itsgg's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure whether San Francisco has more than its share of Nathaniel Ps, but we've all dated at least one of them! All three stars are for Waldman's astute observations about relationships and human nature, although I wish there had been a bit more plot movement. The novel is still worth reading, however, and it's pretty short (I got through it in a couple of days), so low investment. I look forward to reading her next book.
thecatwood's review against another edition
4.0
I waited to write this review until I was less consumed with low levels of smoldering rage, not towards Waldman but... towards men. MISANDRY. This is the literary equivalent of misandry cross stitch on Etsy. Waldman is a social commentator, both part of and outside the scene, and I think there's a telling moment in the book when characters discuss George Eliot and Middlemarch- one of the male characters (notable for his emotional attachment to a co-worker that he doesn't find hot enough, so he won't date her) says, "Smart women have a personal stake in vilifying men who fail to appreciate smart women." I think Waldman writes this line as a bold, tongue in cheek stance about the purpose of her book. She is our George Eliot. We are all Hannah.
The plot is irritatingly (and I suppose purposefully) meandering and the main character, the titular Nathaniel P., is irritatingly meditative on his horrible bachelor apartment and his exhaustive cataloging of each woman's beauty and flaws. Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. is the lampooning of the 21st century man, the post metrosexual, post alpha male, post-swinging dick white dude literature. Nate is the guy we all hope we can avoid liking. If anyone tells you he admires Roth as not just a writer but as a role model, run in the other direction.
I can't tell if my criticisms of this book - especially the go nowhere plot and excruciatingly slow pacing - are the full embodiment of Nate's personality or the flaws of a first time novelist. I look forward to reading more Waldman, her capturing of tiny scenes and dialogue are spot on, and I hope her next piece is a bit more plot driven, but that's just because generally, post modern meditative literature isn't my cup of tea.
The plot is irritatingly (and I suppose purposefully) meandering and the main character, the titular Nathaniel P., is irritatingly meditative on his horrible bachelor apartment and his exhaustive cataloging of each woman's beauty and flaws. Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. is the lampooning of the 21st century man, the post metrosexual, post alpha male, post-swinging dick white dude literature. Nate is the guy we all hope we can avoid liking. If anyone tells you he admires Roth as not just a writer but as a role model, run in the other direction.
I can't tell if my criticisms of this book - especially the go nowhere plot and excruciatingly slow pacing - are the full embodiment of Nate's personality or the flaws of a first time novelist. I look forward to reading more Waldman, her capturing of tiny scenes and dialogue are spot on, and I hope her next piece is a bit more plot driven, but that's just because generally, post modern meditative literature isn't my cup of tea.
katesusko's review against another edition
3.0
Personally, I like a novel every once in a while where I hate the main character. It keeps things interesting and offers a different point of view. Plus, it’s fun to root against a main character every once in a while.
You will hate this main character. He’s misogynistic, arrogant, and a real fuck boy, but it’s fun to get inside his brain. Reading about him makes you rethink all the assholes you’ve dated and realize yes, they really were awful people.
I think every woman who is dating men should read this book to learn about some new red flags to watch out for.
You will hate this main character. He’s misogynistic, arrogant, and a real fuck boy, but it’s fun to get inside his brain. Reading about him makes you rethink all the assholes you’ve dated and realize yes, they really were awful people.
I think every woman who is dating men should read this book to learn about some new red flags to watch out for.
leawyo's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh. DNF this pretentious drivel. Nathaniel P. , the P stands for pompous prig. I’m shocked a woman wrote this. I hope it’s satire of some kind but I didn’t get it and couldn’t care less.
carabee's review against another edition
4.0
As a comedy of manners, this book is great. Weldman has such a command of language, a wonderful sense for when to shift the dynamic of a scene with a single, short line. The accuracy of this book, however, troubles me, leaves me sad that people like Nate may and probably do exist. Though by no means a terrible person, his behavior towards other people is despicable. The description of this book as a comedy of manners in a generation without any manners at all seems perfectly fitting. But this book scares me into thinking some in my generation may be wandering missing not only their manners, but their souls.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
3.0
As I read this book it became more and more oppressively, claustrophobically, the Brooklyn journalistic/literary scene. While it was amusing at first, it was not nearly amusing enough to sustain even its relatively slender length. And while much of it rang true--and there was something impressive and borderline titillating about a woman inhabiting a man's head to the degree that Adelle Waldman pulled off in this book--that was not enough to transcend what felt like a narrow setting and an all-too-ordinary setting of a 20 something going from affair to affair. If it had more of a plot or a purpose it might have felt different than the exploration of a social setting and the rise and fall of a relationship within that setting. That said, it was well written and I would certainly consider reading Waldman's next book.
bailsofhey5's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what made me like this book so much. But I did. I loved it. I love how flawed the characters were! And the style of writing was so witty and clever. I highly recommend this book.
labarrec's review against another edition
2.0
I have no idea why this book was on my “to-read” shelf. Now that I’ve read it I still don’t know. Nate was a dick. That’s it. That’s the whole story.
cowmingo's review against another edition
2.0
This book had potential. So much potential. Unfortunately, I got lost in looking up all the $5 words the author used in order to convey her point. I get annoyed when authors use a lot of overly fancy words to say what they want to say. I get that the main character was kind of a pretentious douche and maybe that's what the $5 words were for but it was quite a turn off. I also really didn't like the ending or the main character so I'm probably not one of the better people to talk to about this book.
kdferrin's review against another edition
1.0
Why, why, why do I not keep my resolve to sticking with book recommendations from my friends on Goodreads? This book had no plot, R rated language and subject matter and was filled with pretentious self-absorbed characters who feel morally and intellectually superior to all those around them