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katemariea514's review against another edition
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
2.0
frisbeewhippet's review against another edition
1.0
This book is about nothing. Really. It's a collection of documents written by the main character (journal entries, letters to friends, letters to tenants, grocery lists, etc.) that is meant to reveal the man's state of mind as he slowly admits that he is a failure professionally and personally.
The book is not "funny" or "touching" or "dark" or "outrageous." It's not "inspirational" or "a tale about rallying in the face of adversity" or "a peek" into anything. It's nothing. It's just a book about nothing. It's a book about a man with mediocre problems who has mediocre reactions to them and creates your run-of-the-mill mediocre drama with said problems.
It is entirely possible that this mediocrity is precisely what the author was trying to capture with this book. If so, congrats to Sam Savage...but the work did not appeal to me.
If you used to work on a literary mag or spent any time in an MFA program, you'll enjoy the first 25 pages or so. After that, consider stopping. Seriously. Don't read on because you're waiting "to see what happens." Nothing happens. Just put the book down and move on.
The book is not "funny" or "touching" or "dark" or "outrageous." It's not "inspirational" or "a tale about rallying in the face of adversity" or "a peek" into anything. It's nothing. It's just a book about nothing. It's a book about a man with mediocre problems who has mediocre reactions to them and creates your run-of-the-mill mediocre drama with said problems.
It is entirely possible that this mediocrity is precisely what the author was trying to capture with this book. If so, congrats to Sam Savage...but the work did not appeal to me.
If you used to work on a literary mag or spent any time in an MFA program, you'll enjoy the first 25 pages or so. After that, consider stopping. Seriously. Don't read on because you're waiting "to see what happens." Nothing happens. Just put the book down and move on.
phloxandbramble's review against another edition
1.0
i didn't make it far into this book. i liked the style but couldn't force myself to read a whole book about the main character.
miss_tsundoku's review against another edition
3.0
If you have a dream to be a rich and successful writer, don't read this. Honest.
emmajewish's review against another edition
5.0
This book highlights the trials of life and the temptation to give up and just become, well, like a sloth.
Andrew Whittaker, the main character, continues to trudge along throughout the (often unexpected) hardships of life, although his eccentric personality frequently makes it difficult for him to react expectedly. The book also displays the suffering of others that we often overlook in our everyday lives. I do enjoy journaling and loved the format of how the story was presented (in various letters/stories/ads/etc. that Andrew wrote). Overall, The Cry of the Sloth showed the gradual progression of what can happen to a person (especially a writer) when they experience loneliness, rejection, and unfulfillment in life.
Andrew Whittaker, the main character, continues to trudge along throughout the (often unexpected) hardships of life, although his eccentric personality frequently makes it difficult for him to react expectedly. The book also displays the suffering of others that we often overlook in our everyday lives. I do enjoy journaling and loved the format of how the story was presented (in various letters/stories/ads/etc. that Andrew wrote). Overall, The Cry of the Sloth showed the gradual progression of what can happen to a person (especially a writer) when they experience loneliness, rejection, and unfulfillment in life.
danamiranda's review against another edition
5.0
A gift from my love, the rating is based on this love.
awesome514's review against another edition
2.0
I read an article about this book that gave me the impression that it would be more like "A Confederacy of Dunces," which I loved. Alas, "The Cry of the Sloth" did not have anywhere near the same clever wit of the aforementioned novel. I was incredibly disappointed by the monotonously character driven plot that was primarily related to us through one-way correspondence. I ended up skimming rapidly through the last 30 or so pages just to be done with the drivel.
I mean, I get it, I just wasn't entertained by it.
I mean, I get it, I just wasn't entertained by it.