Scan barcode
herbiehickmott's review against another edition
4.0
This would have been my favorite book in high school. That’s not a bad thing - it was a delightful trip back into the yearning to be in college and what I *expected* college to be like. In an alternative universe, I would have been so jealous/envious of Katy and her success at joining some alt-rock/punk kids and starting a band as a freshman in college.
Matthew Amster-Burton’s writing is easy, thoughtful, and casual. I found myself getting distracted from the real world (and all of it’s political-ness) and finding solace in the innocence and fun of the book.
I found all of the characters to be well-developed, semi-realistic (if not archetypal in certain ways), and relatable. Katy and her core group of friends seem like they would actually hang out with one another.
Lastly, I wish there was a way to hear the fictional songs from The Laundry Room. I feel very emotionally attached to the band & their songs now.
Matthew Amster-Burton’s writing is easy, thoughtful, and casual. I found myself getting distracted from the real world (and all of it’s political-ness) and finding solace in the innocence and fun of the book.
I found all of the characters to be well-developed, semi-realistic (if not archetypal in certain ways), and relatable. Katy and her core group of friends seem like they would actually hang out with one another.
Lastly, I wish there was a way to hear the fictional songs from The Laundry Room. I feel very emotionally attached to the band & their songs now.
_joel's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
ginkgotree's review
4.0
I first discovered Matthew Amster-Burton through the hilarious Spilled Milk podcast, in which he and Molly Wizenberg crack each other up and occasionally discuss food. Matthew is the author of several non-fiction books, Hungry Monkey being a particular favorite of mine, but Our Secret Better Lives is his first novel. Like his other work, it is funny, self-aware, and heartfelt. I found myself going to bed early to spend extra time reading, and each night I would tell myself I’d just read one more chapter and end up reading three or four. This book made me want to be back in college. It made me want to learn guitar.
My only complaint is that it would have been nice to see some LGBT representation! I know the early 90s were a very different time for queer visibility, but that doesn’t mean every character has to be straight and cis.
That said, I enjoyed Our Secret Better Lives tremendously. I hope to see many more novels from Matthew Amster-Burton!
My only complaint is that it would have been nice to see some LGBT representation! I know the early 90s were a very different time for queer visibility, but that doesn’t mean every character has to be straight and cis.
That said, I enjoyed Our Secret Better Lives tremendously. I hope to see many more novels from Matthew Amster-Burton!
More...