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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had a lot of potential for me but it really fell flat in a lot of ways. The writing felt a bit stunted and almost amateur at times. Themes were explored but with little nuance like the author thinks we need it spelled out for us. Lily’s character was deeply disappointing. Her stubbornness to me borders on incredulous. I can’t see many humans acting in the way she did. To no fault to the author but I found the genetics plot line really boring. My favorite was the subplot on the Chinese culturural revolution and I wish more time had been spent on that.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
3.3/5. The writing is so beautiful but the plot was sort of all over the place.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Sometimes I find multi-POV family sagas to be a bit grating. They can border on preachy or emotionally pandering. But this one was different than what I expected. The first two parts were great, filled with moments that made me question the concept of fate and how our relationships/choices can truly impact the lives of those we know and love. Though it fell off a bit during the last little bit, feeling as though it ran out of steam and just needed to wrap things up, overall I felt really connected to this story and the writing style. It’s a rare case of a multi-POV book where every point of view felt necessary.
Honestly can’t say much else for fear of giving content away (and that would truly ruin it) but I really liked this one, even with its imperfections! It felt smart and easily consumable all in the same breath and I’ll definitely be thinking on some of the questions and ideas brought up for a while
4/5
Honestly can’t say much else for fear of giving content away (and that would truly ruin it) but I really liked this one, even with its imperfections! It felt smart and easily consumable all in the same breath and I’ll definitely be thinking on some of the questions and ideas brought up for a while
4/5
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read on a whim, I was shocked to find out that this wasn't a debut novel, but I guess there's a good reason they named failed 2nd efforts "sophomore slumps".
While it is a big surprise that this novel was nominated for a couple of awards, it's hardly shocking that it didn't actually win any. Real Americans sounds good on the surface, but if the blurb were to give away it's gimmicky plot and theme I suspect that no one would read it. The promised "immersive, moving prose" is blatantly absent and the only thing "profound" about it was my profound urge to DNF the novel from the start of part 2 all the way until the end. (I persisted out of spite)
I wish someone had told me how bad this was and not to read it, so I am doing everyone a courtesy and letting them know that this is a waste of your time.
While it is a big surprise that this novel was nominated for a couple of awards, it's hardly shocking that it didn't actually win any. Real Americans sounds good on the surface, but if the blurb were to give away it's gimmicky plot and theme I suspect that no one would read it. The promised "immersive, moving prose" is blatantly absent and the only thing "profound" about it was my profound urge to DNF the novel from the start of part 2 all the way until the end. (I persisted out of spite)
I wish someone had told me how bad this was and not to read it, so I am doing everyone a courtesy and letting them know that this is a waste of your time.