UGGGGHHHH.

This book truly made me feel like tearing my hair out. I simply did not find it funny at all. In fact, for at least 280 pages, I could not detect ANY positive qualities in the characters. The protagonist's insulting and sexist babble was only complemented by the enabling and weak-willed behavior of the female lead.

The book jacket had promised insights into the human condition, but one has to wait until the end to get to these. This is where the essence of the book lies - it took a turn, and someone needed to take action. The gripping showdown enables us to reflect upon obsessive love, loss, self-deception, and how one can stay with someone they love when all rationality dictates otherwise.

These insights are altogether rather depressing as they attempt to answer some tragic questions. When we care for others, are we truly helping, or are we blinded by our own love? And who is really delusional? It is a bizarre read that strangely became similar to stories of mental illness and addiction ruining relationships. It is unexpected and quite weird.

Overall, it was a rather challenging and somewhat disturbing read that left me with a lot to think about.

I really hated the main character in this book.

To be honest, I didn't like or understand any of the other characters either.

It seemed that the author failed to create characters that could engage or resonate with me.

After reading about two thirds of it, I finally gave up.

The story just didn't hold my interest anymore.

I do not recommend this book to anyone.

If you're looking for a book with well-developed characters and an engaging plot, this is definitely not the one for you.

Save your time and money and choose something else.

There are plenty of great books out there waiting to be discovered.

I picked this up on Friday with the intention of reading approximately 50 pages or so. However, to my surprise, I wound up reading well over half the book in one sitting. It was truly and thoroughly enjoyable.

The narrator in this book is one that you love to hate, which adds an interesting layer to the story. The dark humor throughout the book is both engaging and thought-provoking. Additionally, there is lots of great wordplay that keeps the reader entertained and on their toes.

I had the opportunity to meet Tim O'Brien in a writing class during my college days. But I hadn't read too much of his work because most of it is centered around war, which is not my favorite topic of interest. However, after reading this book, I do believe that I may have to give some of his other works a shot. I'm curious to see what else he has to offer and how his writing style may vary across different themes and topics.

Good read

This is an article that offers an engaging and interesting read. It presents various ideas and concepts that capture the reader's attention from the very beginning. The content is well-structured, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Each section builds upon the previous one, leading the reader on a journey of discovery. The language used is simple yet effective, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. Whether you are looking for entertainment, knowledge, or inspiration, this article has something to offer. It is a great choice for those who enjoy spending their time reading and exploring new ideas. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this good read.

I vacillated between 3 and 4 stars. In fact, for me, it was probably a 3.5 star rating. I have a great love for Tim O’Brien. However, this particular work wasn't among my absolute favorites.

I really enjoyed the first half-ish of the story. But as the narrative progressed, I began to have a growing dislike for the main character, Thomas Chippering. (This might sound like a strange thing to say, but to me, the character seemed to have more of a British feel than an American one.)

Despite that, I have to admit that I did think the ending presented an interesting twist. It was something that I didn't anticipate at all. And it managed to bring the whole story full-circle, which I truly appreciated. It was a redeeming factor that added an extra layer of depth and satisfaction to the overall reading experience.

All in all, while this wasn't my top pick from Tim O’Brien, it still had its moments and offered an engaging enough read.

I am not very discerning when it comes to my love for this book. Anything that involves pretentious know-it-alls, Jesus complexes, and manic revenge vacations basically has me at its very first loquacious and inverted explanation.

It's truly remarkable how these elements can draw me in so effortlessly.

In this way, I almost appreciate it more than The Things They Carried because it is so desperately and unapologetically frail. It doesn't have the force of O'Brien's other works, but rather pulls the smaller train wrecks of neuroses out of the ordinary.

The narrator, being a linguistics professor, enables the text to form tangents with ease. However, as long as those rambling trains of thought lead to actions like taking a vacation with his girlfriend to his ex-wife's state to execute revenge plots, I'm not complaining.

This unique combination of a complex narrator and his somewhat unorthodox actions makes the story both captivating and engaging.

It's a departure from the norm, and yet, it manages to hold my attention from start to finish.

I find myself constantly eager to see where the next tangent will lead and how the narrator's actions will unfold.

Overall, this book has a certain charm that sets it apart from others, and I can't help but be drawn to its flawed yet fascinating characters and storylines.

From James:

I can't believe I managed to read the entire thing. Usually, I'm the kind of person who gives up on books that I'm not enjoying. However, this one was like a train wreck; I simply couldn't tear my eyes away. By that, I don't mean the quality of the writing. Instead, I'm referring to the main character, Tom. As is often the case, O'Brien leads the reader along with half-truths until the very end. But this time, I just felt as if I was being manipulated.

Here are two passages that summarize the book:

- From page 176: Even in the most ordinary circumstances, human love is a complex and mysterious phenomenon, almost impossible to analyze. But in my own unique case, the ordinary complications of love seemed to have been multiplied by an almost infinite factor. On one hand, I loved Lorna Sue completely and absolutely. On the other hand, there was the reality of my ledger. Between these two extremes lay the force field of my individuality, that constant internal struggle we call "character." (I was not a simple Lothario; I was complex.) I longed for steadfast, eternal love, as represented by the unwavering fidelity of one woman, but at the same time, I wanted to be desired by everyone, without exception. I wanted to have my cake and eat it too, so to speak, and also covet the occasional cupcake.

- And from page 322: Old facts, new spin.

I truly appreciate O'Brien's writing style. Instead of this book, I would recommend reading his more famous works: The Things They Carried and Going after Cacciato first. Then, if you can handle it, you might find Tomcat in Love enjoyable.

EXACT RATING: 2.75 stars

The book features an unreliable narrator to the extreme, and this was by far my favorite aspect of it. The way the narrator's perspective constantly shifts and distorts the truth adds an element of mystery and intrigue that kept me engaged throughout. However, while the humor in the book was decent at times, it wasn't enough to make the overall reading experience truly enjoyable. There were moments when I found myself laughing out loud, but these were few and far between. Overall, I would say that the book has its strengths, but it also has its flaws. If you're a fan of unreliable narrators and don't mind a bit of a disjointed reading experience, then this book might be worth checking out. But if you're looking for a lighthearted and enjoyable read, you might want to look elsewhere.

I managed to finish it astonishingly quickly. However, I sort of loathed all of the characters.

Particularly the main character or narrator, and this feeling persisted even after the redemptive arc towards the end.

I gave it three stars because, despite my intense dislike for the characters, it still had some sort of hold on me that kept me reading.

Perhaps it was the mystery that was gradually unfolding or the anticipation of seeing how the story would ultimately conclude.

Whatever the reason, it was a strange reading experience where I found myself simultaneously hating the characters yet unable to put the book down.

The redemptive arc at the end did little to change my overall opinion of the characters, but it did add a layer of complexity to the story.

Overall, it was an average read that had its moments but failed to truly win me over.

"Tam Kat in a Thousand Loves"

The pen of the author and the magnificence of the story really attracted me.
The theme of the work was also interesting, but the rhythm of the story was very slow and it had a lot of distractions and redundancies.
If the book was condensed into two hundred pages and a better thought was given to its ending, it could be an excellent work.

The author's pen reminded me in many places of one of my favorite books, that is, Henderson the Rain King.

My actual score for the book is three and a half.

Baffling.

This is not O'Brien's best work by any means, yet it remains very readable.

From the very beginning, I found myself in a state of confusion.

I simply could not figure out if this piece was supposed to be a comedy or something more serious.

The tone seemed to shift back and forth, leaving me constantly guessing.

There were moments that had a comical undertone, with witty remarks and humorous situations.

However, just as I was starting to think it was a light-hearted comedy, there would be a sudden turn that made me question if there was a deeper, more serious message hidden within.

Despite this ambiguity, I couldn't help but keep reading.

The story had a certain charm that pulled me in and made me want to see where it would lead.

Even though I never fully understood its true nature, I still found enjoyment in the reading experience.

Perhaps that is the beauty of O'Brien's writing - the ability to create something that is both puzzling and engaging at the same time.

Just silly.

I have a great love for Tim O’BRIEN. His works have always been a source of inspiration and deep thought for me.

However, this particular piece is truly not worthy of him. It lacks the depth, the nuance, and the masterful storytelling that we have come to expect from his pen.

It seems almost rushed, as if it was not given the time and care that it deserved.

I am disappointed, to say the least. I had high hopes for this, but unfortunately, it has fallen far short.

Tim O’BRIEN is capable of so much more, and I hope that in the future, he will return to the form that made him one of my favorite authors.

Until then, I will continue to hold his previous works in the highest regard and look forward to the day when he once again wows us with his talent.