So I’m at 70% mark and man I can take this book for not even a second more. Its just so god damn boring. The story could have been taken in so many interesting directions.
The potential was there but basically nothing of much excitement and engagement happens in the narrative as it unfolds.
The pages revolve around the mundane, day to day or moment to moment happenings and interactions between characters that tend to have little to no bearing to the main plot of this book.
Now if that particular element is present to a reasonable extent in a story to lend it some texture, imbue a sense that its characters behave in a manner that is - and therefore are - more human-like then it doesn’t feel bothersome.
But here for whatever reason you found overabundance of it. It became tedious and torturous.
The only good thing i can say about this book is that at times how its sentences are written feels good to read. The command of the English language of the author can most certainly never be brought in to question.
But in terms of the power of its story to captivate, enthrall and satisfy it resoundingly failed in my estimation.
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You either love her work or hate it.
I loved The Secret History, but hated the Goldfinch…
Unlike the secret history she spelled everything out at the end which wasn’t like her previous works. It was readable for me but I will reserve my opinion until her next book comes out.
I’m amazed that it’s so polarizing.
Cormac McCarthy has a similar fan base.
This book was so dull, but still managed to fill me with a constant low-level drone of anxiety and dread. I regret reading it because I was bored but also anxious.
I love her prose but can’t stand the pacing and almost zero plot. I got half way through The Little Friend and gave up and then read a plot synopsis and never felt more vindicated in my life.
Haha, I did the same. Read plot synopsis of the remaining story and decided it was simply not worth it.
Yep exactly. I guess the people that downvoted you enjoy wasting their time.
I agree, I thought the first half was pretty good, but after the “big event,” it overstayed its welcome by about 150 pages or so.
Someone described her style as a very long children’s book, like something written by a gifted 10 year old. She avoids topics like sex and adult relationships. Anyone else get that vibe when you read her?
Not every book has to be about sex
I can understand why not everyone likes her writing but it’s nothing like a children’s book, lmao.
imo the story does seem to lose it’s impetus after bunny’s funeral. the last third was bit of a slog. and imo richard alone was not enough to carry the story, and it was boring to read about his anxieties and drug binges. but i don’t do drugs so maybe the drug sections would resonate with somebody who does.
however, i still love the book because of the characters and the world they inhabit. it captures, i think, something ineffable about being young and being in love, not just with people but with the world and the mystery of the world.