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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this so much!!
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
David Wong, who revealed himself to be Jason Pargin, now reveals himself to be Steven Pinker. The book is entertaining, and has its moments of pure laugh-out-loud comedy, but suffers from this centrist liberal preachiness that hinders it more often than you'd expect. One of the central characters, Ether, in particular constantly monologues about how actually quality of life on average is higher than it's ever been and even a poor person today has more technology in their home than an English King 400 years ago, so really no one is allowed to complain about anything ever if you think about it. She gets some pushback for this stupidity (for what it's worth, a team of private chefs making fresh meals daily in 1600 seems better than sadly reheating pre-frozen chicken tenders in the microwave, but, whatever), but it's clear that you're ultimately meant to agree with her (despite what the afterword claims).
Looking at other reviews, it seems like a lot of people couldn't stomach Aboot going full "incel" about halfway through and put the book down. I will say 1) it's not clear he's an "incel" (I'm not sure what people think that term means anymore) but he is clearly an anti-feminist, Men's Rights Activist, and generally deplorable percringe. 2) His ravings only go on uninterrupted for a couple pages (and then smattering here and there for a couple chapter after), but it does feel like 100 pages because it's so (please excuse me) cringey. Just plow through and you'll come out on the other side.
My real critique is that the novel requires a little too much suspension of disbelief. I don't need my action to always be "realistic," but it would be nice if characters at least behaved in plausible ways and weren't just clearly doing whatever the plot needed. At some point it just takes you out of the story, and that happened several times.
Overall, I guess I liked the novel because it does have its moments, but the execution just feels rushed. I think there's a great novel here if it had another round of major revisions, but instead it's more like a very promising rough draft.
Looking at other reviews, it seems like a lot of people couldn't stomach Aboot going full "incel" about halfway through and put the book down. I will say 1) it's not clear he's an "incel" (I'm not sure what people think that term means anymore) but he is clearly an anti-feminist, Men's Rights Activist, and generally deplorable percringe. 2) His ravings only go on uninterrupted for a couple pages (and then smattering here and there for a couple chapter after), but it does feel like 100 pages because it's so (please excuse me) cringey. Just plow through and you'll come out on the other side.
My real critique is that the novel requires a little too much suspension of disbelief. I don't need my action to always be "realistic," but it would be nice if characters at least behaved in plausible ways and weren't just clearly doing whatever the plot needed. At some point it just takes you out of the story, and that happened several times.
Overall, I guess I liked the novel because it does have its moments, but the execution just feels rushed. I think there's a great novel here if it had another round of major revisions, but instead it's more like a very promising rough draft.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Both the most fun and insightful book I’ve read in ages.
adventurous
funny
Despite being so long, this book really kept my attention! Very fun narration and characters. Love a good road trip and fun stakes. I loved the chapters switching perspectives between the real world and the internet. I could have shaved off 2 hours of the back and forth character monologuing about the Themes of nihilism vs community, but I take the author’s point. And hey, I definitely needed an Ether to say those things to me.
funny
reflective
tense
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