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Shelley C.
Disappointing
While the writing of this book is engaging, I found that the title was quite misleading. Perhaps the book could have been called, The People You Dislike That You're Related To. There was a lot of whining throughout, right up to the very end. And, I must note, that the characters were totally self absorbed and unlikeable. This was a very disappointing read.
Daniel A. (Naugatuck, CT)
The People We Hate at the Wedding
This was an interesting story, one held my interest throughout; but I had some trouble with the title. For me, it was misleading. The wedding took place at the last ten pages of the book. What about the other 314 pages?
On a positive note, there were unusual people in the story that made reading it a bit memorable, but I didn't find too much in the humor department for my liking. Overall, I felt the story was just ok.
Rosemary C. (Golden, CO)
A Complicated Family
For the most part I appreciated the stories and perspectives of the characters and how circumstances, family dynamics and personalities led each of them to where they found themselves. The wedding event brings everything to a head. After some drama there is a bit of redemption as they achieve some understanding and healing. This is a good effort and worth the read.
Teresa R. (Evansville, IN)
Expected more
Very well-written novel, but not nearly as light-hearted and humorous as touted by the publisher. It explores some very serious issues.... divorce, blended families, homosexuality to name a few. I am glad that I read it, but expected a very different funny story!
Donna W. (Wauwatosa, WI)
The People we Hate at the Wedding
The front cover and blurbs on the back cover led me to believe that I was going to be reading a funny story. Instead, I read a story that looked into the lives of totally unlikable , unpleasant characters. I guess the inane jobs, and unsatisfactory relationships were supposed to lead to humor. Unfortunately for me, they did not. The writing was good, and some scenes were clever, but on the whole the book just didn't come across well.
Cheri S. (Newburgh, IN)
Buyer Beware!
Normally, I am not a "Debbie Downer" when it comes to my opinion regarding a new novel by a young writer. But this time, I think I am.
While Grinder has an excellent grasp of format and style, I really feel like he is selling this book under the wrong banner: I do not think it is funny, hilarious or addicting, as did several authors chosen to help ballyhoo this effort. This is a realistically sad book: families are a collection of mismatched, disturbed loons!!! At least, that's the group put on display in this book. And I didn't find their travails to be either entertaining or hilarious. To me, they are
…more dysfunctional and selfish – which, again, is exactly what most families are – and while that can be funny, it wasn't in this book. Grinder did not take full advantage of the humor that was supposedly there.
Perhaps my real issue is with the publishing company and the hook they tried to create for this venture. All I know is that this book is not AT ALL what I was told it would be and it wasn't a pleasant surprise discovering what it actually is: yet another self-indulgent diatribe about siblings from different parental match-ups not feeling as if they are the center of their particular parents' universe. (less)I wanted to like this book, it had a cute cover and a humorous synopsis. I forgot the old adage about judging a book by it's cover because this book was a disappointment. The characters were shallow and unlikable. The funniest part in the entire book for me was Donna trying on dresses for the wedding and describing herself in the violet shift as a sausage, dipped in cheap nail polish bursting at the seams!
Anne C. (Herndon, VA)
Not a funny book!
First of all, this book is NOT funny; it is not the satirical, laughable quick read about complications surrounding a wedding that you might expect from the cover, plot description, and marketing for the novel. I expected a humorous novel along the lines of Helen Fielding, Sophie Kinsella, or Jennifer Weiner. Instead, I struggled to find something admirable in the lives of four very dysfunctional people, Alice, her brother Paul, their mother Donna, and their half-sister Eloise, whose wedding they are invited to attend. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find extra-marital sex, alcohol and drug abuse funny; as a
…more straight woman, I don't care to read detailed descriptions of three gay men in a threesome (OK, I skipped over that part.) The characters are pathetic and their lives seem totally pointless and empty of any moral or ethical concerns. I cannot imagine who would enjoy this story. It is not a book I would ever recommend to my book club. The only positive comment I can make is that the book is actually very well written, with believable dialogue and brief but accurate descriptions of people and places. If the author could find a better plot that would engage the reader's interest, and write about characters that readers might feel some liking for rather than disgust, he could certainly write a better book than this one. (less)
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