Beach Reads: Less by Andrew Sean Greer, 2 stars

[Jen]

I know this is a major award winning work and it is probably me who is missing something.

I just didn't like any of the characters so found it really hard to finish. Less was told it is hard to feel sorry for a middle-aged, middle class white man whether he is Gay or not. Less needed to get off his butt, grow a pair and try to get the life he wanted not wait about for it to just happen or run off and avoid problems.

I gave 1 star for it being well written and the other for the 1 time it made me laugh.

[Faith_Bookluvr]

What a disappointment! I have heard such good things and bought it a while ago.

[Amy]

I’ve said this before, but I really didn’t care for either. Wasn’t my cup of tea.

[Booknblues]

Faith_Bookluvr wrote: "What a disappointment! I have heard such good things and bought it a while ago."

I bought it and then heard negative reviews, but then somebody whose reading matches mine, gave it a positive review and I'm glad they did.

I quite enjoyed it and I liked Andrew Less. I don't find it at all unusual that someone might have a difficult time turning 50 especially when their old beau is marrying.

[Joy D]

Part of the reason I really enjoyed this book is that Arthur Less has spent many years building up a wall around his heart, not allowing himself to feel love to avoid getting hurt. This seems very real to me, and turning 50 would be a big deal - realizing he has been in love with the guy who is marrying someone else, and now it's too late.

I am always interested in reading the many opinions about a particular book. We read the exact same words, but take away something different.

[Jen]

I have to admit I often find things funny that others don't and don't find things funny that others do. I'm probably also rather impatient with people who won't help themselves so don't really like characters who do that either.

I'm close to 50 too but don't plan on running away or having a melt down. 1 day at a time and be grateful I got to be this old and see all the stuff I have done.

Each to their own or we'd all want to read the same books and never be able to get what we wanted from the library right?

[Robin P]

I liked this because I love academic satires but I totally understand why others don't care for it. I definitely don't think it deserved a Pulitzer! That was probably because it was about academia, kind of like how the Oscar judges favor movies about Hollywood. I did like the ending which I wasn't expecting.