A review by katiemcgregor
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What a freaking fantastic book.
I do feel that it dragged a bit in the middle and Sadie and Sam drove me crazy at times, but in such a realistically flawed way that I can't consider it a fault of the book.
I really think that Zevin nailed the pathos in this book. The second person pov was actually well done and effective (second person can be a major turn off for me if it feels awkward) and the writing was just ostentatious enough to be fitting for these characters, without making the book come off as unapproachable or self-important.
The immersiveness is the star of <I>Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow</I>. This book isn't about much in particular. We mostly just follow these characters through the most notable points of a 30 year portion of their lives. Yet somehow it's never boring. It's exciting, and frustrating, and heart-wrenching, and everything else you can feel.
I was especially effected by the way Zevin writes love (specifically pertaining to Sam's relation to it) and work (specifically Sadie's monologue about being born in a certain area)... which is fitting since the author's note specifically touches on how these are the focuses of the book. If that's all Zevin set out to write about, she achieved it, but <I>Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow</I> goes far beyond these things in a beautifully poignant portrayal of life.
I do feel that it dragged a bit in the middle and Sadie and Sam drove me crazy at times, but in such a realistically flawed way that I can't consider it a fault of the book.
I really think that Zevin nailed the pathos in this book. The second person pov was actually well done and effective (second person can be a major turn off for me if it feels awkward) and the writing was just ostentatious enough to be fitting for these characters, without making the book come off as unapproachable or self-important.
The immersiveness is the star of <I>Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow</I>. This book isn't about much in particular. We mostly just follow these characters through the most notable points of a 30 year portion of their lives. Yet somehow it's never boring. It's exciting, and frustrating, and heart-wrenching, and everything else you can feel.
I was especially effected by the way Zevin writes love (specifically pertaining to Sam's relation to it) and work (specifically Sadie's monologue about being born in a certain area)... which is fitting since the author's note specifically touches on how these are the focuses of the book. If that's all Zevin set out to write about, she achieved it, but <I>Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow</I> goes far beyond these things in a beautifully poignant portrayal of life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Sexism, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Physical abuse, Vomit, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Cancer, and Terminal illness
Minor: Abortion