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kate_albers's review against another edition
4.0
I love David Rakoff. And this book is amazing. I am just sad there will never be another novel from him told in rhyming couplets (Rakoff died last year shortly after the book was published). Read it. You'll love it.
zoeythekat's review
4.0
This was VERY well written. It's clever, poignant, and funny. Plus, it's all written in verse, and that's crazy impressive. It weaves together the stories of several characters throughout time very nicely.
lindsaystadter's review
3.0
A quick, fun read, though nothing to rave about. The poetry form was definitely unique and mixed things up, but it sometimes made it harder to understand. I'd recommend it as something unique and fresh, a novelty, but not as a form to start using all the time.
celesteiscrafty's review
5.0
Rakoff’s last work is fondly familiar and heart wrenching with its hope and loss. It reminds me how much we influence each other’s stories without realizing the effect of our passing touch.
shedonist's review
4.0
This was a fascinating book as it's all written in iambic pentameter. If you like the rhythym of words and poetry, you may enjoy this as I did. It's less of a full blown story line and more of a meandering through stories of characters who are linked to one another. It was a lovely romp and some passages were so good they needed to be read again out loud.
kimabill's review
4.0
David Rakoff is brilliant, and this final book of his is amazing. Sharon, I agree with your questions of HOW in the world did he put something like this together? HOW did he even start? It is a collection of stories all written in rhyming couplets, but somehow the rhyming is not at all cheesy or sing-songy. It just works. The stories are thoughtful, melancholy, heartbreaking, funny, devastating, and connected together in this really lovely way. I wish there could be more.
kristinmarta's review against another edition
5.0
First, the skill to write entirely in couplets is tremendous. Second, the stories and rumination on & death is so tender, wistful and profound. I know I'll read this again & again.
tspelczechquer's review against another edition
4.0
Rakoff's final work (he died shortly after completing it last year) is a novel in verse, a modern day Spoon River Anthology. Over 113 pages, Rakoff weaves the stories of a half-dozen or so characters; some bitter, some sweet, all unknowingly intertwined. Illustrations by Seth, and another creative cover by Chip Kidd, made this a pleasure to read.