debi_g's review against another edition
Much of this book is comprised of navel-gazing and cringes. It’s sort of like if Reality Bites was made into a complex reunion movie, or if a tale like The Big Chill were usurped by Gen X.
After initially abandoning the audiobook, I found that I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I resumed my listening.
The Nick Carraway-esque narrator felt off-putting and dubious to me at first, but it made perfect sense by the end, after she became a relatable character.
The characters—self-absorbed, poor communicators is crisis—grew on me the more I understood them. Additionally, I appreciated the “warts and all” revelations, the self-delusions, the rationalizations, and the missteps on the self-confidence roper coaster.
The pervading sense of hope amid ruins is a hallmark of Gen X. So is the ongoing tension between ambition and contentment, pride and humility, rose-colored glasses and doomsday visions.
This novel is dense yet accessible, morosely cloudy yet lined with silver, male-centric yet essentially concerned with women and girls.
After initially abandoning the audiobook, I found that I couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I resumed my listening.
The Nick Carraway-esque narrator felt off-putting and dubious to me at first, but it made perfect sense by the end, after she became a relatable character.
The characters—self-absorbed, poor communicators is crisis—grew on me the more I understood them. Additionally, I appreciated the “warts and all” revelations, the self-delusions, the rationalizations, and the missteps on the self-confidence roper coaster.
The pervading sense of hope amid ruins is a hallmark of Gen X. So is the ongoing tension between ambition and contentment, pride and humility, rose-colored glasses and doomsday visions.
This novel is dense yet accessible, morosely cloudy yet lined with silver, male-centric yet essentially concerned with women and girls.
caitlin27's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
amelieeee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tash28's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jenniferspring's review against another edition
Well-written, has its moments; I think this is my sign to give up on the contemporary literary fiction version of the family saga, particularly the upper middle class family saga.
lambkm's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
devin_mainville's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
laurenefarrell's review against another edition
reflective
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