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leanneymu's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
A gentle, sweet book, that went to some surprisingly dark places, but was ultimately very uplifting. Just what I needed after reading a few hard-hittin recently.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Xenophobia, Child death, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicide, and Racism
amandadelbrocco's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Overall enjoyed but it was incredibly similar in plot development to A Man Called Ove and that's all I could think about while reading. I think some of the topics weren't discussed as deeply as they could have been and some of it was very surface level and repetitive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction
withlivjones's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
What I was expecting: a cute heartwarming little book about an old man getting strangers to pose as his friends so he doesn’t disappoint his daughter
What I got: an absolutely gutpunchingly sad (but still heartwarming) book that deals with themes of grief, life as an immigrant in the 20th century and today, racism, isolation, and both blood and found family.
The diverse range of colourful characters clearly demonstrates the book’s message that anyone of any age, race, or background can experience loneliness, and all it takes is a little effort to discover that we aren’t so different from each other after all. Although the “present day” in this book is set in 2018, this message is particularly poignant after the pandemic, which left so many people literally isolated from a community. Hubert is an extremely likeable protagonist, and his journey throughout the book, both in the present day and in the flashbacks to his younger years, is told in a genuine and heartfelt way that makes the reader sympathise with him even though he has his flaws. I’d be interested in what people who live or have lived in Bromley might say about the setting, and whether it is as much of a love letter to the area (both the good and bad parts of it) as it appears to be to someone who has only ever been there once.
I felt that the pacing of the second half of the book could have been drawn out more as so many major events happen in such a short space of time that it is quite overwhelming. The speed at which the campaign grows, in particular, could have definitely been slower for it to have been more realistic. The twist fully came out of left field for me, and I’m still slightly conflicted as to whether or not I liked it, but I think it would have been great to have had a little more space to process it before moving on.
Overall, this was not the book I was expecting but I am nonetheless very glad I read it.
What I got: an absolutely gutpunchingly sad (but still heartwarming) book that deals with themes of grief, life as an immigrant in the 20th century and today, racism, isolation, and both blood and found family.
The diverse range of colourful characters clearly demonstrates the book’s message that anyone of any age, race, or background can experience loneliness, and all it takes is a little effort to discover that we aren’t so different from each other after all. Although the “present day” in this book is set in 2018, this message is particularly poignant after the pandemic, which left so many people literally isolated from a community. Hubert is an extremely likeable protagonist, and his journey throughout the book, both in the present day and in the flashbacks to his younger years, is told in a genuine and heartfelt way that makes the reader sympathise with him even though he has his flaws. I’d be interested in what people who live or have lived in Bromley might say about the setting, and whether it is as much of a love letter to the area (both the good and bad parts of it) as it appears to be to someone who has only ever been there once.
I felt that the pacing of the second half of the book could have been drawn out more as so many major events happen in such a short space of time that it is quite overwhelming. The speed at which the campaign grows, in particular, could have definitely been slower for it to have been more realistic. The twist fully came out of left field for me, and I’m still slightly conflicted as to whether or not I liked it, but I think it would have been great to have had a little more space to process it before moving on.
Overall, this was not the book I was expecting but I am nonetheless very glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Racism
Moderate: Car accident, Death, Mental illness, Xenophobia, Addiction, Dementia, and Racial slurs
Minor: Suicide, Infidelity, and Vomit
abominablesnowaro's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Grief, Hate crime, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Terminal illness, Addiction, Drug abuse, Suicide, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, and Violence
quiet_vulture's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
morna's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I am so happy. I am so happy I'm finally done with this book.
I read it because it came recommended by someone who liked a lot of the same books I did. And after DNF-ing several other books this year, I tried my best to stick with it.
First, I ignored the poor writing.
Second, I ignored the complete and utter lack of any substance. I thought - well, let's just try to enjoy it as a light read.
By the time I realized I should have quit a long time ago I was so far in I wanted to see how the whole thing ended.
The writing is... it's not even mediocre, it's poor. The author clearly got inspired by A Man Called Ove (and possibly by Eleanor Oliphant) but forgot to actually make sense. What we end up with is just a string of short episodes with no logic between one another. Things happen, without ever being resolved. Things happen, without any relevance for the plot. Tons of unnecessary details. Pages of Hubert deciding whether or not he'll go out to get cat food (and you'd expect something amazing happens when he eventually does/doesn't, but no). An elaborate description of Jan ordering hot chocolate. Characters that disappear, but don't add any value to the story.
The characters lack any credibility. I would say the characters are very one-dimensional, but in truth - they're more zero-dimensional - they're often not even consistent with themselves. Their choices are odd. Their relationships are based on nothing.
And then you get towards the end and the big unexpected thing is revealed, and then it removes *any* rationale for the rest of the plot.
I've learned my lesson - I'd rather DNF fifty more books this year than sit through another one like this one.
If you want a story about a lonely old man and community - please read |A Man Called Ove.
If you want a story about a person unhealthily coping with their past - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a decent book!
If you want a story about racism in London - may I suggest Girl, Woman, Other?
Might downscale the rating to 1 star later.
[Edit] Downscaled to 1 star. Really can't find any redeeming qualities to warrant 2.
I read it because it came recommended by someone who liked a lot of the same books I did. And after DNF-ing several other books this year, I tried my best to stick with it.
First, I ignored the poor writing.
Second, I ignored the complete and utter lack of any substance. I thought - well, let's just try to enjoy it as a light read.
By the time I realized I should have quit a long time ago I was so far in I wanted to see how the whole thing ended.
The writing is... it's not even mediocre, it's poor. The author clearly got inspired by A Man Called Ove (and possibly by Eleanor Oliphant) but forgot to actually make sense. What we end up with is just a string of short episodes with no logic between one another. Things happen, without ever being resolved. Things happen, without any relevance for the plot. Tons of unnecessary details. Pages of Hubert deciding whether or not he'll go out to get cat food (and you'd expect something amazing happens when he eventually does/doesn't, but no). An elaborate description of Jan ordering hot chocolate. Characters that disappear, but don't add any value to the story.
The characters lack any credibility. I would say the characters are very one-dimensional, but in truth - they're more zero-dimensional - they're often not even consistent with themselves. Their choices are odd. Their relationships are based on nothing.
And then you get towards the end and the big unexpected thing is revealed, and then it removes *any* rationale for the rest of the plot.
I've learned my lesson - I'd rather DNF fifty more books this year than sit through another one like this one.
If you want a story about a lonely old man and community - please read |A Man Called Ove.
If you want a story about a person unhealthily coping with their past - Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is a decent book!
If you want a story about racism in London - may I suggest Girl, Woman, Other?
Might downscale the rating to 1 star later.
[Edit] Downscaled to 1 star. Really can't find any redeeming qualities to warrant 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death, Car accident, Child death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Dementia
Minor: Infidelity
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Addiction
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, and Dementia
Minor: Car accident
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