Search - Revolutionary Road

This was one of the most well written books I have ever read. The plot is very concise and flows seamlessly, so Yates has a lot of room to develop the characters. Heartbreak and restlessness seep through the pages, and the reader is left with one of the most memorable endings ever.

The book description sounded interesting, but I could not get into it. I wanted to see the movie, but decided to read the book first. If not for the movie, I would have put the book down. One of the main characters, Frank, is selfish and narcisistic. He is unfaithful to his wife many times and ends up breaking his last mistress' heart. I felt sorry for Alice, but then in the end, didn't feel too sorry for her as she ended up being almost as bad as Frank. She comes to the conclusion that she never loved him and she spends an evening in the back of a car with a man. Frank and Alice have a couple that they are good friends with (not really, but it is the couple they hang out with the most) and this is the man she has sex with in the car. His name is Shep. Shep decided a while ago that he worships Alice from afar...

The book also throughs in a couple that lives next door to Frank and Alice, Mr. & Mrs. Givings, who have a son who is committed to a sanitarium from time to time. Alice can't stand Mrs. givings, neither can Frank. this whole twiest to the story doesn't make sense and doesn't add much ro it, other than to help Frank think that Alice is possibly off her rocker herself, but doesn't get into that idea much...

Alice almost aborted her first child herself. A friend told her how to do it. Frank was so upset that she would even suggest doing this to their child. Alice wanted to end the child's life since she conceieved accidently too soon in their marriage. She ends up wanting to do the same thing to the third child. She had concocted a plan for their family to move to Europe and this fouled up their future. Frank still doesn't want her to abort the child, expecially herself. The safe window to do this is the first trimester. Frank ends up telling Alice about his most serious fling with Maureen. Alice told him he never should have said a thing. She tells him that she never loved him. While their two children are in the care of Milly, Alice performs the procedure (which is now past the supposed safety zone) on herself. She wrote a note to her husband, short one, in case she wouldn't survive. Of course, she doesn't. Bu she his the equipment so it looked like a miscarriage.

In the end, his wife Milly gossips to every new person, especially the ones who buy Frank and Alice's home, about Alice's death. Shep can't stand it when she does this.

I just had to read the book to get to the end. I don't think I'll go see the movie. I was so disappointed. I don't understand all the rage about the book or the movie. I have trouble with people who are in love with themselves and put themselves above others. I don't see how I can go watch the movie.

I wouldn't waste my time reading this book or seeing the movie if I were you.

Beautifully written, expressive story - I love how the author describes the emotions and thoughts of the characters. However, the characters are dreary, self-involved unhappy people who look down their noses at "regular" people, all the while living in denial of their own regular-ness. The story was an interesting and sad depiction of society.

ONE OF THE BEST NOVELS I HAVE EVER READ!

Richard Yates is brillant.

I saw the movie before I read this book. One problem I had with the movie was - I wanted to know what the characters were thinking and what their inner dialogue would be. I purchased the book with that hope, and it delivered. It helped lend insight into the characters' actions in the film. It is a quick read, and a really helpful compliment to the movie.

This book is wonderfully written... almost wonderfully enough to keep you interested but not quite. I love what I call 'quiet tragedies' but this one is just a little too stale. Add that to the fact that I saw the movie several months ago (and although slightly boring it only took a couple hours to endure) and the book goes along quite well with the movie so there were no suprises. Its not the worst book ever written but its not one you can read all at one time at a risk of being bored or depressed into a stupor.