A review by 5aru
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A deeply nuanced and tender story of love that kept me reading even despite myself. It is a difficult book dealing with difficult topics, and so I did not so much like the characters as was invested in them. I wanted to know more, and was very much impressed by Zevin's capacity to convey their multifaceted personalities in an honest yet compassionate way. I do still think Sadie was a victim here though.
My biggest gripe with this one was in fact the writing style. It read impressively lyrical at times and clunky at others; overly informational in its cultural references (it ought to be an "either you get it or you don't" type thing imo); and Zevin resorted to overly complex words when it made little sense as an aesthetic choice in-context, when simpler concepts would likely have worked better. It makes the work read childish and even trite at times, despite the nuance it condenses.
My biggest gripe with this one was in fact the writing style. It read impressively lyrical at times and clunky at others; overly informational in its cultural references (it ought to be an "either you get it or you don't" type thing imo); and Zevin resorted to overly complex words when it made little sense as an aesthetic choice in-context, when simpler concepts would likely have worked better. It makes the work read childish and even trite at times, despite the nuance it condenses.
Spoiler
I am also upset at Marx's death and it's difficult for me to say whether it's for legitimate reasons (I'm bothered by the cliché of it, the deus-ex-machina of it) or simply because it made me real damn sad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Grief, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, and Cancer