Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow - 5 stars

[Susan]

I only read this because of positive reviews here on PBT. I knew so little about “gaming” that I had to look it up. Ah yes – that XBox thing my kids tried to get me to buy for them 20 years ago. (I refused). Had I read this book then I might have at least considered it, because it sounds like to has a lot of educational potential. But that’s not really what this book it about; the world of gaming --creating, playing, and marketing them-- is only the setting for a story about three friends who are in that business. Sam, Marx and Sadie come from very different backgrounds and have three distinct personalities. Sam and Sadie meet as children and bond over their mutual love of gaming. Marx enters later as Sam’s college roommate. Marx’s love for each of the others is what glues them together as a trio. Within the dynamics of the relationships, Zevin manages to show several of the possible varieties of human love. It’s not kinky stuff, just tried and true variations of romance and friendship that make such good universal themes. The characters are complex and each evolves in ways that fit their personalities, often in retrospect, as they are not predictable. The author provides them with plenty of successes and traumas and resists taking the easy way out in plotting; I found the ending satisfying, but not predictable.
The writing itself I really enjoyed. The author uses an omniscient POV in a smooth unobtrusive way. She also slips in backstories seamlessly and although I can’t say more without spoiling, one of the major traumas in the story was revealed so slowly and uniquely that I found it beautiful. I think I’ll round my 4.5 stars up to a 5.

[Holly R W]

Susan, I loved the book too. I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[Susan]

thanks, Holly. Yours was one of the reviews that inspired me to read it!

[NancyJ]

Great review. The way you describe the variety of relationships and style is very appealing to me. Thanks!

[Susan]

hope you enjoy it!