edition

3.0

For most of the time I was reading this, I wasn't sure I liked it. The conjuring of a sense of place and atmosphere was quite fine. The sleek prose was nice, although the author seemed at times far too proud of himself for having gone to medical school and tosses around medical jargon rather unnecessarily and show-offishly (Walker Percy and I are alumni of the same med school, which is one of the things that drew me to pick up this book in the first place). Some of the characters are very well drawn (e.g., Aunt Emily, who is given an absolutely wonderful speech at the end), others less so (e.g., Sharon, who is only shown to us through the lens of the protagonist's emotionally detached and patronizing lust and therefore never becomes more than a highly polished surface despite occupying a lot of space in the novel). The protagonist's emotional immaturity irritated me (the protagonist is a 29-year-old man but seemed to me to act younger), as did the dated sexual and racial politics of the book as a whole (the book was published in 1961, and while it's modern in some ways -- the frankness and authenticity with which it treats bodily functions and mental health, for example -- it's far from modern in others). Still, the book started to grow on me in the penultimate quarter, where we see the main character visit his half-siblings and we finally start to see him show a bit of heart, especially in his bond with his younger half-brother Lonnie. Then the final quarter of the book happened, and I was surprised to find that that was very very very good -- I found myself underlining passage after passage, page after page, something I had not done for the first 80% of the book. Really, it's hardly an exaggeration to say that the entire heart of the book -- the entire plot, the entire emotional core of it -- is contained in that last 20%. The journey to get there was frustrating, but it paid off in the end.

boat_tiger's review against another edition

2.0

I don't think I made it more than 50 pages. I've already forgotten it.

branomander's review against another edition

3.0

Edit: Honestly, I think about this book more and I like it less and less, especially as I read and watch more stuff. I’ve read more beautiful prose, experienced more intense plots, found more thought-provoking ideas, and the like, in many other books. The four-star rating I gave it was mostly enjoyment, and the feeling that I should rate it highly because it was a “classic” book. Really though, I honestly didn’t find much to enjoy other than the book’s sheer enjoyability, if that makes sense.

There are books more worth your time.
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I heard about The Moviegoer from a visit to the Wikipedia page about philosophical novels. The descriptions on the back of the book and on Wikipedia promised a Kierkegaardian jaunt. I was sold, so I picked it up at a used bookstore.

Not knowing TOO much about Kierkegaard, I do think the inspiration is mostly nominal. Some of his verbiage is appropriated here and there, but the novel didn’t give too much page-space to overt philosophizing, other than a few key moments.

Otherwise, the novel is erratic, uneven, superficial, but beautiful, absurd, and extremely fun to read. I laughed out loud three or four times, when a book getting me to do that even once is extremely rare.

The moviegoer is a good time. Give it a shot.

thejenhiller's review against another edition

2.0

The pace and tone of the book reminded me a lot of Camus' The Stranger.

therealwillf's review against another edition

dark reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

faulkneresque's review against another edition

4.0

I liked the book, but wasn't as impressed as I felt I should have been based on reviews I'd read. I've read other works by Walker Percy and expected this to be mind-blowing. That said, part of me thinks I might have just been reading the wrong book for my mood.

wolfindu's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Complicated
• Loveable characters? Complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ratingwithears's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Complicated
• Loveable characters? Complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated

3.25

reflectivereader's review against another edition

3.0

The Moviegoer is a short novel that explores the existential journey of Binx Bolling, a stockbroker in New Orleans who finds himself caught between the mundane "everydayness" of life and his search for something more meaningful.

Percy's narrative follows Binx during Mardi Gras week as he approaches his 30th birthday, dealing with family expectations, his relationship with his troubled step-cousin Kate, and his own quest for purpose. The novel examines themes of alienation, authenticity, and the struggle to find meaning in modern life.

As a reading experience, the book is relatively brief and straightforward. The prose is accessible, making it an easy read that doesn't demand excessive time or effort. Percy's depiction of 1950s New Orleans provides an atmospheric backdrop to Binx's internal struggles.

Some of the novel's themes do resonate with the universal human experience. The concept of "the search" - Binx's attempt to break through the routine of everyday existence - speaks to anyone who has questioned whether there's more to life than just going through the motions. Similarly, the exploration of how people create meaning for themselves in an apparently indifferent world feels relevant across generations.

However, the characters sometimes lack the depth needed to fully engage with their philosophical dilemmas. Binx's detached narration, while intentional, creates an emotional distance that can make it difficult to fully invest in his journey. The resolution, with Binx seemingly settling for conventional life choices, feels somewhat anticlimactic after his existential questioning.

The Moviegoer offers an interesting window into mid-20th century existential thought, wrapped in an accessible package. While it may not leave a profound impact, it provides sufficient material for reflection on how we construct meaning in our lives and navigate between societal expectations and personal authenticity.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

carringtonshaw's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This is not my type of book. But it is my fiance's and his father's favorite book, and they are passionate about it and the author, so I gave it a chance. I can understand what people love about it. The prose is beautiful and flowing, and it's a great choice for an existentialist seeking the meaning of it all, if such a thing is to be had. This was my second time reading it, and this time I read it out loud, as I now suspect anything poetic should be read, to my fiance, which helped me appreciate it even more on a line level.

All that said, I've never been a fan of abstract writing, going back to my days in English classes when I was first forced to confront Proust. It just isn't my thing. I understand the reasoning for it and the appeal of it, but it just is not for me. Sad and plotless are not my thing, either. Also, the whole premise and ambiance of this one remind me way too much of Bret Easton Ellis (one of my least favorite authors). The whole 'privileged guy bumbling his way through a wasted life' is straight out of Less Than Zero and is completely unrelatable to me. I did particularly enjoy the climax, though, when his aunt finally sees him for what he is and reads him the riot act (for all the good it does).