Reviews

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

jayden_mccomiskie's review against another edition

4.0

My my, where has Yates been my whole life.

mariahhanley's review against another edition

3.0

I didn't love it until the end, when I really loved it. The ending was a total surprise.

elliemcc11's review against another edition

3.0

I saw the Sam Mendes film of Revolutionary Road some time before I read this book. I really liked the film - ok the subject was a little dark but I thought the cinematography really worked.

Knowing the outcome of the story didn't stop me reading the book. It was how I remembered at the end but I didn't remember all the different relationships and occurrences in the overall story so in that respect it was new territory for me.

I liked the style of writing - different from contemporary novels but it suits the historical period of the 1950s. Understanding 1950s US suburbia was also enlightening.

jessica22's review against another edition

lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

ela_lee_'s review against another edition

5.0

Revolutionary Road is a dark, dreary story of the suburban American dream in the 1950’s (that continues to trail into today.) Frank and April feel trapped in their typical “perfect” life, but can’t seem to stop self-destructing their plan to start over and follow their European dream. Frank is subconsciously anti-feminist and reeks of toxic masculinity that fits the time period and proves how destructive this mindset is. Filled with dark, too-close-to-home comments and realizations, this book proves it’s nothing new to feel lost in a world of conformity, superficial acquaintances, and the daily grind.

This book felt like The Great American Novel where The Metamorphosis meets eerie Southern Gothic. I loved it...The scene with the "insane" John Givings calling out the surrounding suburban lifestyle bullshit while viewing the situation so objectively was epic. Looking forward to watching the film interpretation soon.

denisea's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

victoria_vanessa_g's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense 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

ilseoo's review against another edition

5.0

While reading Revolutionary Road I immediately understood why this book is praised so often. It is a wonderful modern classic, taking place during the 1950s in America. We follow a married couple living in the suburbs who are unsatisfied with their surroundings and life in general. While seeking to fulfil the dreams of their younger years, they lead themselves towards disaster. This impending dread can be felt throughout the entire book, mainly because all the characters felt like complicated, real people whose decisions you follow while holding your heart. The writing style was so so good and sucked me in from the first page. Without a doubt this is one of the best books I’ve recently read.

daisymcooper's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Abortion

trixee_heart's review against another edition

3.0

2.5☆