michalvy's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
kmarchsays's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.75
siobst's review against another edition
2.0
This book struck me as a Dostoyevsky-style version of The Big Chill. I’m not a fan of classic Russian novels or The Big Chill (although the soundtrack is one of my favorites). I’m not sure whether this was intentional but the characters with Russian heritage only had very slight Russia accents. I thought that was a lost opportunity in the audio format.
ktuzinski's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jadereads_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beardedbarista's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to PRHAudio for this complimentary audiobook!
This was a great book. This book was a tough start for me but as the characters built and the drama slowly did as well it all became cathartic and comforting to be a part of this quarantined group. The book takes you through a range of emotion and has so many very real and gritty moments. Uncomfortable moments. Will need to find a hard copy of this at some point for my collection.
This was a great book. This book was a tough start for me but as the characters built and the drama slowly did as well it all became cathartic and comforting to be a part of this quarantined group. The book takes you through a range of emotion and has so many very real and gritty moments. Uncomfortable moments. Will need to find a hard copy of this at some point for my collection.
bwrecky's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
glennmiller5309's review against another edition
5.0
Shteyngart's book takes place during the opening months of the pandemic as a group of seven friends hide themselves away on a compound on the Hudson River. While this book examines the complexities of relationships and friendships -- old friendships -- it is also a treatise on the creative spirit and the fragile and precarious act of creative expression. As in his previous novels, Shteyngart aptly displays his wonderful sense of humor, but comedy is not so much the main point of this book, as is the sheer expression of humanity in a difficult time. There are neither specific questions nor black-and-white answers in this novel, making it that much more representational of the multi-hued layers of life.
skaggsy's review against another edition
1.0
The more I think about this book the more I hated it. If you want a grim depressing discussion of class and privilege that goes nowhere and only makes you hate yourself your friends and everyone who you know who belongs or aspires to a certain social class this is for you. They kill off the only likeable character.