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Liked It “Just started this marvelously sensitive telling of the life of a young African American man who was bused to school in a Boston suburb and married a white woman from whom he is estranged. His observations of their three children break my heart.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It“Man Gone Down is a slow and overly descriptive book. It's 428 pages about how the main character, who was never given a name, tried to find a job to support his family. Every chapter talks about his close-minded views of human nature and the world around him. The main character criticizes almost...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“Man Gone Down is a slow and overly descriptive book. It's 428 pages about how the main character, who was never given a name, tried to find a job to support his family. Every chapter talks about his close-minded views of human nature and the world around him. The main character criticizes almost every person that he encounters. I don't recommend this book to anyone because the story moves extremely slowly and the ending is too predictable. ”
MIKHAELA S wrote this review Thursday, October 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Worst ever read.”
Una M wrote this review Thursday, October 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Just started this marvelously sensitive telling of the life of a young African American man who was bused to school in a Boston suburb and married a white woman from whom he is estranged. His observations of their three children break my heart.”
Carolyn J wrote this review Friday, May 23 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was good, but I don't think it was all that GREAT.
Artemis_98 wrote this review Saturday, March 22 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It took me a while to get into it -- this usually happens when I read books written by men -- but by about 1/3 way in I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I really wanted to know what happened. The narrator's voice was very authentic, and I was very convinced by his story. I really like this guy! But he has some major issues that he needs to deal with. I really want him to get a proper job, go back to finish his Ph.D. and go into therapy so he can come to terms with his ghosts.
The race issue is very well portrayed -- anyone who wants to understand race in the USA should read this book -- it is very accurately depicted, in all the subtleties that Thomas has very succinctly put his finger on.
Nevertheless, I am surprised that it was the NYTimes best book of 2007. Plus it had typos. Any book that has typos loses marks with me.
That last extended conversation with Gavin was boring and I think the book could have done without it.
I found the ending a bit far-fetched, but I love a happy ending, so I'm not going to complain too much about it.”“Without a doubt one of the most beautifully written, intense books I've read. One of those books that sticks with you long after you've finished.”
Traci L wrote this review Monday, February 25 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Expertly written. Telling—genuine. Love how the outside conflict mirrored the main character's inner struggle. ”
Chee G wrote this review Friday, February 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I have a mixed reaction to this book. There's a lot here for a book group--lots of symbolism (Great Gatsby references, he's a poet and a carpenter, constellation references, etc.); issues of race and class and privilege; issues of how the main character sees himself and how all of this is related to human being. But, there is also a self-indulgence on the main character's part that got in the way of my enjoyment of the novel. And, then, I was also intrigued by the idea that he was literally on the edge of the abyss and felt himself to be responsible for what he did next. This last made the book, perhaps, most interesting to me.
Mary v wrote this review Thursday, February 7 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Yes, lots of "bad" things happened to him, but there was still a sense that he felt like he could make choices and did make choices that led him either further away or closer to the looming abyss. In another sense though it's as if he had to act, but he doesn't try to pawn this off as someone else's fault.”
“one of the best books I have ever, ever read. Can't put it down. Brilliantly written. ”
Dlynne P wrote this review Monday, October 29 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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