Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: How to be Alone

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WeAreWhatWeRead

Loved it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2016

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The blurb for this book pretty much says it all. I actually think that the essay form suits Franzen much better than the novel. Here, he can just tell us what he thinks without the need to invent characters and situations and write a whole novel as a vehicle for his ideas. As for the ideas themselves, love 'em or hate 'em, they are wonderfully written and sharply argued. The meditation on the role of the writer was intriguing; the insight into Oprah's book club was priceless; everything to do with his parents was deeply moving and just beautiful. Clever stuff. Top marks.

4 people found this helpful

Henry

Sloppy kindle edition

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 August 2016

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This is a review of the kindle edition only. It's littered with intrusive OCR errors, especially frequent confusion of "the" and "die". Clearly no-one at the publisher actually bothered to read the text before seliing it.

5 people found this helpful

60thenew40

It's complicated

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2018

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A very thoughtful view of aspects of being human and the effect on other humans. Modern life is interesting!

Uneasy Reader

Great writing from a great writer

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 September 2015

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Great writing from a great writer. Depressing reading for aspiring authors. Of historical interest now as many of the essays have been overtaken by events - for example his rift on young people and their texting habits - all well work reading nonetheless

2 people found this helpful

ladybird

Good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 November 2018

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I got into this straightaway I really enjoyed the first piece but I like all his work ...

Karen Langley

Alone is the new going out

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2018

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Love all of Franzens work

alice