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em_fairfield's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
surfmadpig's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful and at the same time, a little painful to read, because it felt a bit too familiar. At times I thought it was a bit random, but it did come together for me in the end.
At some point, about three years ago, this book asked me to take it abroad, to help it experience different settings, to stain its pages, to sprinkle them with sea water. I did. I guess Mr. Cohen's first novel is one of the few books that I feel speaking to me personally, although that doesn't mean they always end up among my favorites. It did speak, but what it said was rather rude and intrusive.
At some point, about three years ago, this book asked me to take it abroad, to help it experience different settings, to stain its pages, to sprinkle them with sea water. I did. I guess Mr. Cohen's first novel is one of the few books that I feel speaking to me personally, although that doesn't mean they always end up among my favorites. It did speak, but what it said was rather rude and intrusive.
itsyourpaldave's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kylesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jdpellegrino99's review against another edition
4.0
4 and 1/2 stars.
A lyrical meditation on youth and sexuality composed of (sometimes very loosely) connected vignettes throughout the life of Lawrence Breavman. Breavman’s relationship with Shell is especially interesting as it challenges his understanding of love.
The lyrical style of prose clearly foretells how excellent a songwriter Cohen would later become. The book is a glance into his early work and contains some semi-autobiographical element.
A lyrical meditation on youth and sexuality composed of (sometimes very loosely) connected vignettes throughout the life of Lawrence Breavman. Breavman’s relationship with Shell is especially interesting as it challenges his understanding of love.
The lyrical style of prose clearly foretells how excellent a songwriter Cohen would later become. The book is a glance into his early work and contains some semi-autobiographical element.
iancarpenter's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the first half of this book, the women obsessed young poet discovering himself. I wrestled with it a bit as he got older and faced his very honest selfishness. But the writing, as always, is really good.
theshepshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Leonard coming of age in Montreal. The city comes alive!
angyx_bolo's review against another edition
It's an amazing book, with romance in it but not only. It really keeps you in the story and allows you enter in the life and thoughts of the characters, making you really care of their future and their decisions. Quite a number of times you will not agree with the main character and will make you angry, sad and feel pity for him and for the other characters too, but that's why it is so amazing, it totally drowns you into it. I don't want to spoiler the end tho, so just wait for it ;P
alanffm's review against another edition
4.0
The Favorite Game is more of an extremely long poem than a novel. That's not to say its bad - far form it! Cohen makes up for a mediocre plot with the use of his golden tongue. Every line is beautiful and the imagery in the book is vivid and engaging. As the novel comes to a close, Cohen's style begins to take the form of his second (and experimental) novel Beautiful Losers . This shift emphasizes imagery over plot, making it hard to follow the narrative closely. Still, The Favorite Game is a milestone in early post-war Canadian literature and is a very enjoyable read.