The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth Mckenzie is a character study of two disparate people with dysfunctional families and their ability or inability to form a strong relationship. Parts are funny as stories about quirky people and dysfunctional families often are. Mostly though, the book is slow-moving and with many parts - for example, the squirrels, the appendices, and the pictures - that I just don't get.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2015/11/the-portable-veblen.html
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2015/11/the-portable-veblen.html
Reviewed for the Penguin First to Read program
Not even sure how to rate this one--three stars might be a little generous. First, the title is kind of odd. I wondered what a "Veblen" was. Once I learned that it was the first name of the main character, I then didn't understand why "portable" was part of the title--unless portable had another meaning other than the obvious. Nope--I googled it and there's only one definition (portable can be used as an adjective or noun but the meaning is still the same: something that can be easily carried or moved).
Second, while the author has some writing ability, it seems like she can't make up her mind if this is to be a light-hearted read or something more serious. The back of the dust jacket has reviews from other authors and some describe it as funny, hilarious. The only part that I would describe as passably funny is when Veblen was talking to a caged squirrel in a motel room, unaware that she had accidentally "butt answered" her cell phone which was on the bed. The call was from Paul, her fiance, who could hear her talking to the squirrel and thought she was talking to a man.
Third, I found the relationship between Paul and Veblen to be unbelievable. Veblen sounded like a bit of a "flower child" and had a temporary clerical position. Paul was a driven man whose main interest seemed in acquiring a big house, nice car, status, and recognition to prove he was a success. Yet, when he crossed paths with Veblen, he was quickly smitten even though she didn't have the pedigree, education, etc. that would befit a man of his (planned) position. Perhaps Paul's attraction to Veblen might have been understandable if Veblen was drop-dead gorgeous. However, I noticed that the author provided almost no physical descriptions of the humans in the book.
Most of the characters are completely unlikable--Veblen's mother, in particular. She was completely self-centered and a master of manipulation. And, Veblen was never strong enough to put her foot down to her mother. The unlikable characters don't make this a bad book but I really didn't care about most of them.
Fifth, Veblen's fascination and conversations with and about squirrels didn't seem to add anything meaningful to the story other than to suggest that Veblen was somewhat flaky.
Second, while the author has some writing ability, it seems like she can't make up her mind if this is to be a light-hearted read or something more serious. The back of the dust jacket has reviews from other authors and some describe it as funny, hilarious. The only part that I would describe as passably funny is when Veblen was talking to a caged squirrel in a motel room, unaware that she had accidentally "butt answered" her cell phone which was on the bed. The call was from Paul, her fiance, who could hear her talking to the squirrel and thought she was talking to a man.
Third, I found the relationship between Paul and Veblen to be unbelievable. Veblen sounded like a bit of a "flower child" and had a temporary clerical position. Paul was a driven man whose main interest seemed in acquiring a big house, nice car, status, and recognition to prove he was a success. Yet, when he crossed paths with Veblen, he was quickly smitten even though she didn't have the pedigree, education, etc. that would befit a man of his (planned) position. Perhaps Paul's attraction to Veblen might have been understandable if Veblen was drop-dead gorgeous. However, I noticed that the author provided almost no physical descriptions of the humans in the book.
Most of the characters are completely unlikable--Veblen's mother, in particular. She was completely self-centered and a master of manipulation. And, Veblen was never strong enough to put her foot down to her mother. The unlikable characters don't make this a bad book but I really didn't care about most of them.
Fifth, Veblen's fascination and conversations with and about squirrels didn't seem to add anything meaningful to the story other than to suggest that Veblen was somewhat flaky.
