A review by literatureleaf
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Age: 15+
Reading time: 5 days
Difficulty level: 3/5
Overall Rating: 9/10
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a beautiful book that weaves a splendid tale about growing up, friendship, love, and the things we carry with us throughout our lives. Told against the backdrop of the unique world of video games, both playing and designing them, Zevin brings the story of Sam and Sadie, friends, then foes, then friends again, to life. The characters are rife with strengths and flaws, and each player in the story is both lovable and infuriating, much like the ones we hold near and dear to us in our own lives.
A beautiful depiction of deep suffering and genuine happiness, reading this book without feeling raw, untethered emotions for Sadie and Sam is impossible. Their joy, sorrow, pain, humor, grief, and love are so vivid that they reach up and grab you by the throat, unleashing a torrent of nostalgia so thick that, soon, you’ll be calling up lovers and friends past, asking them where it all went wrong.
Zevin paints an unfiltered picture of all the things, both small and large, hilarious and tragic, beautiful and ugly, that make us who we are. Her powerful imagery and witty dialogue elevate the story to new heights, and she tackles tough subject matter with a poise and grace that brings a tear to the reader’s eye. Everything feels effortless, and the story flows so seamlessly that you’ll find yourself wishing for such excellent pacing in your own life.
Despite being a near flawless story, the one area in which this book missed the mark is in the characterization of Marx. When compared to Sadie and Sam, Marx lacked much of the depth and dimension lavished upon his comrades. He was largely without fault, and his main purpose in the story seemed to be as a catalyst for many of Sam and Sadie’s antics. When put up against characters who are so incredibly complex, Marx’s shallowness is hard to miss, and being that he ends up playing such a large role in the story, seeing a bit more from him would have been the icing on the cake of a wonderful book.
With Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Zevin has penned a haunting ode to the human experience. She takes the mundane and traumatizing aspects of life, and the emotions that we sometimes wish we did not have to feel and uses them to pay homage to all the things that make for a life well-lived, reminding us that we are never as alone as we think we are.
Reading time: 5 days
Difficulty level: 3/5
Overall Rating: 9/10
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a beautiful book that weaves a splendid tale about growing up, friendship, love, and the things we carry with us throughout our lives. Told against the backdrop of the unique world of video games, both playing and designing them, Zevin brings the story of Sam and Sadie, friends, then foes, then friends again, to life. The characters are rife with strengths and flaws, and each player in the story is both lovable and infuriating, much like the ones we hold near and dear to us in our own lives.
A beautiful depiction of deep suffering and genuine happiness, reading this book without feeling raw, untethered emotions for Sadie and Sam is impossible. Their joy, sorrow, pain, humor, grief, and love are so vivid that they reach up and grab you by the throat, unleashing a torrent of nostalgia so thick that, soon, you’ll be calling up lovers and friends past, asking them where it all went wrong.
Zevin paints an unfiltered picture of all the things, both small and large, hilarious and tragic, beautiful and ugly, that make us who we are. Her powerful imagery and witty dialogue elevate the story to new heights, and she tackles tough subject matter with a poise and grace that brings a tear to the reader’s eye. Everything feels effortless, and the story flows so seamlessly that you’ll find yourself wishing for such excellent pacing in your own life.
Despite being a near flawless story, the one area in which this book missed the mark is in the characterization of Marx. When compared to Sadie and Sam, Marx lacked much of the depth and dimension lavished upon his comrades. He was largely without fault, and his main purpose in the story seemed to be as a catalyst for many of Sam and Sadie’s antics. When put up against characters who are so incredibly complex, Marx’s shallowness is hard to miss, and being that he ends up playing such a large role in the story, seeing a bit more from him would have been the icing on the cake of a wonderful book.
With Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Zevin has penned a haunting ode to the human experience. She takes the mundane and traumatizing aspects of life, and the emotions that we sometimes wish we did not have to feel and uses them to pay homage to all the things that make for a life well-lived, reminding us that we are never as alone as we think we are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Death, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Sexism, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Racism
Minor: Ableism, Pregnancy, Abortion, Cancer, Medical content, Cursing, and Sexual content