Today I'm linking up with Blonde, Undercover Blonde for her Book Club Friday - you know I'm all over this link up!I recently finished The Marriage Plot, which is the third novel for Jeffrey Eugenides and the second novel I have read by him. His second book, Middlesex, earned a Pulitzer and was also the book we read for our local book club, Books 'n Bars in November. His first book was The Virgin Suicides, which I own, but haven't read. Did anybody see the movie? I remember watching it in high school and being very disturbed by it...
I probably would not have picked this book up if we weren't reading it for #twookclub, which is this awesome book club on Twitter hosted by the adorable Stephany over at Stephany Writes! Although I didn't love the book, I'm glad I finished it because I think it will create great discussion among the group. The many issues addressed are marriage, homosexuality (slightly) mental illness, what is normal in life...
The Marriage Plot follows three main characters, college students Madeleine, Leonard and Mitchell in the early 80s, at the beginning of the book they are all graduating from college and are embarking on possibly the rest of their lives. All three of them unsure, all three of them struggling to figure out what they're supposed to be doing. Sound familiar? On this premise alone, I wanted to like this book. When I graduated from college I did not adjust well, so I'm always curious how other people attempt this weird transition in life.
So far, how I feel about Middlesex is exactly how I feel about The Marriage Plot. I love Eugenides writing and how he weaves a story together, but I tend to hate the stories he tells. So... it's tough. His writing is just beautiful, and I don't think I have ever come across a storyteller quite like him, I just don't seem to care for the content!
I don't want to go any further because I don't want to discourage anyone from reading this book. I can see how some will love it and some will hate it. Now, go read it! ;)
It's always tough when you like a writer so much, but don't like the book!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
i know how that is...always a bummer.
ReplyDeletehappy friday!
Hmmm I didn't realize he is the same person who wrote The Virgin Suicides. I didn't read it, but I was very disturbed by the movie!
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds interesting though!
You definitely have me intrigued!
ReplyDeletesee you made this plot sound better than middlesex but after that book i dont think i ever want to read anything by him again.. that and virgin suicides was an effed up movie haha
ReplyDeleteI agree with PFF! I didn't really like Middlesex, so I really don't have much drive to read this book! I am glad you read it for me!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of people reading this book so I'm interested, but I think I tried to start one of Eugenides' other books and couldn't get into it, so if I do read it, it'll probably be awhile before then.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honest review!
After hearing you all complain on twitter about this, I'm not to sure I want to pick this up or Middlesex. I'm pretty sure I read The Virgin Suicides, but since I know I saw the movie I could just be mixing them up. Obviously I don't remember a lot from reading it, since I can't even remember if I did, but I just have this feeling that it wasn't a book I really understood.
ReplyDeleteI can't even say I enjoy the author's writing! He did weave the stories together well, but he did not capture me with his writing style - AT ALL.
ReplyDeleteBut it wasn't as bad as Middlesex. It just wasn't good. But it will make for an interesting discussion!
I have a friend that loves Middlesex, both that and this one sound good.
ReplyDeleteSo... confession? I am REALLY not looking forward to reading The Marriage Plot. It's not my style of book AT ALL and has gotten a lot of bad reviews. I have a feeling it's one I'm going to struggle through.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout-out!
Eugenides writing and character development continues to amaze. I was sorry to finish. This is not the same book as Middlesex but is nearly as good. Highly recommended.
ReplyDeleteuser voted Top Alaskan Brown Bear Hunts coastal