cwerber's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An interesting book. I picked it up because I wanted something to read while sitting with my dad in his hospital room. I didn't know it was a sequel but from what reviews I read, I didn't need to.
But I think I miss out on something about some of the characters in the book and will, most likely, read the first book.
Anyway, there is a loose plot to the book with the stories jumping perspectives and timelines but always somehow tangentially related. It was an interesting read and I will be thinking about it for a while.
But I think I miss out on something about some of the characters in the book and will, most likely, read the first book.
Anyway, there is a loose plot to the book with the stories jumping perspectives and timelines but always somehow tangentially related. It was an interesting read and I will be thinking about it for a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, Alcohol, Cancer, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Death, Drug abuse, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, and Terminal illness
rachaelwho's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Good. Would have liked a little more story from a little fewer characters. Lulu's excellent passage felt a little lifted from Carmen Maria Machado, which feels like an odd thing to say about Jennifer Egan so maybe I'm mistaken but...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
ygoliver's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Car accident
beccasherman's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Rape, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Death of parent
bethtuba's review
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide
jennikreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence and Addiction
hannakutlu's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
angelkisses's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While each story in the collection has its unique characteristics (such as the robotic tone of "Lulu The Spy, 2032" or the epistolary structure of "See Below" -- two of my favourites) the underlying concept is woven throughout. What does it mean to be human? The classic question arising from the canon of science fiction. In this way, characters are faced with dilemmas -- usually ethical or philosophical in nature -- and we, the readers observe their resulting transformations. The voice actors added so much to this collection through their performances, I would absolutely recommend it. My personal favourite is "A Journey: A Stranger Comes To Town" featuring themes of redemption and reincarnation, following the lives of two acquaintances as their lives converge together -- and a relationship full of distrust, anger, sadness, joy and fierce loyalty comes about. Listening to this story, the words rang so true that I felt as if an old friend was recounting to me a memory of theirs. Honourable mention to "The Mystery Of Our Mother."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Sexual assault
htaub23's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Alcohol
thebakerbookworm's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Despite having the subtitle "A Novel," this book is actually a collection of short stories...they are all set in the same world and some of the characters have cameos in multiple stories, but other than that, each story could be read on its own, or out of order. It was confusing to me at first, because I kept expecting to return to the first story, and then the second, etc., but once I understood that they were short stories, I actually enjoyed the book more.
Maybe I would've understood it more if I'd read the Goon Squad book first? Not sure, but I loved some of the stories, found others boring, didn't like some of them. I think my favorite was the one written entirely via letters. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters that are presented, though most of them make questionable decisions and aren't very likable.
I did really appreciate the commentary on memories and social media and just how much of yourself you're willing to share with strangers. A lot of food for thought. I mean, if you could upload all your memories online and be able to access them at any time, and actually watch them as you experienced them, like a movie, but they would also be available for anyone in the world to watch them, would you do it?
Thanks as always to Libro.fm, Simon and Schuster Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Maybe I would've understood it more if I'd read the Goon Squad book first? Not sure, but I loved some of the stories, found others boring, didn't like some of them. I think my favorite was the one written entirely via letters. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters that are presented, though most of them make questionable decisions and aren't very likable.
I did really appreciate the commentary on memories and social media and just how much of yourself you're willing to share with strangers. A lot of food for thought. I mean, if you could upload all your memories online and be able to access them at any time, and actually watch them as you experienced them, like a movie, but they would also be available for anyone in the world to watch them, would you do it?
Thanks as always to Libro.fm, Simon and Schuster Audio, and the author for my ALC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cursing, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Addiction and Gun violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Suicide, and Suicide attempt