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trin's review
2.0
I am not clever enough for this book.
Alternately, it is not as clever as it thinks it is/needs to be.
It's a toss-up.
Alternately, it is not as clever as it thinks it is/needs to be.
It's a toss-up.
labeanorita's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mikewardevrybdy's review against another edition
4.0
Didn’t always hold my attention but love this stream of consciousness style
caramm's review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
beccajdb's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Unlike anything I’ve read (although Lydia Davis a close-ish thought). Snatches of story that feel like a scratchy patchwork quilt.
emma_zhang's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
casparb's review
The afterword describes Speedboat as episodic and that's kind of right. It feels like a collection of openings. Some are very good, though one has to deal with the whiplash of the book restarting twice a page without continuity and so on. 3.5.
Without wishing to throw Renata into categories there's a sense of Pynchon's Oedipa Maas here and at her best moments, the tabasco-dash of Didion. Two minds here because Speedboat doesn't stay. But it might be brilliant. Outside my wheelhouse (do I have a wheelhouse these days? Where am I?) but one to consider.
Without wishing to throw Renata into categories there's a sense of Pynchon's Oedipa Maas here and at her best moments, the tabasco-dash of Didion. Two minds here because Speedboat doesn't stay. But it might be brilliant. Outside my wheelhouse (do I have a wheelhouse these days? Where am I?) but one to consider.
ztaylor4's review
4.0
I enjoyed reading this book, and I even loved some parts of it. The experimental structure of telling a story loosely through glimpses and moments was a worthwhile experiment, although for me, the brief flashes didn't have the impact that a more cohesive narrative might (thus 4 stars instead of 5).
Speedboat was a fun book to read and our protagonist's voice was so strong and distinctive that I felt like I was reading an autobiography of someone I might have met in passing in New York. Because of the vignette structure, I would especially recommend this book to readers with short attention spans.
Speedboat was a fun book to read and our protagonist's voice was so strong and distinctive that I felt like I was reading an autobiography of someone I might have met in passing in New York. Because of the vignette structure, I would especially recommend this book to readers with short attention spans.