tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post8502602483714500374..comments2024-03-27T21:19:02.636-05:00Comments on The Nature of Things: My Year Abroad by Chang-Rae Lee: A reviewDorothy Bordershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-18358749211832729072021-03-09T09:07:16.268-06:002021-03-09T09:07:16.268-06:00Yes! I think The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl r...Yes! I think The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl really opened the floodgates on that type of narrator to re-emerge en masse. Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are Takenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12507006809241347635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-43187032193951800912021-03-08T12:31:56.637-06:002021-03-08T12:31:56.637-06:00I don't ever like to discourage anyone from re...I don't ever like to discourage anyone from reading a particular book because their reaction might be quite different from mine. That being said, yes, I did find these characters especially annoying.Dorothy Bordershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-30900926712014228942021-03-08T11:55:04.218-06:002021-03-08T11:55:04.218-06:00I have yet to read anything written by Chang-Rae L...I have yet to read anything written by Chang-Rae Lee at this point in time. I have seen the buzz for My Year Abroad and was going to add it to my ever growing reading wishlist. But after reading your review of My Year Abroad, I'll pass on this novel. I would be annoyed by all of the things that bothered you as well.Captivated Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15789205839634527219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-28705838453926974582021-03-05T11:06:34.452-06:002021-03-05T11:06:34.452-06:00Well said. Unreliable narrators are in with fictio...Well said. Unreliable narrators are in with fiction writers these days. In fact, the book I just finished also featured one, but she was honest about her unreliability and I had no problem believing her. That is a huge distinction.Dorothy Bordershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-78769707729848166212021-03-05T10:33:53.423-06:002021-03-05T10:33:53.423-06:00I like unreliable narrators but I think there is a...I like unreliable narrators but I think there is a big difference between being unreliable and being unbelievable. I would be annoyed by all of the things that bothered you as well. Sorry it was a dud for you!Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are Takenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12507006809241347635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-8779681111989071912021-03-05T08:36:27.983-06:002021-03-05T08:36:27.983-06:00Don't let my opinion prejudice you. You might ...Don't let my opinion prejudice you. You might like it better.Dorothy Bordershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-49027186405726071112021-03-05T08:23:40.120-06:002021-03-05T08:23:40.120-06:00I am waiting for the arrival of this book. It is s...I am waiting for the arrival of this book. It is sad that it was disappointing for you. Deb Nance at Readerbuzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128529491888701996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-17030509305422618602021-03-03T12:28:41.346-06:002021-03-03T12:28:41.346-06:00That's interesting. Most of the comments I'...That's interesting. Most of the comments I've seen from those who have read him have been glowing in their praise, so I feel affirmed to see that someone else has had a similar reaction to mine!Dorothy Bordershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-82631187447286524212021-03-03T11:24:44.597-06:002021-03-03T11:24:44.597-06:00I had a similar reaction as yours. I read and revi...I had a similar reaction as yours. I read and reviewed his novel On Such a Full Sea in 2014 and came away from it disappointed, so wasn't geared to read his new one. I found that 2014 novel to be a bit of a slog and not that interesting to me so I'm passing on him for now. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-7584463128999636452021-03-03T10:31:24.836-06:002021-03-03T10:31:24.836-06:00Well, I was certainly annoyed by the characters, b...Well, I was certainly annoyed by the characters, but others may find them perfectly lovable and charming!Dorothy Bordershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-30364526522728739132021-03-03T09:42:47.549-06:002021-03-03T09:42:47.549-06:00I'm not sure if I'll read this book, becau...I'm not sure if I'll read this book, because I find characters very important and from your review I can make out that I'll be pretty annoyed by the characters.<br /><br />I do see that Judy is going to read this book, so I'm curious what she will say! :)Esther @ BiteIntoBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00521908679162311172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-34182788110045264432021-03-02T11:10:29.566-06:002021-03-02T11:10:29.566-06:00I gather that he marches (and writes) to the beat ...I gather that he marches (and writes) to the beat of a different drummer, one that only he can hear and that his books are quite varied in content. I think I'm going to give his others a try, but as I indicated, I can't really recommend this one unless you are a serious foodie and reading it for the food content.Dorothy Bordershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-58956943857916171482021-03-02T11:01:32.855-06:002021-03-02T11:01:32.855-06:00I've heard so many mixed things about this aut...I've heard so many mixed things about this author that I'm on the fence when it comes to picking up the books. Some people love him to death and some people just can't get into him.The Butterfly Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13218064101468042347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-34419337362397964362021-03-02T10:50:51.542-06:002021-03-02T10:50:51.542-06:00I'll put those on my Chang-Rae Lee TBR list. P...I'll put those on my Chang-Rae Lee TBR list. Perhaps you will enjoy this one more than I did. I'll look forward to seeing your comments.Dorothy Bordershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12441731296027227394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3560838335414244511.post-10084884571381482862021-03-02T09:49:31.738-06:002021-03-02T09:49:31.738-06:00I am about to start this one. I have read all of h...I am about to start this one. I have read all of his novels. The Surrendered is my top favorite. I like how he tries all kinds of stories. Some are more successful than others in my opinion. Another one I loved was Native Speaker.Judy Kruegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11632346091869688862noreply@blogger.com