Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Jan 2023

[Lynn, Moderator]

Fiction Winner



Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Two friends--often in love, but never lovers--come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality.

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn't heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won't protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

[Jayme]

This is on my TBR for the month of January, but not sure when I will get to it - sometime mid month I'm thinking 🤔

[Nyssa]

Jayme wrote: "This is on my TBR for the month of January, but not sure when I will get to it - sometime mid month I'm thinking 🤔"

^^^Same^^^

[Riles]

I'm currently reading this. So far, I'm really liking it (already by chapter 3 there have been some unexpected turns) but I'm taking it easy. A chapter or two a night. Mostly because I'm finishing up some of my books from last month.

I am new to this group and have been really bad with updating my Goodreads stuff in the past but this is all part of my self-improvement plan for 2023. I expect to be pretty active in this group.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Welcome, Riles! I look forward on seeing your thoughts on the books and discussing with you.

[Lynn, Moderator]

Started it today, so far very much enjoying it!

[Kristine]

I have heard such great things about this book. I just got the book from the library, so look forward to starting it.

[Christiana]

Have had this on my shelf for a couple of months now (and been meaning to pick it up, but somehow never do). Turning it into a book club read might do the trick... Thing is, I am tackling quite a few buddy reads right now - which means I can only start this around the 20th. Is there a set date for finishing and discussing it? Thanks!

[Lea]

I wasn't sure that I would read this book since I read The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by the same author and while I liked it fine, it wasn't particularly memorable. But it won the award so I picked it up and I'm really glad I did. I'm about halfway in and I prefer this story to the other. I'm listening to the audiobook and it's pretty good.

[Bonnie]

only a few chapters in, but liking it more than I actually expected (love the author but not so much the subject/gaming.) Characters and side characters will really draw you in.

[Lynn, Moderator]

Bonnie wrote: "only a few chapters in, but liking it more than I actually expected (love the author but not so much the subject/gaming.) Characters and side characters will really draw you in."

I would say that the setting is around gaming, but that's not really what the book is about. So still really accessible for non-gamers.

[Lynn, Moderator]

I loved the overall feel of the book, which I would describe as gentle thoughtfulness (I don't know if that makes sense, but it's the best way I can describe it).

I really appreciated the complexity of the characters and of the story. Some really heartbreaking moments - (view spoiler)[Sam's struggle with his disability, Sam's backstory of how he got that injury, Marx death, and Sams's grandfather giving Sadie the arcade game brought a tear to my eye (hide spoiler)]. The author managed to weave so much commentary quite effortlessly into the story and I do think it's going to sit with me for quite a while.

However there are two major points that resulted in me thinking it was a really good book rather than a book I loved.

Firstly, the author did a couple of, what I would call, slightly experimental parts.
Part 7: The NPC which actually did work for me, I thought it was quite beautiful, and Part 9: Pioneers. The author lost me on the latter. I liked the idea behind what the characters were doing in the story but she lost me on the execution of it.

And finally, the crux of the story was (view spoiler)[based around Sam and Sadie's friendship which was a whole lot of miscommunication. The vast majority of their problems would have been solved if they'd only talked to each other! (hide spoiler)] I was irritated too much by this to truly love the book.

[Bonnie]

I googled The Great Wave of Kanawaga mentioned in our book but can't figure how to share it. The whole discussion about cultural appropriation was interesting.

[Bonnie]

Finished, but it ended up not being a book for me. I liked the characters less and less and never did get into the gaming stuff. There were really good parts and insights though.

[Michelle]

I started this book just the other day. Liking it so far and getting through it quite quickly so I think I’ll finish it before the month ends. AJ Fikry was one of my favorite books. This one feels different but it’s also good so far. The characters are interesting and growing on me. Plus I like gaming.

[Thereadingbell]

I started this today. i like it so far it is deep and thoughtful. This was an accurate depiction of making a video game. i think people who are nerdy will really love the game aspects of book. i am one of the nerdy ones. i am a gamer and book nerd.

[Keli]

I thought this book was more about friendship than gaming. There is a lot of talk about gaming, but the real story is the friendship of these characters, I think. I thought it was heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hopeful. I'm glad I read it. I really liked it.

[Lynn, Moderator]

Agree Keli, gaming is the tool to tell the story and definitely takes a secondary role to the story of friendship.

[Michelle]

I agree. It definitely is a book about friendship. I’ve finished the book and gave it 4 stars. While I found Sadie a bit annoying, overall I really enjoyed the book and the characters will definitely stay with me. I also have a newfound appreciation of games and what it takes to make a great game.

[Nyssa]

It's taken me a while to get into this story.
I am currently reading Chapter 4 of Section III: Unfair Games.

I'll place my current thoughts behind spoiler tags:(view spoiler)[

1. Marx is the most likable character in the book so far. Sam and Sadie and spoiled and selfish in their own ways. At times I find it difficult to root for them. (I won't even talk about Dov - UGH)

2. I saw science fiction listed as one of the genres, and I went into this expecting that aspect; it took me a while to adjust my perspective - the story is definitely related to S.T.E.A.M. but not Science Fiction as a genre (which is neither a positive nor a negative).

3. I'm curious as to where the story is headed now. I'm assuming there will be some big blowup surrounding credit and money. If so, I hope they don't spend much time on it because I find that kind of thing disheartening and depressing. It would be better if I am entirely wrong and it doesn't happen. But betrayal was mentioned in the description, so I am wary. (hide spoiler)]

[Jess]

When a book on a topic that I'm not that knowledgeable on or interested in can grab me like this, it is something very special. I was truly invested in these characters even when they were acting in ways that frustrated or upset me, I really wanted everything to turn out well for them. I feel like I went on a journey through the ups and downs of their lives and was celebrating and commiserating with them.

This book gave me a much deeper understanding and appreciation of video games and the ways that playing them can mean different things to different people: a creative outlet, a de-stressor, a way to escape your life and live out another, a way to challenge your preconceptions. All this and more was explored here with aplomb. I will be recommending this book to lots of people in my life.

[QueenAmidala28]

I tried to like this book but I had to stop reading by chapter 3. It sounds familiar but I can’t name the book it reminds me of.

[Nyssa]

So, the NPC remained my favorite character. However, the story kept me engaged - I wanted to know what would happen next. Plus, I'm secretly a sucker for generational-type timelines. It's fascinating watching characters grow up.

[Kaitlin]

I just finished this one. I thought it was very interesting and well written. I really enjoyed it, and I agree the NPC was my favorite character as well.

[Jean]

I listened to this on audio and was surprised by how much I enjoyed the gaming industry information, being a non-gamer. You definitely do not need to be a gamer to enjoy this book which is about friendship first and foremost, ambition, ego and failure to communicate.

The main characters, Sam and Sadie are well developed, as is Marks the other primary character. Marks was definitely my favorite character, kind, empowering and the only one with emotional intelligence. The story encompasses their fast ride to success in the gaming world at a young age and the way that ambition, ego and insecurity damage Sam and Sadie’s relationship. It seems the more they succeed, the unhappier they become. I don’t want to give away the story; but it is a good read with complex characters working through some very tough issues.

[Cammy]

At times I lost interest in the story. The beginning was good and so was some of the middle. The video game terminology didn’t bother me, I just think it was just the way some of the story line went. At times I liked Sadie and other times I didn’t.