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barbaraalfond's review against another edition
5.0
I so loved this book. It is probably not for everyone, but for the circle of readers who like quiet, thoughtful, contemplative fiction, centered on a narrative about prep schools, where a love of writing--and writers--is fostered, this short but affecting novel is for you. (How big is that circle? I hope very big.) The send-up of Ayn Rand, in which her visceral distaste of all things idealistic, altruistic, and noble is pitted against a room filled with devoted masters and impressionable boys is pure gold.
bivie's review against another edition
2.0
I struggled to get through this one. Although there was clearly a lot of attention placed on how the story was presented I just couldn’t connect on an emotional basis. Sentences contained a lot of words but I felt nothing after reading them. I wasn’t engaged or invested.
xmsuetta's review against another edition
3.0
Not too crazy about the last chapter but enjoyed the book as a whole for the most part. There's a certain mystery element involved that leaves me wanting more.
kstephens22's review against another edition
3.0
"The consideration of what it means to be a son. The loyalty that is your duty and your worth and your problem. The goodness of loyalty and its difficulties and snares, how loyalty might also become betrayal - of the self and the world outside the circle of blood."
"Unacknowledged shame enters the world as anger."
"Unacknowledged shame enters the world as anger."
overbooked_va's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Perfect fall read with The Holdovers vibes. Explores themes of self-mythologizing, identity, class, intellectualism, idols, and literature while asking the eternal question of who are we really?
emma_lynn_95's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
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
briannap's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
frankanalysis's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0