life serial
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Matthew Allard is an author, freelance writer, and Internet geek. Some of his stories were inspired by illustrations from Ian Dingman and made into a book called To Slow Down The Time.

This is his blog.
When Jeffrey Eugenides’s latest book—his first since Middlesex in 2002—finally came out, I was in Amsterdam. I like buying new books overseas because even new releases come in paperback there. I don’t know why. Europeans get a spread of different book jacket designs, plus their pick of hard or softcover immediately. I’ve never understood. I prefer paperbacks, however; they travel well and they feel good in my hands. I bought The Marriage Plot. I haven’t read many of the reviews about it. From friends online, I’ve seen some mixed reactions. Maybe hopes were too high? I was worried that someone would spoil something so I’ve mostly stayed away. I’m about a third of the way through, and I’m enjoying it. Not much has happened, but Eugenides creates a dense worldview. It’s character study. I don’t mind. Also, it appears that great story, “Extreme Solitude,” featured in The New Yorker way back in June 2010, is lifted from the book.

When Jeffrey Eugenides’s latest book—his first since Middlesex in 2002—finally came out, I was in Amsterdam. I like buying new books overseas because even new releases come in paperback there. I don’t know why. Europeans get a spread of different book jacket designs, plus their pick of hard or softcover immediately. I’ve never understood. I prefer paperbacks, however; they travel well and they feel good in my hands. I bought The Marriage Plot.

I haven’t read many of the reviews about it. From friends online, I’ve seen some mixed reactions. Maybe hopes were too high? I was worried that someone would spoil something so I’ve mostly stayed away.

I’m about a third of the way through, and I’m enjoying it. Not much has happened, but Eugenides creates a dense worldview. It’s character study. I don’t mind. Also, it appears that great story, “Extreme Solitude,” featured in The New Yorker way back in June 2010, is lifted from the book.

  1. dustinwashere reblogged this from lifeserial and added:
    Highly excited to began reading it!
  2. walkwhilereading said: If you read 1Q84 right after reading the Marriage Plot, it makes The Marriage Plot seem like the best book ever written…just an FYI.
  3. jessicaannnielsen reblogged this from lifeserial
  4. auntcrush said: the Canadian jacket design is so inferior!
  5. olsenwarhol reblogged this from nellingtonboots and added:
    Next on my list.
  6. vernonrossmd said: I didn’t like it. Felt as if it was too contrived.
  7. nellingtonboots reblogged this from lifeserial
  8. lifeserial posted this