A review by vangoghssunflowers
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Interesting read. 

While I enjoyed the fact the characters were flawed, this making them feel real, I disliked how heavily the narrative relied on miscommunication/lack of communication. We get to see and hear each characters own experiences through the point of view. When it comes down to it, it helps with the characterization but draws zilch on the plot.
Personally, I found it annoying that Sam never reveals his pain to his friends and Sadie never calls him out on his absences. Yes, this is realistic to an extent. But I feel as though Marx would have intervened between the two of them at some point given his antics up until that point, as he sees himself as a “fixer” of sorts. 
 

Something I also disliked was Marx’s death. It felt misplaced. I think if it had been done in different circumstances it could have had legs to stand on, but ultimately it felt gimmicky to me. Many points in this story were political, specifically liberal, sometimes, to me, far too much for the time it was taking place. But maybe this could be a lack of knowledge around the gaming scene that’s having me come to this conclusion? In the end, it felt like too much happened to Sam. Does everyone in his life have to die a tragic death? Not to be insensitive, but felt like overkill.


Finally, I think the ending was lackluster. After all of the build up were left with nothing resolved and loose ends. Again, realistic, but ultimately unrewarding as a reader. 

Overall the prose and insights into life were beautiful. Good read, I recommend doing it in a short time span as not to be lost in the lack of plot-focused story telling. 
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