[Birthday] Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Gabrielle Zevin 4 stars

[Michelle H]

I gave this book 4 stars because I was a little disappointed in the pace of the book. 'Everyone' was raving about the book but the first 2/3rds of the book moved really slow for me. I had to push to keep going. It wasn't until the last 1/3 that I really got into the book.

Sadie and Sam are childhood friends who are very close then drift apart during different times in their lives. In college, they get together as programmers and create their first game. This launches their careers and business. While friends, they never become lovers but they do love each other.

The book spans about 30 years and covers topics such as love, relationships, disability, abuse, and gaming vs reality.

[Anita]

Michelle H wrote: "I gave this book 4 stars because I was a little disappointed in the pace of the book. 'Everyone' was raving about the book but the first 2/3rds of the book moved really slow for me. I had to push t..."

Hmmm, This was definitely on my list to read. But I've been disappointed with the "hot" contemporary fiction books lately so your review gives me some pause.

[Michelle H]

Anita wrote: "Michelle H wrote: "I gave this book 4 stars because I was a little disappointed in the pace of the book. 'Everyone' was raving about the book but the first 2/3rds of the book moved really slow for ..."

I am not sure if I expected too much. I think I wanted a 'WOW' but got a 'cool, that's nice.'

[Anita]

Michelle H wrote: "Anita wrote: "Michelle H wrote: "I gave this book 4 stars because I was a little disappointed in the pace of the book. 'Everyone' was raving about the book but the first 2/3rds of the book moved re..."

Lol, well that's better than "I'm so bored" which has been my reaction to the last two contemporary fiction books I picked up that had Goodreads ratings well over 4. Sigh.

[Michelle H]

Anita wrote: "Michelle H wrote: "Anita wrote: "Michelle H wrote: "I gave this book 4 stars because I was a little disappointed in the pace of the book. 'Everyone' was raving about the book but the first 2/3rds o..."

I hate those books and have read them before. Good luck!

[Anita]

Michelle H wrote: "..I hate those books and have read them before. Good luck!."

HA HA!! So glad it is not just me. I find that beyond frustrating.

[Michelle H]

Anita wrote: "Michelle H wrote: "..I hate those books and have read them before. Good luck!."

HA HA!! So glad it is not just me. I find that beyond frustrating."

After a few of those, I am careful who I take suggestions from. There are a few people in PBT who rate books similar to me. Then, over time, I open up things and take suggestions from others.

[Peacejanz]

I agree, Michelle. I just can not trust all the wonderful words and reviews from some folks. I could not tolerate this book. Checked it out four times - three times I read as much as I could tolerate. The fourth time, I went to the back and started reading there. About the same except one was in a subway station and the other was at an airport. I do not get why this book is rated so highly. peace, janz

[Holly R W]

Please don't throw tomatoes at me. I loved the book! Just want to speak up and give my opinion. That's why I'm on Goodreads - to listen to all opinions and discuss books. After all, we can't all like the same ones!

Here is my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Michelle H]

Holly R W wrote: "Please don't throw tomatoes at me. I loved the book! Just want to speak up and give my opinion. That's why I'm on Goodreads - to listen to all opinions and discuss books. After all, we can't all li..."

No tomatoes here. I am glad you liked the book. It was a good book and there was something in it that touched you. That is great! I am part of Goodreads for the same reason and have read a lot of great books because of reviews I have seen here.

[Anita]

It's great to hear from all sides, Holly! Off to read your review.

I feel like maybe as I age my tolerance for contemporary fiction is waning. I work, but only part time, and I think I need a lot of intellectual stimulation now. But the premise of this book intrigues me . . .I'm just put off after reading Lessons in Chemistry and Remarkably Bright Creatures recently . . .both with rave reviews by SO many people . . .and I just didn't love either one much at all.

But I like reading reviews from people I "know" even if they are disparate.

[Holly R W]

I appreciate your comments, Michelle and Anita. I find Goodreads to be exactly that - a good community of people who like to read and talk about books.

This is a book that surprised me, as I don't like the world of video games. I almost didn't read it. The story just grabbed me and wouldn't let go.

[Holly R W]

@ Anita, our posts crossed and I didn't see your post at first. I also was underwhelmed by "Lessons in Chemistry" and have decided not to read "Remarkably Bright Creatures". I had read "The Soul of an Octopus" last year and that was enough for me!

[Anita]

Holly R W wrote: "@ Anita, our posts crossed and I didn't see your post at first. I also was underwhelmed by "Lessons in Chemistry" and have decided not to read "Remarkably Bright Creatures". I had read "The Soul of..."

That makes me feel less alone, Holly!!! And I enjoyed The Soul of an Octopus, and felt that Remarkably Bright Creatures lifted a lot from that book. Too much frankly. It's acknowledged, but honestly, I felt like I was revisiting a book I had already read.

[Nicole R]

Holly R W wrote: "Please don't throw tomatoes at me. I loved the book! Just want to speak up and give my opinion. That's why I'm on Goodreads - to listen to all opinions and discuss books. After all, we can't all li..."

I also loved it, Holly. One of my Top 10 books of 2022. I love books that are just about complicated relationships between people. And I thought the relationship between the three main characters was fascinating. Aggravating much of the time, but also fascinating.

[Nicole R]

Anita wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "@ Anita, our posts crossed and I didn't see your post at first. I also was underwhelmed by "Lessons in Chemistry" and have decided not to read "Remarkably Bright Creatures". I had..."

I also just finished Remarkably Bright Creatures and loved it too. lol. It was similar to Soul of an Octopus and rode the coattails of the popular documentary My Octopus Teacher, but I still loved it.

[Anita]

Nicole R wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "Please don't throw tomatoes at me. I loved the book! Just want to speak up and give my opinion. That's why I'm on Goodreads - to listen to all opinions and discuss books. After al..."

Thanks for chiming in. I do like books that focus strongly on relationships, especially complex ones, so that piques my interest more than the part about video gaming.

[Nicole R]

Anita wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Holly R W wrote: "Please don't throw tomatoes at me. I loved the book! Just want to speak up and give my opinion. That's why I'm on Goodreads - to listen to all opinions and discus..."

I am not a gamer, but I thought it was interesting enough. I wasn't bored during those parts even though they weren't my favorite parts.

It was also about the business of selling video games, which I think you would find interesting. It wasn't a focal point, but some interesting asides.

[Robin P]

Great to have all these different views on it. I was wary because "everyone" loved her other book, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and I thought it read like average chick lit. I detest books where a child comes into the story just to make the adults feel better, and (view spoiler)[ on a small island she had 2 people die in different car accidents, how bad are the roads there? That is just lazy writing. Plus the tearjerking illness at the end. (hide spoiler)]

I might try this one at some point.

[Amy]

I also hate raves - because they raise the expectations for the books too high. That said, I adored Remarkably Bright Creatures, and I think it was made better because it was an audio version. My whole local book club loved it, and some of us also attended an online discussion with the author, who said it was just happenstance that it emerged on the scene at the same time as the Octopus Teacher. That boosted it.

I do plan to read Tomorrow (x3) as I have been fond of calling it. I think I'm going to do it with the Book Club. But you know I always call it. To big of a rave for a book leaves me with too high expectations. I liked lessons in chemistry. But to me, it was a good 4 star enjoyment book, minus the dog narrated parts, but it didn't come near my top ten. But... The five books I had the opportunity to discuss online with the authors... All five of those made my top ten. I want you all to know, after suffering through the narration of a dog named 630, and then the narration of an octopus (which I loved), I am now reading a book that is half narrated by a fig tree. My husband and I were laughing so hard about this last night. I really feel stretched by this one. And its getting five star reviews across the board! My local book club is discussing it this Sunday. But I speak truth. Narrated by a fig tree. Slowest reading week ever. Not all that excited.

[Joy D]

I liked this one even less than you did, Michelle, and it surprised me because I used to work in the tech industry, and I used to be a "gamer." So, I'd say that is not the reason one likes or dislikes this book. As Nicole said, it is more about complicated relationships. I really liked the friendship theme but (view spoiler)[of course they had to ruin it toward the end where they become more involved. (hide spoiler)]

Anita wrote: "I feel like maybe as I age my tolerance for contemporary fiction is waning. I work, but only part time, and I think I need a lot of intellectual stimulation now. ..."
I am completely with you, Anita. I need lots of intellectual stimulation and I do not get it from most contemporary fiction. I have taken to mostly avoiding it.

[Anita]

Joy D wrote: "I am completely with you, Anita. I need lots of intellectual stimulation and I do not get it from most contemporary fiction. I have taken to mostly avoiding it.."

I think it may be a stage of life thing? I really can't imagine reading harder works of fiction while I was a student or working full time, or even during the throes of child rearing. But now, I feel I need the challenge of more literary fiction to feel satisfied with the book. And if I want something more engaging and easier, I go right to non-fiction (narrative non-fiction or memoirs or survival tales or even on occasion, true crime). It's crazy how much my taste has really shifted.

Right now, I'm reading Cormac McCarthy's two most recent books, and omg, they are so unusual and hard to grasp. . .and on some levels it's frustrating, but on other levels I love the challenge of trying to figure out what he is trying to do.

[Joy D]

Anita wrote: "I think it may be a stage of life thing? I really can't imagine reading harder works of fiction while I was a student or working full time, or even during the throes of child rearing. But now, I feel I need the challenge of more literary fiction to feel satisfied with the book. And if I want something more engaging and easier, I go right to non-fiction (narrative non-fiction or memoirs or survival tales or even on occasion, true crime). It's crazy how much my taste has really shifted...."

It could be. I have always enjoyed narrative non-fiction and survival tales (I know we share that affinity). Many my GR friends, some of whom share my interests in literature), loved Tx3 so I guess it's hard to generalize.