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A review by myk_yeah
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
"Are the flaws of the main characters a main focus of the book?" Yes. That's like the whole book.
I understand the hype, in a way I loved this book. But I'm also really conflicted.
First off, you need so many trigger warnings for this book my gosh. None of the coverage of the book prepared me for that.
I am not disabled, so I can't speak to how realistic the disability representation was, but what I didn't like was how steeped in pitty it all was. The framing the book took was to see Sam's disability through the lens of pity, offered by his rich, able-bodied peers. There's a moment where Sam is described as being confident and in his zone, and the narration says that his limp was diminished, or something like that. I wish the book would have accepted Sam for how he was, instead of seeing his disability as something that made him infantilized in a way Marx and Sadie never were.
The major abusive romantic relationship in the book was disappointing to read as a survivor. More on that the spoiler section. There's also a SA scene that is not framed as SA. (Probably because it was a woman sexually touching a man who didn't want to be touched) Made my stomach turn.
Oh and the very casual and consistent zionism. Thumbs down there.
I did love having a story about a platonic relationship. It makes you realize how rare that is to see in media and fiction. These people are messy, and bad to each other, and I liked it. I thought it was realistic. I like how it showed the impacts of trauma on how we act towards one another. And how you can get a story wrapped up in your head about what's going on when you don't communicate. I love how it showed how far we'll go for the ones we love and how beautiful it is to create together.
The Pioneer chapter was outstanding, just magic.
I understand the hype, in a way I loved this book. But I'm also really conflicted.
First off, you need so many trigger warnings for this book my gosh. None of the coverage of the book prepared me for that.
I am not disabled, so I can't speak to how realistic the disability representation was, but what I didn't like was how steeped in pitty it all was. The framing the book took was to see Sam's disability through the lens of pity, offered by his rich, able-bodied peers. There's a moment where Sam is described as being confident and in his zone, and the narration says that his limp was diminished, or something like that. I wish the book would have accepted Sam for how he was, instead of seeing his disability as something that made him infantilized in a way Marx and Sadie never were.
The major abusive romantic relationship in the book was disappointing to read as a survivor. More on that the spoiler section. There's also a SA scene that is not framed as SA. (Probably because it was a woman sexually touching a man who didn't want to be touched) Made my stomach turn.
Oh and the very casual and consistent zionism. Thumbs down there.
I did love having a story about a platonic relationship. It makes you realize how rare that is to see in media and fiction. These people are messy, and bad to each other, and I liked it. I thought it was realistic. I like how it showed the impacts of trauma on how we act towards one another. And how you can get a story wrapped up in your head about what's going on when you don't communicate. I love how it showed how far we'll go for the ones we love and how beautiful it is to create together.
The Pioneer chapter was outstanding, just magic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Abortion, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying