Reviews

The Hundred Brothers by Donald Antrim

elena_monti's review against another edition

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3.0

La disinvoltura con cui Antrim maneggia 100 protagonisti diversi è fuor dubbio, anche se l’assenza di trama e un finale leggerò, seppur naturalmente derivativo alla storia allucinata ed evanescente, rendono il romanzo dipanato verso un cerchio aperto e sospeso.

Buone idee, abilità narrative e ironia però non bastano ad alleggerire alcuni momenti di noia e far uscire il romanzo oltre una tiepida sufficienza.

Bello però il colpo di scena finale, inaspettato e calibrato dall’incupirsi dei toni verso un’atmosfera quasi macabra e disperata.

freewaygods's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

While it’s been a few years since I read Antrim’s first novel, Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World, I quite enjoyed it and was excited to read his follow-up, The Hundred Brothers. And Antrim does not disappoint.

This book is hilarious and it is absurd. Lurking beneath this comical surface is real and complicated emotions about family, about brothers. I have two brothers, and cannot imagine what it would be like to have 97 more of them. The Hundred Brothers feels like what it could be like. 

Doug, our narrator, reveals himself to be part whipping-boy and part golden-boy of the brothers. The way in which Antrim reveals the characters feels extremely well executed. The fact that the novel’s premise and (complete lack of) setting are completely absurd is made a nonissue in light of the prose and abundant humor to be found on each page. 

If you want to laugh, or if you have ever thought and felt in your heart of hearts
I love my brothers and I hate their guts.
then this is a novel for you.

unabirraecentopaginealgiorno's review against another edition

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1.0

Si parte con l'elenco dei nomi, e già dopo tre pagine viene voglia di mollarlo lì. Essendo breve ci ho provato lo stesso, tuttavia mi sono perso subito in una storia che prometteva di essere comica ma non lo è. Floscio, non decolla.

ghast's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

cstxtina's review

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

hosseinmoazzeni's review against another edition

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2.0

جاناتان فرنزن حسابی تو مقدمه ازش تعریف کرد ولی حوصله‌م رو خیلی سر برد.
همچنان رمان‌های کلاسیک‌تر رو ترجیح میدم.

sariggs's review

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2.0

This is a 200 page short story, a farce, that all takes place over the course of on evening. The characters ARE the plot, which is to say, the plot is how a family of 100 adult brothers might interact at a dinner. If it goes any deeper than that, someone needs to explain it to me. I was entertained in parts, but mostly I just wanted to finish it, so I could check it off the list and return it to the library.

sophierosevw's review

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a long long long short story. very funny. probably too many brothers, to be honest

bibliocyclist's review

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3.0

"The future is the aggregate of all tenable futures of individual selves."

"A hundred different stories. A thousand different dinners. The math is discouraging."

terriep's review

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1.0

couldn't finish it
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