blakeslee's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
noelrk's review against another edition
5.0
Kalfus offers an incredibly astute and startlingly clear view of American life. The pangs of divorce have never been better described, from the piecing together of events in a child's mind to the absolute silence of parents. [return][return]But it's the backdrop of 9/11 that amplifies the book's themes, and makes it a bittersweet allegory for how divorce is an assault on the bulwark of culture: Marriage. Parallels abound in the book, between global actions and the disputes and maneuvers taken by the Harrimans. But these parallels never hit the reader over the head, and work at an almost subliminal level.[return][return]This sublime book is required reading.
schleyer's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
nonsensebookvoid's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mrjane's review
4.0
not sure if it was good but i liked it? would like to read again and try to determine what it is he is saying about the war
jeanvaljean1998's review against another edition
2.0
A mood book. Despondent. That’s the best word I can think of to describe it. Existential. The second best. I didn’t laugh a single time - it was mostly dark and very little comedy for me.
A story about the ravages of capitalism, racism, sexism, liberalism and nationalism on a deeply personal and (often) implicit level. It’s as chilling as any horror novel I’ve ever read. Especially the viewpoints from the children. No conflict is every truly resolved - it just stays on that one note. Despondency. And the satirical ending adds to it. There is no “hope,” really. The only thing that ever goes right is when things are intended to go desperately wrong (401k and suicide bomb).
Everyone in this story is caught in a depressing loop and unable to step out. New York comes out looking like the worst place on earth.
A story about the ravages of capitalism, racism, sexism, liberalism and nationalism on a deeply personal and (often) implicit level. It’s as chilling as any horror novel I’ve ever read. Especially the viewpoints from the children. No conflict is every truly resolved - it just stays on that one note. Despondency. And the satirical ending adds to it. There is no “hope,” really. The only thing that ever goes right is when things are intended to go desperately wrong (401k and suicide bomb).
Everyone in this story is caught in a depressing loop and unable to step out. New York comes out looking like the worst place on earth.
gillis's review against another edition
2.0
Een boek met een sterk begin (de ontsnapping uit de op instorten staande 'twin towers' op 11 september). Daarna weet de auteur je aandacht nog wel een tijdje vast te houden met een realistisch 'achter de scene' verhaal over de wederzijdse pesterijen van een koppel in een vechtscheiding. Grappig vond ik het boek echter nooit. Eerder een beetje triest (want je weet dat het er bij sommige koppels effectief zo -of god betert nog erger - aan toe gaat).
Maar vooral in de tweede helft raakte Kalfus mij kwijt.
Van een aantal scenes begrijp ik niet goed waarom ze in het boek verwerkt werden en van sommige wenste ik zelfs dat ik ze nooit gelezen had (o.m. de scene op het drugsfeestje - als je het boek leest/las weet je wel welke scene ik bedoel).
De twee hoofdpersonages zijn trouwens totaal 'unlikable'.
Maar vooral in de tweede helft raakte Kalfus mij kwijt.
Van een aantal scenes begrijp ik niet goed waarom ze in het boek verwerkt werden en van sommige wenste ik zelfs dat ik ze nooit gelezen had (o.m. de scene op het drugsfeestje - als je het boek leest/las weet je wel welke scene ik bedoel).
De twee hoofdpersonages zijn trouwens totaal 'unlikable'.
katymhampton's review against another edition
3.0
Quick, easy read. The dark humor gave a different perspective to the events of 09/11. I felt that the text and subjects were a bit too jumbled for my taste, but I assume it was the intention of the author given the subject of the novel.