"Babbit" -Caitlin's View

So I got this book on Kindle for free and finished LOTR unexpectedly early during my Bahamian cruise and Kelli said it was enjoyable and pretty fast so I thought I'd give it a go!

GENERAL IMPRESSIONS: Kelli pretty much got the plot line covered. Babbit is just an average suburban-dwelling upper middle class Joe who can't escape his average suburban-dwelling upper middle class existence. As has often been the case during this challenge, I felt soooo frustrated by the main character's refusal to do anything about his own dissatisfaction. However, I felt much worse for Babbit than any other heroes because it seemed more like Babbit didn't even know how to escape even if he could. The book does an exceptional job of mocking the American Dream but like many anti-establishment novels, doesn't suggest a solution. Also, if Sinclair Lewis' satirical goal was critiquing obscenely repetitive, plot-less novels, he succeeded with flying stars.

SPOILER ALERT: There IS actually a happy ending. Sort of.

MUSINGS: Do authors intentionally make "adult life" exactly like high school or is it really like that?

GRADE SHEET:

Narrator's Likeability: A

Readability: B

Pace: A

Satisfying Ending: B (good but pretty rushed)

Ear for Language: A (props for giving white middle class follower-types their own dialect)

Timelessness: A-

Plot Structure: D