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A review by kale_kale
What's Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.0
Contains Spoilers!
This book was so boring. I started reading it because it’s touted as a cult classic, even prompting an adaption into film.
The book revolves around Gilbert Grape and his dysfunctional family, and is about them living in a small town. The entire book is depressing, especially because we’re seeing things through Gilbert’s eyes. He seems to get more spiteful and hateful as the book progresses. I guess we are supposed to feel sorry for the characters, but it’s hard to feel sorry for them when they’re all so dehumanized and detached from reality. There is no character development and you’re left feeling like you’ve read a book about nothing.
Here are the 2 things I hated the most:
1) The weird relationship age gaps.
- Gilbert was in a relationship with a married woman since his teens.
- Gilbert catches his sister, Ellen, is having sex with his friend.
- Gilbert has a huge crush on a girl 9 years younger than him.
2) The way Gilbert treats Arnie
- Calls him “the retard”
- Left him in the bath overnight, which caused Arnie to refuse to bathe for a very long time
- Beat him up at the end of the book
This book was so boring. I started reading it because it’s touted as a cult classic, even prompting an adaption into film.
The book revolves around Gilbert Grape and his dysfunctional family, and is about them living in a small town. The entire book is depressing, especially because we’re seeing things through Gilbert’s eyes. He seems to get more spiteful and hateful as the book progresses. I guess we are supposed to feel sorry for the characters, but it’s hard to feel sorry for them when they’re all so dehumanized and detached from reality. There is no character development and you’re left feeling like you’ve read a book about nothing.
Here are the 2 things I hated the most:
1) The weird relationship age gaps.
- Gilbert was in a relationship with a married woman since his teens.
- Gilbert catches his sister, Ellen, is having sex with his friend.
- Gilbert has a huge crush on a girl 9 years younger than him.
2) The way Gilbert treats Arnie
- Calls him “the retard”
- Left him in the bath overnight, which caused Arnie to refuse to bathe for a very long time
- Beat him up at the end of the book
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, and Suicide