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hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
A good background read on audiobook. There were a few surprises but the book mainly told the story of an ‘ordinary’ life and the life story of a young man who moves from Jamaica to London after the war, his challenges and how connection and community ebb and flow throughout his life.
What I enjoyed:
I enjoyed the narrator’s gravely voice and Jamaican lilt. A welsh accent was also passable. I also liked the descriptions of his Jamaican home which were such a contrast to the often grey, cold experiences of England.
The narrator added dimensions that would have been lost to me in print. I doubt I would have finished the book in print.
What I enjoyed:
I enjoyed the narrator’s gravely voice and Jamaican lilt. A welsh accent was also passable. I also liked the descriptions of his Jamaican home which were such a contrast to the often grey, cold experiences of England.
The narrator added dimensions that would have been lost to me in print. I doubt I would have finished the book in print.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Terminal illness, Grief
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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:
No
this was very very similar to a man called ove, but with a twist. unsurprisingly, i loved it. it was a total cheese fest but if you’re okay with that, it’s really enjoyable and wholesome. there are also some darker themes which gives the book more substance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Grief, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Terminal illness, Classism
Minor: Car accident
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
Loved this book. First time reading this author but definitely not my last. Made my cry ( and books never make me cry). Excellent narrator
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
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:
Complicated
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, Xenophobia
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Dementia, Car accident
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Hubert Bird is a dapper, elderly widower who was born and raised in Jamaica before immigrating to the U.K. as a young adult in 1958. When we meet him, he has shut himself off from the world, spinning stories of a vibrant life of retirement to satisfy his daughter Rose's expectations during their weekly phone calls. Cracks start to form in his isolation when he gets a friendly, chatty, persistent new neighbor and when he discovers that Rose will soon be visiting from Australia. As Hubert attempts to create the life he has been pretending to live, we see moments from his past that have led to the life he's living now — and that may empower the life he wants and needs.
An unexpectedly touching, well-crafted story of isolation, connection, love, and friendship. Perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, The Reading List, and other stories of curmudgeonly elders opening their hearts and finding their communities.
An unexpectedly touching, well-crafted story of isolation, connection, love, and friendship. Perfect for fans of A Man Called Ove, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, The Reading List, and other stories of curmudgeonly elders opening their hearts and finding their communities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Torture, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Car accident, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Fatphobia, Infidelity, Pregnancy
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was wonderful and also there was no need for it to be so sad
This book is beautiful and heartbreaking, and a lovely portrait of a senior man finding new love for life. It packs a punch but it’s such a beautiful story with so many characters I’d love to know in real life.
Thanks to Grand Central Pub for a review copy
This book is beautiful and heartbreaking, and a lovely portrait of a senior man finding new love for life. It packs a punch but it’s such a beautiful story with so many characters I’d love to know in real life.
Thanks to Grand Central Pub for a review copy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Dementia, Grief
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy