Reviews

Babbitt, by Sinclair Lewis

guinness74's review against another edition

3.0

Interesting in parts, but a bit long-winded in parts. I’m not always certain that I understand ‘vintage’ satire, but I think I get enough to get along. And the rest of the story certainly makes an entertainment out of it. It’s probably worth 4 stars, but I’m not feeling particularly generous today.

dannb's review against another edition

4.0

I've not read any Sinclair Lewis, but I picked this up at the library because it was familiar (and I needed my next audio book for the car.) Written nearly 100 years ago, it's better and more realistic(so far) that most of the comtemporary books written about urban/suburban life and "the climb."

Midlife crisis, "stand up" or "go with the flow"...Lewis's writing could easily be 2010 as opposed to 1922...lots of opportunities to chuckle...however, veeeeeeeerrrry long!

readorrot's review against another edition

3.0

This is a really well written book, but it is sooooo long. I mean, agonizingly long. It's one of those books you suffer through and then feel sort of proud that you've read. It is startlingly relevant to today. It's easy to feel that people like Babbitt are the reason our society has ended up the way it has. There are moments that are almost funny, but mostly I found the text deeply disturbing. It is 100 years old, and it feels like only the set dressing has changed.

decorax's review

funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I am the slowest reader in the world, so the fact that the plot didn’t start till after 200 pages really  was not helpful in actually finishing the book - but it was beautifully written, and so despite Babbitt being more or less an absolutely terrible person, he was so incredibly human  that (against almost every standard I have for myself) I was rooting for him the whole time. The friendship between him and Paul was so delicate and soft, I did in fact cry when

Spoiler

Paul went to prison and Babbitt realised without him, life was “meaningless”

. I would read it again just to feel the tenderness of their interactions once more.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Racial slurs and Antisemitism

saraleoni's review against another edition

1.0

totally boring and pointless. only finished because it was required for school

chairmanbernanke's review against another edition

3.0

The titular Babbitt hardly changes much at all over the novel’s course. Interesting to see how little people’s personalities have changed in the past century.

whisperer7's review against another edition

1.0

It definitely did not age well. I strugled with this book; the writing style is horrible, character descriptions are lacking in one area and then unnecessary in another, story is lazy and slow (when there is one) and the overall feeling of the book is just... no.

Yes, it's somewhat relatable even still, after 80 years, showing the society hasn't changed much, but I'm sure there are far better books out there showing the same thing. Maybe I just didn't read a good translation of the book or I just hate the writing style, but this book is a big no for me.

dson's review against another edition

3.0

Good old middle class america true to form as a conforming urbanite should

grllopez's review against another edition

5.0

More like 4 1/2 stars....a book that addresses the pertinent questions about life...the restless life of man. Here is my book review: https://www.greatbookstudy.com/2020/02/babbitt-by-sinclair-lewis.html

jray136's review

dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5