Reviews

Ohio by Stephen Markley

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pcrthos's review against another edition

3.0

3 parce que je peux pas mettre 3.5. Je me suis un peu ennuyé pendant les 2 premières histoires. Puis à partir de la 3ème j'ai commencé à comprendre que tous ces points de vue avez un but et à partir de là, impossible de lâcher le bouqui. Et jusqu'à la dernière phrase, je ne ressens qu'une chose : l'impression que la crasse de ces personnages me colle à la peau

n0thannah's review against another edition

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got bored

larinda_booksandanxiety's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

patkohn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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

4.25

bhnmt61's review against another edition

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4.0

Four high school friends converge on their hometown in Ohio ten years later, from as far away as New Orleans and as close as a few towns over. Each is unaware that the other is headed home. Each has unresolved capital-I Issues.

In a way it’s brilliant— hence the four stars. Markley does an amazing job of recreating high school angst and twenty-something confusion. My high school existence was about ninety percent less interesting than theirs, but I still knew exactly what he was talking about. And there are moments that pierce right to the heart of what it means to be human.

But the novel also suffers from a stiff, self-conscious pretension that doesn’t really go away until well into Stacey’s story, and periodically recurs thereafter. You get the impression that Markley is always aware he is writing a Big Novel.

And there is also a timing problem— he wrote a heartbreaking novel about white male angst and toxic masculinity at the very moment in time when I least want to read it—at least, not from a white male’s perspective. It’s a testament to what a good writer he is that I finished it. Seventy pages in, I was ready to toss it aside.

But it was our book club selection this month, and we have such great discussions that I didn’t want to miss out, so I kept on, and I’m glad I did. There is lots of fodder for discussion. So, I’m giving it four stars and saying it’s worth reading, but right at this moment there may be other books that are better uses of your time.

blackbearbookclub's review against another edition

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4.5

What a compelling and full novel. This is one that I think will stay with me for a long time. Rich in characters that unfold in an unexpected and engrossing way. This book injects a ton of emotion into you and will leave you wanting to start all over as soon as you turn the last page.