Revolutionary Road

by Richard Yates | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 9780739359372 Global Overview for this book
Registered by indygo88 of Lafayette, Indiana USA on 1/29/2010
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
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8 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, January 29, 2010
"In the hopeful 1950s, Frank and April Wheeler appear to be a model couple: bright, beautiful, talented, with two young children and a starter home in the suburbs. Perhaps they married too young and started a family too early. Maybe Frank's job is dull. And April never saw herself as a housewife. Yet they have always lived on the assumption that greatness is only just around the corner. But now that certainty is about to crumble.

With heartbreaking compassion and remorseless clarity, Richard Yates shows how Frank and April mortgage their spiritual birthright, betraying not only each other, but their best selves."

Forgot to register this earlier! Think I acquired this one through PBS. (Unabridged on 9 CD's; read by Mark Bramhall)

Journal Entry 2 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, January 29, 2010
You want to dislike this book because it's so depressing, but it's also so well written & true-to-life that you can't help but appreciate it. Or at least that was the case for me. I saw the movie last year & remember thinking the same thing...such a sad & depressing storyline. But it really captures the essence of the time & the realistic struggles of a young married couple. I hate to say it, but I really could see a lot of myself in this one. Something to think about.

Journal Entry 3 by indygo88 from Lafayette, Indiana USA on Friday, January 29, 2010
Adding to carlissa's audio bookbox.

Journal Entry 4 by wingKateKintailwing from Burke, Virginia USA on Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Taking this out of carlissa's audio bookbox. Thank you!

Journal Entry 5 by wingKateKintailwing at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Monday, January 11, 2016

Released 8 yrs ago (1/10/2016 UTC) at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending this off in BigJohnLefty's other audio bookbox. I hope it finds a new reader who'll love it :-)

Journal Entry 6 by wingKateKintailwing at Burke, Virginia USA on Monday, January 11, 2016
This book reminded me of two other books I dislike: The Great Gatsby and The Bridges of Madison County. There are pretty much no likeable characters in this book. Some you can stand just because they're not as bad as others. Some you hate just because they are so damn normal you can't help relating to them. But there's no one you really like. There isn't even much that the characters themselves like--no goal, no dreams. Just people living in this place and time and what they get up to... and what happens when it goes horribly wrong (as it absolutely must, because some of these people are terrible... terrible and realistic). The book is also pretty misogynistic at times (I like to think of large portions of it as a male fantasy).

The one thing that kept me reading was how absolutely beautiful the words were. It was magic the way the words came together so incredibly well to form such startlingly gorgeous pictures of life and truth, of observations that opened my eyes and revealed secrets. I adored the words.

I just wish the words had come together as a whole to make a story and characters I could also enjoy.

The book absolutely lost me at the portion where April is telling her husband she wants to move to France and get a job to support him to give him time just to think and find himself and be himself, because he's the most amazing thing in the world. "What's that?" he asks. "Oh, don't you know?" she replies. "You're the most special thing ever. You're a man!" ugh.

The end was pretty shocking and sad. I just wanted to hug the kids. That's pretty much all I felt--sad about human nature and a desire to hug the poor kids. Oh, and relief when the book was over. I'd hoped to see the movie... but now I'm not sure I want to.

Journal Entry 7 by keno-mom at Georgetown, Texas USA on Tuesday, March 8, 2016
I was going to take this book out of BigJohn's bookbox, however, I hate stories bout privileged people whining about how crappy their lives are. I've read the other journal postings and this is not the book for me, will be putting back in the box and adjusting the notebook accordingly.

Journal Entry 8 by Macaufan at Miami, Florida USA on Friday, October 7, 2016
Taking out of the audio bookbox.

Journal Entry 9 by wingAzukiwing at Miami, Florida USA on Saturday, April 7, 2018
Totally agree with what everybody said. It's a hard book to like because there is no likable character and not much of a plot to speak of; and honestly even with a plot I don't feel I care what happen to the characters anyway. The only good thing about the book is the beautiful language, and how once in a while a sentence rings so true it touches my heart. The reader did a great job portraying different characters too: the desperate April, the nervous Mrs. Givings, the talkative Mrs. Campbell...

That said, I went on Amazon, and the book enjoys a high rating there. Supposedly this book was written in the 60s and really captured the frustration and limited life of suburban housewives in that era. Ahem, guess I miss that. And I still don't like the book more...

Journal Entry 10 by wingAzukiwing at Bookcrossing Convention Bordeaux 2018 in Bordeaux, Aquitaine France on Thursday, April 19, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (4/20/2018 UTC) at Bookcrossing Convention Bordeaux 2018 in Bordeaux, Aquitaine France

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

The Americans don't seem to like this much, so I am taking this to the BC con. Maybe it will find some readers who enjoy it? After all, it has gotten excellent critical acclaim.

Hi! How wonderful you've found one of my books! Thank you so much for checking out the journal. I would really appreciate if you can take a moment to let me know you have it now. Trust me, it'll totally make my day to hear from one of my "wild" books.

Bookcrossing is a wonderful online community of book lovers dedicated to sharing books with each other and the world at large. We are also curious to see how far and wide our books can travel. I would appreciate if you can make a journal entry on this book so we know where the book has been. You don't have to set up an account.

Feel free to keep this book, return it to where you found it, or pass it on to the next reader. If you sign up as a member, you will hear from the book as it travels and gets journaled. Feel free to explore the BookCrossing site, and visit our forum to meet other booklovers. Membership is confidential, free, and spam-free. Happy reading!

Journal Entry 11 by wingearthcaroleannewing at Bordeaux, Aquitaine France on Friday, April 27, 2018
This was left on the book buffet so I've brought it home to create an audio book box.

Journal Entry 12 by wingearthcaroleannewing at Falkirk, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Sorry Azuki, I'm afraid this hasn't got off to a great start in the UK. I really did not like any of the characters and couldn't have cared less about them. Considered giving up half way through but gave up on your last audio book too, so I kept going (unfortunately).

Journal Entry 13 by wingearthcaroleannewing at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, September 1, 2018

Released 5 yrs ago (9/1/2018 UTC) at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Adding to my 10th Bookiversary bookbox.

Journal Entry 14 by wingPlum-crazywing at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, September 3, 2018
Rec'd in a lovely box of audio books to celebrate earthcarolanne's 10 years at Bookcrossing :o)

(BTW I'm very happy to see in KateKintail's review that she disliked "The Great Gatsby" I thought I was the only one who felt that way - though to be fair I think loathed would fit my feelings better!)

Journal Entry 15 by wingPlum-crazywing at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, April 10, 2021
We listen to audiobooks in the car but as our new model doesn't have a cd player in it, I'm planning to offer this as a RABCK - if it's not taken will probably release to an LFL.

Journal Entry 16 by Nataliec7 at Barry, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Thanks for sending Plum. Sorry for delayed journal entry, I’ve been away.

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