menfrommarrs's review against another edition
3.0
In the beginning of this book, I so related to Hugo Whittier’s defense of solitude. His arguments for it had me rallying a cheer of my own for hermits everywhere. Oh, to not have those around you, want a piece of you.
Cheering now? Not so much. My idol has feet of clay.
Cheering now? Not so much.
Spoiler
I found out that Hugo is really a meddling self-serving jerk.charleslev's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
very good book you should read it
Spoiler
Hugo is a morally twisted man who, for the most part, wishes to stay to himself. However, due to situations out of his control, people from earlier in his life reenter it. During Hugo's time of solitude, he always longed for and achieved control of his chosen surrounding world. Without that power, only his health and mortality were up to him. That's why he decides to continue smoking despite his disease and ultimately concludes that his life is complete at the end of the book. Through planning and anticipation, Hugo brought the end of his life poetically. However, as proven repeatedly, the people around him took away his control. As Hugo wakes up in a hospital bed, his euphoric moment is cut short by immense dissatisfaction. The reader and Hugo both are deprived of seemingly the perfect ending to Hugo's life, leaving the reader more connected to the character than ever thought possible.heathernj9's review against another edition
3.0
You may end up hating the main character, but I found him hilarious and was sympathetic to him in the end. Another one you'll either love or hate. (I love books likes this!)
kirstiecat's review against another edition
3.0
Ugh..I wrote a decently long review and Goodreads didn't save it. Suffice it to say that I thought the writing of this novel was better than average but it lost me at the ending. Also, I'm the type of person who tends to have to like the protagonist in fiction novels and I found the charisma of this man to be too manipulative and even pathetic.
Some great things about the main character is that he's a misanthrope and has a dark sort of wit about him. He tends to be brutally honest about relationships and intimacy in his journals, which is how we learn about him and what's happening. There's nothing wrong with that except for his bluntly obvious double standards and homophobia that comes in at the end.
The main character is also actively engaging in a sort of long term suicide as he has Buerger's disease mainly caused by persistent smoking but won't give this up. It's an interesting aspect and adds a bit of complexity but I still just didn't find this man likable.
Another positive of the book is that it deals well with different relationships. both intimate and in the family. It takes place in a rural area set apart from NYC and in this wealthy family home that has been passed down and inherited by the protagonist and his brother. Again, this book has some positives but I ended up disliking the main character and hating the ending so I can't seem to rate it any higher than this.
Some great things about the main character is that he's a misanthrope and has a dark sort of wit about him. He tends to be brutally honest about relationships and intimacy in his journals, which is how we learn about him and what's happening. There's nothing wrong with that except for his bluntly obvious double standards and homophobia that comes in at the end.
The main character is also actively engaging in a sort of long term suicide as he has Buerger's disease mainly caused by persistent smoking but won't give this up. It's an interesting aspect and adds a bit of complexity but I still just didn't find this man likable.
Another positive of the book is that it deals well with different relationships. both intimate and in the family. It takes place in a rural area set apart from NYC and in this wealthy family home that has been passed down and inherited by the protagonist and his brother. Again, this book has some positives but I ended up disliking the main character and hating the ending so I can't seem to rate it any higher than this.
rmardel's review against another edition
4.0
Rather well written and compelling novel of a rather unlikeable but crusty trust-fund recluse. Spot on humor and fabulous prose. The ending fades out a bit but still a rather enjoyable read despite the rather unlikeable main character. He grows on one, or at least he grew on me a bit.
sed's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
5.0
kennedyac's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
escapegrace's review against another edition
4.0
Why are novels told from the point of view of the misanthropic so damn enjoyable? I could have spent another novel's worth of time with Christensen's narrator. The supporting cast successfully supported, but Hugo Whittier's voice is what kept me from wanting to put the book down. As this was my first Christensen book, I look forward to more.