aliencat7's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really weird read, definitely worth reading
amyisland206's review
5.0
Incredibly quirky and delightful. Yet also, big life questions: love, family, wealth, greed, war. I’m so glad I picked this up.
becka6131's review against another edition
4.0
This was a funny and heartwarming story about a woman who I identified with a bit too much to be entirely comfortable. At least I'm not obsessed with squirrels.
cgreens's review
3.0
I did like this book, but I found parts of it annoying and wasn't super wowed.
I like the philosophical, rambly aspects and wish aspects like this were incorporated into more popular fiction.
I hate the "quirkiness" aspects. I thought the author tried way, way too hard to make Veblen likable and failed, because obviously a sweet, aimless, animal lover martyr girl child is still just not going to be that likable.
I think the central problem is that Veblen and Paul's relationship isn't very believable. Why are they together? What do they see in each other? Why does Paul sort of fade out of the storyline despite the ending? I feel like the story was set up to make Paul loathsome and annoying, then redeemed, but I don't know if the redeeming ever happened. The ending definitely bothered me given how rude, patronizing, and generally annoying Paul was toward Veblen throughout the book. Maybe it was supposed to be believable, not happy? To be honest my favorite portions were the Paul-Millie love story, which was so much more believable and made so much more sense than the Paul-Veblen love story.
I like the philosophical, rambly aspects and wish aspects like this were incorporated into more popular fiction.
I hate the "quirkiness" aspects. I thought the author tried way, way too hard to make Veblen likable and failed, because obviously a sweet, aimless, animal lover martyr girl child is still just not going to be that likable.
I think the central problem is that Veblen and Paul's relationship isn't very believable. Why are they together? What do they see in each other? Why does Paul sort of fade out of the storyline despite the ending? I feel like the story was set up to make Paul loathsome and annoying, then redeemed, but I don't know if the redeeming ever happened. The ending definitely bothered me given how rude, patronizing, and generally annoying Paul was toward Veblen throughout the book. Maybe it was supposed to be believable, not happy? To be honest my favorite portions were the Paul-Millie love story, which was so much more believable and made so much more sense than the Paul-Veblen love story.
claireadtea's review
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cook_memorial_public_library's review
5.0
Highly recommended by Andrea. Read her review: http://shelflife.cooklib.org/2016/01/18/pick-of-the-week-the-portable-veblen-by-elizabeth-mckenzie/
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sportable%20veblen__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sportable%20veblen__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
rclyburn's review
3.0
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. I found the first chapter or more overwritten; kind of like a nineties webpage, where everything is trying to stand out, so nothing really does. For a while I was confused about the purpose of this book - it didn't really have a plot, and was it more about capitalism or mental health?
Despite this, I found the book hilarious. I loved the mother's letter in appendix F. I found appendix C charming. I liked the explanation of what the hormones in Paul's brain were doing. I love how Paul came 'round to squirrels. I liked Veblen wondering about the etymology of words.
I enjoyed the sex scene with Cloris. It was delightfully disturbing.
I did not understand the need for the photos. Nor did I understand the intimate family life descriptions of the squirrels.
Despite this, I found the book hilarious. I loved the mother's letter in appendix F. I found appendix C charming. I liked the explanation of what the hormones in Paul's brain were doing. I love how Paul came 'round to squirrels. I liked Veblen wondering about the etymology of words.
I enjoyed the sex scene with Cloris. It was delightfully disturbing.
Weekends so vast they felt like a graveyard of bones. / Yes he was in hate with the world that morning, livid with loneliness.
The bed of a tortured soul is always in shambles in the morning.
She put her energies into lost causes and scraps
...because that was his parents' gift, they became a loveseat and made everybody in the world feel warm and welcome...
I did not understand the need for the photos. Nor did I understand the intimate family life descriptions of the squirrels.
misterfix's review
3.0
Enjoyed the first 2/3 but then it lost steam the rest of the way through and the ending and events that wrap up the story were a disappointment. Clearly a talented writer and I will watch for her next book in the hope that it is the compete package.
bmnayr's review
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5