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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “This us a touching story about three young drifters and their relationships with each other and the others around them. It is realistic and doesn't pull any punches - like another of cunningham's books "The Hours" it deals with the subject of aids.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “I'm rating my interest in this book, not it's quality. It's well written and literary and insightful. But reading about gay life in NYC holds little appeal for me. As ever, the self referential self importance of New York and New Yorkers is a major turn off. I couldn't finish it.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“4 starts
Santiago wrote this review 13 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
(WARNING kind of a spoiler)
This is the first of his books that I read.
It is undoubtedly a well developed book. It gets you too deep in the character's lives, to a point that it scarcely overwhelming. I have to say that I enjoy how Cunningham describes and develops the characters and their relationships. He is definitely a gifted author
And although I find the book a little bit depressing and mawkish, it makes you learn about aspects of live and relationships.
It slowly drags you in how these two boys get lost through their lives, yet it does not provides a comforting ending that somehow reassures yourself. It is more like a tragic story of two boys that never seemed to find happiness.
”
“Sara W said: 4 Stars
Author, Author Shelf wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Bobby and Jonathon meet each other when they start seventh grade and quickly become inseperable, which is good for them because neither of these boys would survive Cleveland alone given their quirks. As they grow up however, Jon becomes angry and withdrawn, and as soon as he is able leaves Cleveland for New York City. Bobby, however, settles into a typical Cleveland life, and even moves in with Jon's parents. But when the time comes, he too moves on to the bright lights of New York, and the two boys who had grown distant, immediately fall in love all over again.
This is a hard book to describe. As I read it, I kept thinking of three works - tense, bleak, and sparse. Mr. Cunningham is definitely a gifted author. I really connected with Bobby and Jon, despite having nothing in common with either boy. He took an unlikely story and made me want to read it. Yet, I'm not sure I fully grasped all the nuances of the story either. I am just not the type of person who is going to understand what it is like growing up gay or completely disconnected from the rest of the world. I am not the type of person who is going to fall so completely in love with another that I cannot seperate my identity from theirs. So while I was, improbably able to connect with the characters, I was able to do so as if they were friends of mine, and not able to fully feel everything they were feeling. It was a good novel, I thoroughly liked it and am glad it was selected by my book club, even though I don't understand exactly why it selected as part of the 1001 Books You Must Read, which was the other reason I wanted to read this book.
”“I'm rating my interest in this book, not it's quality. It's well written and literary and insightful. But reading about gay life in NYC holds little appeal for me. As ever, the self referential self importance of New York and New Yorkers is a major turn off. I couldn't finish it. ”
Tod Cheney wrote this review Wednesday, March 27, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Michael Cunningham's second book, a moving coming of age novel.”
James Evans wrote this review Wednesday, January 23, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Una casa alla fine del mondo (Italian Edition)”
Alessandra Forno wrote this review Tuesday, January 22, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Sara W said: 4 Stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Saturday, November 3, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Bobby and Jonathon meet each other when they start seventh grade and quickly become inseperable, which is good for them because neither of these boys would survive Cleveland alone given their quirks. As they grow up however, Jon becomes angry and withdrawn, and as soon as he is able leaves Cleveland for New York City. Bobby, however, settles into a typical Cleveland life, and even moves in with Jon's parents. But when the time comes, he too moves on to the bright lights of New York, and the two boys who had grown distant, immediately fall in love all over again.
This is a hard book to describe. As I read it, I kept thinking of three works - tense, bleak, and sparse. Mr. Cunningham is definitely a gifted author. I really connected with Bobby and Jon, despite having nothing in common with either boy. He took an unlikely story and made me want to read it. Yet, I'm not sure I fully grasped all the nuances of the story either. I am just not the type of person who is going to understand what it is like growing up gay or completely disconnected from the rest of the world. I am not the type of person who is going to fall so completely in love with another that I cannot seperate my identity from theirs. So while I was, improbably able to connect with the characters, I was able to do so as if they were friends of mine, and not able to fully feel everything they were feeling. It was a good novel, I thoroughly liked it and am glad it was selected by my book club, even though I don't understand exactly why it selected as part of the 1001 Books You Must Read, which was the other reason I wanted to read this book.”
“Bobby and Jonathon meet each other when they start seventh grade and quickly become inseperable, which is good for them because neither of these boys would survive Cleveland alone given their quirks. As they grow up however, Jon becomes angry and withdrawn, and as soon as he is able leaves Cleveland for New York City. Bobby, however, settles into a typical Cleveland life, and even moves in with Jon's parents. But when the time comes, he too moves on to the bright lights of New York, and the two boys who had grown distant, immediately fall in love all over again.
Sara W wrote this review Saturday, November 3, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This is a hard book to describe. As I read it, I kept thinking of three works - tense, bleak, and sparse. Mr. Cunningham is definitely a gifted author. I really connected with Bobby and Jon, despite having nothing in common with either boy. He took an unlikely story and made me want to read it. Yet, I'm not sure I fully grasped all the nuances of the story either. I am just not the type of person who is going to understand what it is like growing up gay or completely disconnected from the rest of the world. I am not the type of person who is going to fall so completely in love with another that I cannot seperate my identity from theirs. So while I was, improbably able to connect with the characters, I was able to do so as if they were friends of mine, and not able to fully feel everything they were feeling. It was a good novel, I thoroughly liked it and am glad it was selected by my book club, even though I don't understand exactly why it selected as part of the 1001 Books You Must Read, which was the other reason I wanted to read this book. ”
“I remember nearly nothing of the book except that the experience and sentiments have stuck with me. T'was exceptional.”
Will Wright wrote this review Thursday, July 5, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Beautiful story, with characters that will stay with you (and please, don't judge the book by the def not great film...)”
Lori Machens wrote this review Monday, June 25, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
