Play Book Tag discussion

This has been tagged life only a handful of times on GR, but I feel it belongs here. It chronicle's one person's life, and has the "self help" format of how to change ones life.

The format of this book killed it for me. This is a satire of the self-help genre, with snippits of "how-to", but the real story lies underneath is great. This is written in the 2nd person- you form, and for me this never quite panned out. Because of it's second person format- I was left feeling unable to relate to the protagonist, disconnected from the story, and that led me to not really want to pick this book up.

With that being said, the story that lied inside the gimmicks- was great! You- or the protagonist/narrator who remains unnamed grows up poor, and (you guessed it) lives life getting filthy rich in Asia. The most compelling plotline to me was the "pretty girl", also unnamed, who will appear at different parts in the narrators life (mainly the beginning and the end). The romance and anticipation was great in this. I also loved the narrator's family. Although again- because of the format- was revealed strangely. Often times focusing on something else and then a random fact about the family that you didn't know. The reveal was unassuming, which I appreciate, but disconnected- which I don't.

But this book really was about the whole of humanity. The "you can take the man out of the place, but you can't take the place out of the man". It accomplishes a lot with it's short 230 page count. This has got so many raves, I think I'm in the minority with my 3 stars. I loved Exit West, but I guess I just didn't "get" this one, and it never really clicked for me.

I agree on every point. I haven’t had time to write a review yet, but your thoughts mirror mine. It was way under my expectations.

That is disappointing, I won't rush to read that.

Very disappointing.
Susie, I'm waiting on pins and needles for your review!

I am so time poor at the moment but I’ll get to it soon!