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mbpartlow's review against another edition
3.0
It took me a bit to warm to the main character of this book, although he's a familiar Russo character. I don't like it was well as Straight Man, my absolute favorite of his, or Nobody's Fool, which I also loved. But I liked this much better than Empire Falls, which I found dreary and thought it dragged on for too long.
But this is a tale of confusion and redemption. How can we spend our lives vowing to not turn into our parents, only to be unable to recognize just exactly how like them we've become?
But this is a tale of confusion and redemption. How can we spend our lives vowing to not turn into our parents, only to be unable to recognize just exactly how like them we've become?
threegoodrats's review against another edition
2.0
Review is here: http://blog.threegoodrats.com/2009/11/that-old-cape-magic-review.html
veraann's review against another edition
2.0
I found the flow of writing good. I liked the realistic feel. I personally, could not get into the characters though. I'm not sure how much of that I can attribute to the writing itself and how much to age and life experience. It may just be the fact that i expected something deeper. I thought the first half of the book was just like listening to someone's therapy session where they complain about the bad things about their life. The second half wasn't anymore uplifting but it felt more like I was reading a story or hearing someone's story and not getting complained to or even whined at.
jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I've read a few books by Richard Russo, with [b:Empire Falls|187020|Empire Falls|Richard Russo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403184884l/187020._SY75_.jpg|826474] being my favorite. Since it is summer and around her (for us at least) summer is in part about Cape Cod, I decided to finally read Russo's That Old Cape Magic. My take away message from this book is "marriage is hard and not always happy".
Growing up, Griffin's parents would drive from the midwest to Cape Cod. They would ironically sing "That Old Cape Magic" (a spin on That Old Black Magic) every time they crossed over the Sagamore Bridge on their way to the Cape. The Cape holds a special place in the family's heart. They dream of buying a house there but can never quite afford it. Griffin's parents aren't affectionate at all with their son and seem to prepare spending time without him. They both professors and are constantly striving to teach at a better school. They are definitely more into their careers than they are into being parents.
As an adult, Griffin is a screenwriter and also teaches screenwriting classes at a college. He's married and has a daughter. Griffin tries to work that old Cape magic on his wife but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Griffin is also reworking a screenplay throughout the book that is based on one summer he spent down the Cape as a boy. His parents are now divorced and like to speak poorly about each other to Griffin.
I appreciated all of the Cape stuff as I love reading books set locally or in places that I'm familiar with. However, I didn't really like any of the characters so I wasn't as into the book as I'd hoped to be. This would be a great book to read on a trip to the Cape if you were looking for something that isn't so light & fluffy.
What to listen to while reading (or taking a break)
That Old Black Magic by Frank Sinatra
Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks
Riptide by Vance Joy
Summer Soft by Stevie Wonder
Bye Bye Love by The Cars
Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
I've read a few books by Richard Russo, with [b:Empire Falls|187020|Empire Falls|Richard Russo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403184884l/187020._SY75_.jpg|826474] being my favorite. Since it is summer and around her (for us at least) summer is in part about Cape Cod, I decided to finally read Russo's That Old Cape Magic. My take away message from this book is "marriage is hard and not always happy".
Growing up, Griffin's parents would drive from the midwest to Cape Cod. They would ironically sing "That Old Cape Magic" (a spin on That Old Black Magic) every time they crossed over the Sagamore Bridge on their way to the Cape. The Cape holds a special place in the family's heart. They dream of buying a house there but can never quite afford it. Griffin's parents aren't affectionate at all with their son and seem to prepare spending time without him. They both professors and are constantly striving to teach at a better school. They are definitely more into their careers than they are into being parents.
As an adult, Griffin is a screenwriter and also teaches screenwriting classes at a college. He's married and has a daughter. Griffin tries to work that old Cape magic on his wife but it doesn't quite hit the mark. Griffin is also reworking a screenplay throughout the book that is based on one summer he spent down the Cape as a boy. His parents are now divorced and like to speak poorly about each other to Griffin.
I appreciated all of the Cape stuff as I love reading books set locally or in places that I'm familiar with. However, I didn't really like any of the characters so I wasn't as into the book as I'd hoped to be. This would be a great book to read on a trip to the Cape if you were looking for something that isn't so light & fluffy.
What to listen to while reading (or taking a break)
That Old Black Magic by Frank Sinatra
Sunny Afternoon by The Kinks
Riptide by Vance Joy
Summer Soft by Stevie Wonder
Bye Bye Love by The Cars
Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi
sunbreak's review against another edition
4.0
This book would have gotten another star from me if Russo had omitted that Marguerite element at the the end.
seaswift14's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
4.0
I've liked all this guy's other books.
P just heard a review on NPR - sounds good!
I just read this over the weekend. I didn't find it quite as compelling as his pretty amazing other books - it seemed just a little light - but I really enjoyed this story of childhood, parents, marriage, kids......life.
P just heard a review on NPR - sounds good!
I just read this over the weekend. I didn't find it quite as compelling as his pretty amazing other books - it seemed just a little light - but I really enjoyed this story of childhood, parents, marriage, kids......life.
bmoritz99's review against another edition
4.0
As always, when Simone Becque tells me to read a book, I read it.
I'm late to the Richard Russo party, but I'm glad I'm here at all. I've loved his academic novels and (as Simone said), this is a perfect end-of-summer book.
I'm late to the Richard Russo party, but I'm glad I'm here at all. I've loved his academic novels and (as Simone said), this is a perfect end-of-summer book.
mcearl12's review against another edition
4.0
I really don't understand what caused people to give this book subpar reviews. Perhaps it's a generational bias. I loved it, it felt real and true and honest and complicated...like life. It spoke to me, plain and simple, and I empathized with husband, wife, daughter, parents, and author. This being the first of Mr. Russo's books that I've read, I'm excited to read others. Just a great read!