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A review by ashleyconnor
The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
May now be one of my all time favorites. Wolfe is a masterful storyteller. You get just the right amount of detail at the just right times. Perfectly woven plot, complex but not over-indulgent. I say this as someone who did not love The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, so if you didn’t like Wolfe before, it’s worth giving this one a shot.
Amongst all of its broader themes, I loved most the comical reminder of how self-centered we all are. Even if you can’t relate to the characters in a moral sense, the way they see the actions of others only in relation to themselves is a familiar thought pattern for many of us, and a good reminder that many times, it’s quite the opposite.
Amongst all of its broader themes, I loved most the comical reminder of how self-centered we all are. Even if you can’t relate to the characters in a moral sense, the way they see the actions of others only in relation to themselves is a familiar thought pattern for many of us, and a good reminder that many times, it’s quite the opposite.