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Less (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize)
Less (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize): A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
A struggling novelist travels the world to avoid an awkward wedding in this hilarious Pulitzer Prize-winning novel full of "arresting lyricism and beauty" (New York Times Book Review). WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE National Bestseller A New York Times Notable Book of 2017 A Washington Post Top Ten Book of 2017 A San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Book of 2017 Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, the Lambda Award and the California Book Award "I could not love LESS more."--Ron Charles, Washington Post "Andrew Sean Greer's Less is excellent company. It's no less than bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful."--Christopher Buckley, New York Times Book Review Who says you can't run away from your problems? You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can't say yes--it would be too awkward--and you can't say no--it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world. QUESTION: How do you arrange to skip town? ANSWER: You accept them all. What would possibly go wrong? Arthur Less will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Saharan sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and encounter, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. Through it all, there is his first love. And there is his last. Because, despite all these mishaps, missteps, misunderstandings and mistakes, Less is, above all, a love story. A scintillating satire of the American abroad, a rumination on time and the human heart, a bittersweet romance of chances lost, by an author The New York Times has hailed as "inspired, lyrical," "elegiac," "ingenious," as well as "too sappy by half," Less shows a writer at the peak of his talents raising the curtain on our shared human comedy.
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DebbieGrillo
Less | Andrew Sean Greer
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Bailedbailed

I listened to the first 75 minutes, and I just couldn't find anything to care about.

TheBookgeekFrau Fourth 1mo
OriginalCyn620 Fifth 1mo
dabbe #hailthebail! 🤩🤩🤩 1mo
62 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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I know there are a lot of mixed reviews on this one, but I really liked it. Arthur Less, about to turn 50, sets out to travel around the world to avoid the fact that the man he loves is about to marry someone else.
#12Booksof2023 @Andrew65

Andrew65 Excellent, not a book I‘ve heard of. 3mo
IndoorDame I love Less!!! 3mo
58 likes2 comments
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Mrs_B
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Not quite as moving as I was expecting based on other reviews but still enjoyable. I particularly liked the writing style where the author changed perspectives to subtly describe an event happening.

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LadyCait84
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Pickpick

Quick, funny, and tenderhearted.

I‘m excited to see the author speak at a local library in a few weeks.

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Tamra
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Mehso-so

Another paint to audiobook! I didn‘t relate to this novel and didn‘t find the MC likable, in fact I found him annoying. There is some arrested development - my armchair diagnosis. 😜

Guess that‘s why I am not a Pulitzer judge. 🤣🤣

Vansa I found this book deeply mediocre too. How does he fall in love so easily?!! Also I really really don't like the trope in any fiction, film or book, where the love interest marries someone else and then realises it was the protagonist all along. This was such an overhyped book 8mo
Tamra @Vansa agreed! I‘m glad I avoided it during the big hype. Several times I wanted to tell him to grow up and get over himself. Wallowing in self pity - I am over 50 and life has never been better! 😆 He viewed it like a terminal illness diagnosis. I‘m just not the target audience for the novel. (edited) 8mo
Vansa @Tamra oooh I had forgotten about his bizarre ageism as well - the way he wrote about 50 made it sound like he was over 100. My grandmother is in her early 90s and doesn't sound as paranoid about age as he does! Seriously wallowing in self pity, as you've put it! 8mo
Suet624 You just helped me to unstack a book. 7mo
Tamra @Suet624 I‘m sorry and not sorry. 😜 7mo
38 likes5 comments
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katcalvin
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Well it won a Pulitzer so don‘t take my word for it but this is a great book.

#pulitzer #novel

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Robotswithpersonality
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

I'll admit I went looking for a 'Secret Life of Walter Mitty' caper, but I'm charmed enough not to mind it turning out to be something quieter. Some ridiculous happenstances on the journey, but the narrative skirts both comically slapstick and tragically profound. More wry, less drama. Reflections on growing older, on relationships. A love story? You'll have to read to find out. 😉
⚠️ recreational drug use

CatMS This has been in my Kindle forever? Need to get around reading it. 10mo
Robotswithpersonality @CatMS and now there's a sequel! Ah, the never-ending TBR. 10mo
CatMS @Robotswithpersonality ain't that the truth! 10mo
10 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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From now on, I will be referring to all pastry crumbs as "buttered confetti". ??

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Robotswithpersonality
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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The man is LEAVING THE COUNTRY to avoid an awkward social engagement. I have never related to anything so hard in my LIFE.

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IndoorDame
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Do you think you can be a #mellowcharacter while being as neurotic as Less? Cause that‘s how he always struck me… I should really reread this one, it was SO much fun! #maymontage @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Perfect 👍🏼 10mo
69 likes1 stack add1 comment
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nanuska_153
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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I've been very bad at posting lately and I have a couple of reviews outstanding but I was updating my book journal and had to share this wonderful extract from Less ❤️

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CoffeeNBooks
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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This was tough, but Less won out as my favorite so far. 💙

AmyG I still have to read that one. 13mo
54 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Arthur is a failed novelist about to turn 50, his ex boyfriend is getting married and to avoid going to the wedding or admitting the defeat of just refusing he goes for a tour around the world to half-baked literary events. It took me a bit to get into this one, poor Arthur Less is so mediocre that it's difficult to engage with him, that's until you fall in love with him and with his half bothered ways and total lack of awareness and he starts ⬇️

nanuska_153 to figure himself out. I was there for him ❤️ I couldn't stop reading, because I needed to know that this absolutely lovable-unlovable character was going to be ok 13mo
61 likes1 comment
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Kristin_Reads
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

📖 2-11-23 || This is a soft pick for me. Pulitzer winner, dark humor, quick read. I can see why this gets mixed reviews. So many say they find Less unloveable yet I think that‘s entirely the point here. It‘s a story of Less coming to fully accept himself and his life in midlife and I suspect this is somewhat autobiographical.

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Leftcoastzen
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Just the dark comedy I needed.Arthur Less not only has a recent ex, the ex is getting married.The best way to evade the yes/no of the invite seems to be jumping into a worldwide literary tour.While Less travels, he ruminates on the state of his life & finds memories of other loves in his travels.When you are about to hit 50, you find you have more baggage than the kind that gets lost at the airport.Clever & well written.

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CoffeeNBooks
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Arthur Less is a failing author, who has a fairly boring life. Just as he's getting ready to turn 50, his on-again/off-again boyfriend announces that he's getting married to someone else. To avoid the wedding, Arthur accepts every speaking or teaching engagement he's been invited to in various cities and countries, and sets off around the world.
#LitsyLoveReads

79 likes1 stack add3 comments
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CoffeeNBooks
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Saturday morning #coffeeandabook
#Roll100

AmyG What a lovely photo. 1y
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wen4blu
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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“From where I sit, the story of Arthur Less is not so bad.“

#firstlinefridays
#currentlyreading

39 likes1 stack add
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Centique
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this tale of a mediocre novelist going to a bunch of overseas literary events & invites to avoid thinking about his problems. The writing was so good that it made it a quick read, although its a quiet slow moving novel in many ways. I know it‘s meant to be funny but I found it more wistful; Less is bumbling, naive and emotionally lost and his comments would make me smile - I think I felt too sympathetic for him to laugh maybe?

LeahBergen What a great review. 😊 1y
BiblioLitten I have been meaning to read this. This is one of those books that keeps appearing in my eye view at the library most of the time. 1y
Megabooks Fantastic review! 1y
See All 8 Comments
Reggie Nice! I liked this one, too. 1y
Centique Thank you, you kind and lovely people! @LeahBergen @Megabooks @Reggie 1y
Centique @BiblioLitten it‘s calling to you! I‘d say you‘d want to be in the mood for something a little quiet and wry. 👍 1y
CarolynM I loved this one. The sequel is good too 1y
Centique @CarolynM I think it was on my TBR thanks to your review! I do love these kinds of novels when you‘re in one protagonists life and they‘re intellectual/creative and you get to ponder along with them. Looking forward to that follow up 😍 1y
65 likes8 comments
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Rissa1
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Mehso-so

I absolutely loved the way the writing flowed through this book. I wish I loved the characters too.

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Rissa1
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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One of the trees in our home. It is not in its permanent home, it is leaning. I took the picture because Sherlock and Watson looked so cute napping next to it. #WinterReadathonDailyChallenge #WinterReadathon @Andrew65

Andrew65 Love this 🎄🎄🎄 1y
Reggie They look so comfy! 1y
36 likes2 comments
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Oldschool_millenial
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Just a gay at a Broadway show. Nothing to see here 🤣🤣🤣

Smrloomis 😂😂😂 1y
Kristin_Reads Currently reading this and that line made me spit out my coffee 😂 14mo
20 likes2 comments
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PaperbackPirate
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

I met one more #JubilantJuly goal today by reading this book.
I loved this adventurous story of Arthur Less, a gay middle-aged man who goes on a trip around the world to have an excuse to miss his ex‘s wedding.
The shifting pov and time frames were a challenge for me, but I still enjoyed riding along on Less‘s journey. It also won a #PulitzerPrize. Bonus points for #OwnVoices . Read if you like love stories.
👔👔👔👔

✅ 2/2 books
@Andrew65

Andrew65 Sounds a great read,well done 👏👏👏 2y
PaperbackPirate Thank you @Andrew65 ! 🙌 2y
58 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Shievad
Pickpick

Overall a very fun and whimsical read. This book started out great then took a dip in the middle with too much detail and slow pacing and then picked up again towards the end.

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PaperbackPirate
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Here‘s what I want to read this month!
🐠 Today I finished Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell - a brief and fascinating history of Hawaii, perfect for this Independence Day
🌊 The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, and Granta 115: The F Word (Feminism) for the #MonthlyKeyWordGXO challenge (June: sea, July: word)
🏳️‍🌈 (Tagged), and The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow for book club
📚 See any you‘ve read and loved?
#JulyTBR #tbr

51 likes1 stack add
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Charbs
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
Pickpick

I kept thinking I might not finish this book because it seemed a bit shallow… but the travels of Less draw you in as you realize the complexity of his character lies in his simple-ness. Recommend this as a summer read, brain break, on a long plane ride, or anywhere you can enjoy simply reading.

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merelybookish
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Finished up #20in4 with 12 hours of reading. Which included listening to this fun book. It was a bit cheesy and obvious but I still enjoyed traveling around the world with Arthur Less. Some clever writing and I did legit LOL.
@Andrew65

Andrew65 That‘s great, well done 👏👏👏🥳🍾🥂 Thanks for playing along. 2y
59 likes1 comment
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PhilipE
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

I loved this book. The writing is beautiful. In reading other reviews, I was amazed how people said they wanted to hate this book but couldn‘t. I‘m perplexed why they would come to a book wanting to hate it. The inner life of this character is Everyman. And especially every gay man. It‘s funny and tenderhearted and invites, once you‘ve finished, to want to start all over again.

readingjedi I loved this one too! 2y
CarolynM I loved it too. Funny, sad and ultimately hopeful. 2y
13 likes2 comments
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AlexThomas
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

enjoyed this as a light, quick read that packed a few hidden punches. Greer is a talented writer who is aware of his abilities. A lot of people seem to be going on about the humor in it and it is funny at times but it‘s a very superficial humor. Would recommend reading with a glass of white wine nearby.

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wallacereads
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

In order to avoid attending his ex-boyfriend‘s wedding, Author Less, a writer, decides to accept multiple invitations for literary events spread across the world. This is an hilarious and brilliant novel. A must read.

CarolynM 2y
26 likes1 comment
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Christinak
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Next up from #mountTBR

20 likes1 stack add
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mollyrotondo
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was my second time reading this book. I really enjoyed this story and found myself really choking up at some of the relationship moments and moments when other people put down Less‘s writing career. The reflections on how other people would define Less or define his feelings but never would let Less define himself also really spoke to me. Book club discussion was also excellent!

49 likes1 stack add
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rachaich
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Bailedbailed

Nope. Not for me.
Gave it 80 pages but have no interest or thoughts on him so am bailing...

MrT Yup. The writing style was terrible. He won the Pulitzer price for that? 2y
rachaich @MrT I know!!! I don't seem to get on with the Pulitzer prize-winning books... 2y
26 likes2 comments
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rachaich
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Random library pick...
Has promising reviews from you guys!

Sophronisba Oh, I really loved this when it first came out. He's writing a sequel, it might be out this year. 2y
23 likes1 comment
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Karkar
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

This was not what I was expecting. It drew me in and then I had to know what Less was going to do.

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sprainedbrain
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

My copy of Less is an ARC that has languished on my shelf for years because it just seemed a little bland… even after it won the freaking Pulitzer. 😆

Surprise! I absolutely loved this book. SO FUNNY (literally LOL funny) at times, but also very honest and sad. Lovely writing and I just love Arthur completely. His self-deprecating, middle aged wandering confusion, denial, and haplessness, and all of the people he meets! Brilliant.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

sprainedbrain @Reggie you were, as usual, right: I was more than ok with this one. 2y
Decalino I really loved this one! 2y
CarolynM I loved it too. The perfect blend of funny, sad and hopeful. 2y
See All 13 Comments
Reggie Yayyyy!!!! I‘m so glad! I get the backlash at the time, but nevertheLESS, see what I did there, I still loved it. OR I still couldn‘t love it any LESS. Lol 2y
vivastory @Reggie Ba dum tss 😂 2y
sprainedbrain @Reggie 😂😂😂 2y
DivineDiana I gave this book one of my very few 5 star ratings! Loved it! 2y
BiblioLitten Whenever I go to the library, this book just keeps peeping at me. I have read the blurb so many times and kept it back. That‘s it, I‘m reading it this year😄 2y
ItsAngel Well, maybe I need to try it too. I also have an ARC that‘s been on my shelf for years, but I always pass over it because it looks SOOOO bland. 😂 2y
sprainedbrain @ItsAngel ANGEL!!! I almost tagged you in this because you sent me this book!! but you have been gone sooooo long. Miss you 😘 2y
ItsAngel @sprainedbrain JENNY!!! 😬 I‘m back around!! Have you read Anxious People? I loved it so much!! And I missed you too!!!! 2y
sprainedbrain @ItsAngel I have not read that one, but people with good taste keep telling me it‘s good… so I guess I should. 2y
ItsAngel @sprainedbrain I highly recommend the audiobook…it‘s read by Marin Ireland and she does a phenomenal job! Aside from having a great narrator, this is the best book I‘ve read in…I‘m not sure how long. I laughed, I cried, had all the feels. 2y
108 likes3 stack adds13 comments
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candority
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Panpan

This won the Pulitzer? A novel where basically nothing happens and there is absolutely no character growth? I must be missing something, as other reviewers have called this book clever, emotional and beautifully written, while also referring to Arthur Less as loveable and fascinating. I think we must have read different books.

This was my #BookSpin pick for December. @TheAromaofBooks

TrishB I didn‘t even finish it! 2y
candority @TrishB I was very tempted to give up several times! 2y
TheAromaofBooks I've seen so many raving reviews for this one but every time I read the synopsis I just can't imagine myself enjoying it 2y
See All 8 Comments
Scochrane26 I liked it but didn‘t think it was very funny. But a librarian I was in book club with thought it was hilarious. 🤷‍♀️ 2y
sprainedbrain This book has been on my shelf for years and I‘ve finally put it on my 2022 list for a challenge… and I‘m positively dreading it. 😂 2y
KatieB I was so disappointed too. Felt like I was missing something! 2y
Reggie Ummm, Lolol, as usual me and you are total opposites. I just think it was a love letter to literature because he has these hidden and not so hidden homages to other works. Also, we always got the gay man whose life was cut short by HIV. This was one of the firsts where he‘s doing ok in his middle age and floundering in his love life. And he‘s not perfect by any means. @sprainedbrain you‘ll be ok. 2y
youneverarrived I didn‘t mind it but definitely didn‘t get all the hype around it! 2y
77 likes8 comments
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markatong
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Less gave me a lot of positive feelings! It is worth noting that the pop music and literature references are on point!

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Victoria_Clyne
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Mehso-so

I think I loved the idea of this book more than the actual book. Arthur is invited to his ex-lovers wedding, rather than go he plans an elaborate excuse involving a round the world trip.

Whilst I enjoyed the descriptions of international travel and experiences I wasn't that engaged by the main character.

TamTracy I wasn‘t a huge fan either. 3y
Victoria_Clyne @TamTracy Glad its not just me. 3y
Scochrane26 I liked this one but didn‘t find it as funny as other people did. 3y
thegreensofa That‘s exactly how I felt about it too 3y
30 likes4 comments
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fredthemoose
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Gay writer goes on a trip around the world to escape the wedding of a former lover. A bit of a twist on Eat, Pray, Love in a way. I enjoyed it. The audiobook was a great companion for some weekend cooking and yard work.

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GatheringBooks
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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#FallTreasures Day 9: For all intents and purposes, Arthur Less, protagonist in this story, was not really suffering from #MidLifeCrisis. He was described by other characters in the book as having a Peter Pan vibe to him, as if he has never truly grown up. There is a subtle innocence to him that is totally guileless, mildly irritating, but generally harmless. My full review: https://wp.me/sDlzr-beauty

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 👍🏻📚🖤 3y
Eggs 🥰👍🏼📚 3y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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rwmg
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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review
bthegood
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Loved this book - sweet, funny, insightful - enjoyed it from start to finish.

#TBR #ReadingUpdate #CurrentlyReading

CarolynM Me too. It's a delight. 3y
bthegood @CarolynM 😊 👍 3y
30 likes2 comments
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bthegood
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Every time I hesitate adding a book to my #TBR list ( saying to myself "Will I get to it? There are already so many on the list." ) I smile.....it's a virtual list..... and I add the book.?
(Picture from WordPress)

Ruthiella Virtual lists are the best! They don‘t take up any space for me either physically or psychologically. 😀 3y
bthegood @Ruthiella 👍😊 3y
32 likes2 comments
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bthegood
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Thx to @rwmg for reviews about Less - loving it!!

Reading books from varied genre's - and enjoying the variety -

#TBR #ReadingUpdate #CurrentlyReading

Make a great day everyone.

rwmg Glad you're enjoying it 3y
bthegood @rwmg 😊 3y
20 likes2 comments
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SkeletonKey
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Two popular, high demand books came in for me at the library but all I want to read right now are Very Queer Books. 🙃

Sneaking in this gay Pulitzer Prize winner before I try to tackle the other stuff because I like to live dangerously with my late fines.

#lgbtq

DivineDiana This is a good one! 3y
SkeletonKey @DivineDiana - I got sucked in pretty quickly! 3y
32 likes2 comments
review
rwmg
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

Arthur Less sets off on a series of professional and personal trips that will take him right round the world to mark his 50th birthday and avoid his ex's wedding to someone else.

The comedy is mainly of the hapless traveller abroad type, but Greer tells it well so there were lots of genuine LOL set pieces. It helped that I found Arthur very likeable, though I can see he would get on some people's nerves, and I was pleased for him at the ending.

Reggie My favorite part of this book is the whole Agatha Christie, people keep dropping out of the birthday party, and then there were none portion. I just thought it was cute and hilarious. 3y
CarolynM Lovely review. I loved Less, the book and the character. So sweet and funny. 3y
32 likes2 comments