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crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
At times hilarious, at times serious, but always interesting, this novel explores the life of one slightly rebellious professor.
mkhaas29's review against another edition
3.0
A meandering tale of one small college English department’s staff in the 80s (?) or late 70s (?) narrated by an apathetic writing professor who happens to chair the department. The majority of the book’s events happen in the course of a week when his wife is out of town, but the scenes are set with lots of characters, back story, cynicism, and witticism. I think I’ve decided I don’t always love audiobooks when the content is meant to be funny. Sometimes the joke lands and other times it doesn’t, but mostly I can’t help but think I would have delivered the punch lines differently. So that becomes distracting and can take away from the humor of it all. Though there were many a good one-liners and ridiculous situations here to appreciate.
Overall, there was just so much happening and so many characters’ mini dramas expounded on that it felt like perhaps if you took this at a much, much slower pace to read it could be best appreciated.
Overall, there was just so much happening and so many characters’ mini dramas expounded on that it felt like perhaps if you took this at a much, much slower pace to read it could be best appreciated.
maemay03's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
m4change's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
mamalemma's review against another edition
4.0
I do so love a Richard Russo book, and was delighted when my friend Tom dropped it by my house unexpectedly. Even better, it's a book centered around academia, a topic near and dear to my heart. The book explores what you get when you cross middle aged academics who have worked together for 20 years, bickering, harboring grudges, sharing friendships, romances and alliances, and put them up against state-mandated budget cuts. Absurdist fun, interlaced with melancholic ruminations on age and dwindling careers.
cynicalworm's review against another edition
5.0
While waiting for this book to free up at the library, I read two of Russo's other books. Both, including the one that won a Pulitzer, were duds.
Heading into this one, I wondered whether I was majestically stubborn or stupidly optimistic to enter a third Russo world. I'm glad I did.
Delightfully funny with beautiful sentences, and the perfect amount of self loathing and what-could-have-beens.
Heading into this one, I wondered whether I was majestically stubborn or stupidly optimistic to enter a third Russo world. I'm glad I did.
Delightfully funny with beautiful sentences, and the perfect amount of self loathing and what-could-have-beens.