Reviews

The Ten-Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer

rebbemcc's review against another edition

4.0

Although I thought a couple of characters weren't as fleshed out as they could have been, I actually dog-eared several pages where conversations between the mothers seemed so profound, I wished I was the character speaking. The friendship between Jill and Amy seemed especially well thought out and nicely realistic.

cat_manders's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

1.75

enidkeaner's review against another edition

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

4.0

bambiilisa's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.0

dllh's review against another edition

3.0

Like the other of her books I've read, this one is perceptive and occasionally offers just the absolute most perfect way of describing something. It kept me engaged, though really there's not a big huge engaging plot. Wolitzer writes about an art project one of the characters has begun in which she depicts in their old age women who died young. This book itself feels a bit like a gallery of portraits, though rather than dying young I suppose they've settled young on losing their momentum in the world as their own beings (rather than as mothers). This one didn't knock my socks off, but I liked it, and this makes three by Wolitzer in rapid succession for me, and all of them very solid books.

agjuba's review against another edition

5.0

Not a ton of action in this book, but boy are Wolitzer's observations spot on!

Here are just a few passages that really stood out to me:

"It seemed that everywhere you went, people quickly adapted to the way they had to live, and called it Life." (p. 363)

"Memory is snobby, a magnet picking up only the choicest filings..." (p. 365)

"But love did not have to be the thing that everyone at work aimed toward, arrows poised." (p. 377)

katiehartsreads's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

melissakuzma's review against another edition

2.0

NOTE: I listened to this book on audio.

Thank god that's over. This is the second book I've read by Meg Wolitzer that had a great premise but that I didn't end up liking (see also: The Position). This is also the second book I've read recently (listened to, actually) that were about women who have given up their careers to become stay-at-home moms. The other, Prospect Park West, was much more successful in my opinion because even though it was also full of completely unlikable characters, it was fun and interesting and things actually HAPPENED. Absolutely nothing happens in The Ten-Year Nap. I couldn't wait for it to end.

bpotthast's review against another edition

3.0

I really wanted to like this book. But it was just kind of meh. I also felt really depressed when I finished it, but that could have been due to my own issues. I think it is a great premise (and generally well written) but the plot could have been better.

taylorbrooke's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

The last two pages makes it oh my