A review by kwarnimont
Real Life by Brandon Taylor

emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I thought this novel was lyrically and descriptively written, but to the point that it just wasn't for me. We get pages long descriptions of nematodes, tennis, and dinner, at the expense of any character development or self reflection from the narrator. Wallace is a complicated main character who doesn't change over the course of the novel, but provides a vessel to reflect on implicit (or even explicit) biases that we project onto even the people we hold close. I am glad I read it, I did a lot of personal reflection inverse to Wallace's lack of reflection, but it was done in a narration style that I had to trudge through by the end of it. I am glad I read it, but I'd be hesitant to recommend it to someone if they don't want to put in the work to analyze it as they go through. At least it's short. 
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