ainedougherty's review against another edition
5.0
the sadness in this book is palpable. the characters are unique and loving and lovable.
flawedamythyst's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
allieeveryday's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could give this three and a half stars. While I enjoyed reading it, I found parts of it to be confusing, particularly who was supposed to be narrating in certain chapters. But a decent read, otherwise.
andforgotten's review against another edition
3.0
I bought the book a few months ago, because it's on the list of one of my seminars, but when I tried to start reading it, I couldn't get into it at all. I'm not quite sure why - maybe it was the small font and the narrow pages that put me off, or that it's written with first person narrators, which I don't really like most of the times...
Instead, I decided to download the audiobook and by listening to the story it turned out a lot more interesting and gripping than I thought it would be. So interesting that last night at 1.30am I stopped the audiobook and finished the book by reading it because listening to it would have taken so much longer.
Since I always had a copy of the actual book, I was able to see the pictures and other things that obviously make this book very unique, but I thought it was translated into the audiobook very well, using 3 separate narrators and other techniques. The audiobook makes the story clearer, I think, because there are less distractions, but nonetheless I'm looking forward to the discussions in class.
Instead, I decided to download the audiobook and by listening to the story it turned out a lot more interesting and gripping than I thought it would be. So interesting that last night at 1.30am I stopped the audiobook and finished the book by reading it because listening to it would have taken so much longer.
Since I always had a copy of the actual book, I was able to see the pictures and other things that obviously make this book very unique, but I thought it was translated into the audiobook very well, using 3 separate narrators and other techniques. The audiobook makes the story clearer, I think, because there are less distractions, but nonetheless I'm looking forward to the discussions in class.
libri_e_cappuccini's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Il libro è bello, è potente e ha dei messaggi molto importanti, ma purtroppo non sono abbastanza da giustificare o da equilibrare le parti noiose o quelle che fanno venire il mal di testa.
Graficamente è una gran bell'opera, ben curata, dalla copertina alle foto presenti tra le pagine, ma proprio per tutti questi inserti, per le pagine piene di numeri o illeggibili, si perde il filo e la qualità della lettura ne risente.
La storia dei nonni mi ha confuso e non mi ha sinceramente interessata più di tanto; la storia di Oskar e la sua quest della chiave, per quanto accattivante al principio, si perde poi verso il finale e diventa completamente inutile.
Il trauma del bambino è il punto centrale dell'opera, ma avrei voluto un po' più su questo argomento rispetto a tutte le pagine dedicate ai nonnini che vanno a letto.
Ora aspetto di vedere il film, magari mi chiarirà qualcosa, sicuramente mi farà piangere
anitaofplaybooktag's review against another edition
5.0
Ok, I am getting off to a very interesting 2012.
First, I read Skippy Dies which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but found the experience unsatisfying.
Then, I read this book, and it is the total opposite. I actually didn't really like reading this book - - well the vast majority of it. But, it is absolutely brilliant. There is no doubt in my mind that this book deserves to become a classic and that it is literary gold. Oh my gosh, the writing annoyed me most of the time, and yet it packed an emotional wallop almost as big as The Road. And The Road is my standard for emotional gravity.
I think I've cried after reading one book, The Road. Now, we can make it two.
Oddly, this book is promoted as being a story of a very unusual, eccentric and creative 9 year old boy who has lost his father in 911.
For me, that was a little bit like saying the story of Adam and Eve was about a serpent.
In my mind, the true heart of the book and the absolute brilliance of it lies in the depiction of the relationship between the boy's grandfather and grandmother. It gave me chills. And it's the reason I'm giving this book the five stars it certainly deserves. The writing and how this relationship is presented is very original.
The reason I didn't really enjoy reading the book is that the voice of the 9 year old Oskar just didn't enchant me. It's so precocious that it is not really childlike. And the plotline in which he finds a key amongst his father's things and tries to determine what the key unlocks - - well, I didn't really find it very compelling.
I will say that I read Foer's first book, Everything is Illuminated, and totally did NOT like it. And the storyline of Oskar -- well it just evoked the same things I didn't really like about the first book. I can totally see some people liking this writing style just fine . . .it just is not my cup of tea.
However, I just feel a need to give credit where credit is due. When I read a classic, sometimes I don't necessarily love it either, but I can still appreciate the work of art that it is. For me, this book fits that mold.
p.s. I think it is worth noting that his novel does use some gimmicks that are not often seen. I personally felt these were seriously unnecessary, but that the book succeeded in spite of them not because of them. Foer, you have the talent. Try to trust it.
First, I read Skippy Dies which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but found the experience unsatisfying.
Then, I read this book, and it is the total opposite. I actually didn't really like reading this book - - well the vast majority of it. But, it is absolutely brilliant. There is no doubt in my mind that this book deserves to become a classic and that it is literary gold. Oh my gosh, the writing annoyed me most of the time, and yet it packed an emotional wallop almost as big as The Road. And The Road is my standard for emotional gravity.
I think I've cried after reading one book, The Road. Now, we can make it two.
Oddly, this book is promoted as being a story of a very unusual, eccentric and creative 9 year old boy who has lost his father in 911.
For me, that was a little bit like saying the story of Adam and Eve was about a serpent.
In my mind, the true heart of the book and the absolute brilliance of it lies in the depiction of the relationship between the boy's grandfather and grandmother. It gave me chills. And it's the reason I'm giving this book the five stars it certainly deserves. The writing and how this relationship is presented is very original.
The reason I didn't really enjoy reading the book is that the voice of the 9 year old Oskar just didn't enchant me. It's so precocious that it is not really childlike. And the plotline in which he finds a key amongst his father's things and tries to determine what the key unlocks - - well, I didn't really find it very compelling.
I will say that I read Foer's first book, Everything is Illuminated, and totally did NOT like it. And the storyline of Oskar -- well it just evoked the same things I didn't really like about the first book. I can totally see some people liking this writing style just fine . . .it just is not my cup of tea.
However, I just feel a need to give credit where credit is due. When I read a classic, sometimes I don't necessarily love it either, but I can still appreciate the work of art that it is. For me, this book fits that mold.
p.s. I think it is worth noting that his novel does use some gimmicks that are not often seen. I personally felt these were seriously unnecessary, but that the book succeeded in spite of them not because of them. Foer, you have the talent. Try to trust it.
will_cat_books's review against another edition
Too sad for me at the time. Maybe pick up again
micheherz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
judicarlson's review against another edition
1.0
Can't even finish it. This is not a good book. Can't follow it; since I started it on an e-reader, every time I picked it up I felt like I must have skipped a bunch of pages somehow. Can't even give it one star since I didn't even finish.