shelbymccarty's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I’m not exactly sure how to describe this book apart from it being in the perspective of being inside the minds of two friends who don’t know how to be friends anymore bc things aren’t like they used to be. I have always loved Alam’s writing, and that’s what’s special about this book.
However, I can see that this wouldn’t be for everyone as they’re is basically no plot- it is two longtime friends moving in the world around and sometimes with each other and their thoughts on the past and present of their friendship.
This isn’t riveting or spectacular, but there’s a nuance in it that I for one really enjoyed.
However, I can see that this wouldn’t be for everyone as they’re is basically no plot- it is two longtime friends moving in the world around and sometimes with each other and their thoughts on the past and present of their friendship.
This isn’t riveting or spectacular, but there’s a nuance in it that I for one really enjoyed.
orygunn's review against another edition
2.0
You know the first few sentences of a book that are short, have one thought, and read as choppy, but you forgive them because then the book takes over? This book is 280+ pages of those types of sentences. Both protagonists are annoying, the writing doesn't give either much substance other than surface substance, and the jumping back and forth is annoying.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
2.0
Some Questions While I Listen
Where is the plot? Why am I hearing so many irrelevant tangents that don't add to the story? Will these characters have redeeming moments or scintillating conflicts at least at some point?
Some Thoughts After Listening
Some plot did come through, but it was oddly paced and frequently irrelevant. The characters continued to be awful or uninteresting or absurd. I did not care about them.
Best indication of my feelings - the last CD kept skipping and I could have gladly just called an end to it, if my recent commutes weren't glaringly terrible without an audio book.
Where is the plot? Why am I hearing so many irrelevant tangents that don't add to the story? Will these characters have redeeming moments or scintillating conflicts at least at some point?
Some Thoughts After Listening
Some plot did come through, but it was oddly paced and frequently irrelevant. The characters continued to be awful or uninteresting or absurd. I did not care about them.
Best indication of my feelings - the last CD kept skipping and I could have gladly just called an end to it, if my recent commutes weren't glaringly terrible without an audio book.
siobhanward's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
This was kind of a slice of life, but with nothing happening. I liked the premise of the book - how friendships change and shift as we become older, move into different life phases, etc. and the desire to keep friendships the same as they always were, even when it's not possible. I'm not sure what didn't work about this book - Alam offers an interesting perspective on female friendship, one written (presumably) entirely from the outside: while at times there are parts of it that feel genuine, there are a lot of parts that kind of feel like it's written by someone who doesn't really know what they're writing about.
I also have really started to dislike books without a plot - nothing happens that isn't just an everyday life occurrence, which makes for a slow read. Alam is a talented author - I really enjoyed Leave the World Behind , but this particular book just wasn't the genre for him.
I also have really started to dislike books without a plot - nothing happens that isn't just an everyday life occurrence, which makes for a slow read. Alam is a talented author - I really enjoyed Leave the World Behind , but this particular book just wasn't the genre for him.
melissakuzma's review against another edition
4.0
One of those great women-friends-in-the-city-nothing-happens books that I adore. Thoroughly enjoyable. And somehow written by a man, which I find incredibly hard to believe!
kaitumaneng's review against another edition
- 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
cbrazas's review against another edition
3.0
I wish we could give half stars. This book was at times enjoyable, but just seemed to be missing something. A middle? An end? It felt like peddling on a flat road in too low of a gear; you are moving just so much slower than necessary.
zozoisgolden's review against another edition
3.0
This story was equal parts accurate and ridiculous.
It was a realistic, albeit shallow, representation of female friendships in general. There were many agreeable moments throughout the book. Observations I agreed with. However, the main problem that I think most readers would have was the lack of plot.
The book just carried on in monotone sequence. No twists, no great climax occurring. Just observations of some superficial women. I found 80% of the characters annoying or boring. Especially the two main characters. One considered rich and the other pretty. These traits weren't supposed to define them solely but were meant to be big parts of their personality. I didn't see it though.
All in all, I give this a square 3 stars. But that's because I saw this as more of an indulgence and not an actual stimulating read.
It was a realistic, albeit shallow, representation of female friendships in general. There were many agreeable moments throughout the book. Observations I agreed with. However, the main problem that I think most readers would have was the lack of plot.
The book just carried on in monotone sequence. No twists, no great climax occurring. Just observations of some superficial women. I found 80% of the characters annoying or boring. Especially the two main characters. One considered rich and the other pretty. These traits weren't supposed to define them solely but were meant to be big parts of their personality. I didn't see it though.
All in all, I give this a square 3 stars. But that's because I saw this as more of an indulgence and not an actual stimulating read.
alykat_reads's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 20%.
I must be in a mood today or else I'm just not picking good ones. Nothing was happening in this book, and the sisters were dreadfully boring and lacking in depth. Very surface level. I saw the low rating and read a few reviews before starting, so I can't fool myself into thinking I didn't know. I knew. Thought maybe people were just being harsh. Nah. It really is that bad.
I must be in a mood today or else I'm just not picking good ones. Nothing was happening in this book, and the sisters were dreadfully boring and lacking in depth. Very surface level. I saw the low rating and read a few reviews before starting, so I can't fool myself into thinking I didn't know. I knew. Thought maybe people were just being harsh. Nah. It really is that bad.
dfwsusie's review against another edition
1.0
Gave up. Nothing happens and I don't care about these characters in the slightest. Skipped to the end, to check if anything happened to them. Nope. I've read cereal boxes more compelling than this narrative.