Reviews

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

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arabellavocals's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

thimea's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

ambergamgee's review against another edition

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5.0

I am in love with this book. I can’t wait to read it again. It has so much depth, and so many layers. Just when I thought I knew what it was about, another element comes in that makes me reconsider the whole thing. Stunning, heart wrenching, thought provoking, I couldn’t put it down. This is the kind of book that reinforces that I could never be a writer, but I will always be a reader.
There are some elements that readers may find “preachy” because any time someone is vegan and expresses why they’re vegan, people get defensive and say that the vegan as a preachy asshat. So, know that the main characters are vegan, and the little boy is passionate af about animal rights. That is only one element of the story (though a fairly big part of who the characters are and their motivations)…so I guess maybe you should know going in, if you’re defensive or uncomfortable about veganism and animal rights, this probably isn’t for you.

furny's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

found this book a easy read although the subject matters are really quite diverse.
There is so much going on as the story is told by a widowed astro-biologist single parenting a 9yr old boy with possible autism & refusing all medication. Instead he tries neuro feedback using brain patterns to control. Robin has lots of empathy for the natural world like his late Mother and his Dad tries in vain to shield him from the climate changes taking place as he becomes consumed.
Their escape is the shared imaginings of other worlds and what might be on them & the isolated camping trips they enjoy.
The underlying connection I think is the loss of nature with the loss of Robins mother and the further loss came out of nowhere and shocked me!. A environmental, eco, grief