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That Not A Feeling (2000)

by Dan Josefson(Favorite Author)

3.27 of 5 Votes: 3

languge

English

genre

review 1: Mostly enjoyable and entertaining, though Wallace's blurb on the cover and Bissell's quote on the back led me to expect a bit more depth. Point of view shifts invariably between third-person omniscience and first-person limited — the story is presented as the protagonist's return to the therapy school and his retelling of certain events, but often jumps between characters, only to return to first-person when convenient. The plot was a bit dull at points, though energetic and engaging for the most part. I would tend to agree with some reviewers who say that a shorter novel may have been more effective; the conflict becomes obvious fairly early on — the school is in shambles, the headmaster is dying and erratic, and the kids are trying their best to better themselves wi... moreth little assistance from the broken system — and the majority of the novel is spent resting on this conflict, examining episodes which feed into the conflict with little forward action until the last few chapters, which ultimately see the maladies of the institution bear fruit. In sum, Josefson could have done equally effective work with fewer of these tangential third-person scenes.Furthermore, I feel as if Josefson had an opportunity to shed some light on deeper issues and spark some genuine discussion about behavior and how the average person perceives therapy, privatized education, and other secondary themes which permeate the novel. Rather, the novel is primarily focused on plot and character, much to this reader's dismay.Overall, a fun read that lacks the depth that would have warranted a higher rating. I could see this novel being popular among the Tumblr population and might recommend it to younger readers, but I would caution any of my colleagues or professors against reading it.
review 2: I mistakenly relied on the blurb from David Foster Wallace when choosing this book from the library. I'm glad I didn't buy it. There were enough passages that hinted at the possibility of a good book to keep hope alive and me reading to the end, only to be disappointed. I came away with the definite impression that this was the manufactured product of the right MFA and skillful networking within the publishing industry. Sigh. less

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