A Book A Week

What makes a great book? I'm at that point in the year where I'm beginning to reflect on which of the many books I've read this year have been my favorite. Pondering the various titles I've consumed has left me considering what elements make up a great read. I think the essential pieces would be the same for most readers. In fact, in the ten years that I've reviewed every book that I've read, the key components of what makes a good read to me have remained unchanged. The best books have an intriguing plot, consistent pace, and most importantly strong characters. Bonus points go to any book that I can't shake thinking about when I finish it. With my reading year winding down, I didn't expect to have another book that would wow me to the point of considering it my top read of the year. But then my friends at Alfred A. Knopf sent me a copy of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It might just be the best book I've read this year. 

Sam and Sadie were an unlikely pair when they first met at the children's hospital. Sam was there recovering from a debilitating foot injury resulting from a horrific car crash. He hadn't spoken a word since he arrived. Sadie was there visiting her sister who was fighting a battle with cancer. There's a lot of downtime in the hospital. Recovering from an injury takes time, and Sam had plenty of it. As the healthy child in the family, Sadie also had a ton of time to herself. She encountered Sam playing Super Mario Bros, and the two started a conversation. Over the coming weeks and months, the pair became best friends, bonding over their love of video games. 

Years later their time together became nothing more than a memory. A childhood spat left a rift between Sam and Sadie, and they didn't speak to each other for years. The pair didn't reconnect again until a chance encounter on a subway platform thrust them back into each other's life. It was as if no time had passed at all. Their friendship rekindled, and the two college students joined forces to build upon their childhood obsession. They agree to make a game together. 

There are times when a book seems to come out of the ether to infiltrate our lives. Zevin's novel is that kind of book. I have a quiet familiarity with video games, but I would never dare to call myself a gamer. In fact, my Nintendo Switch is turned off much more frequently than it is turned on. As such, I began reading with a hint of trepidation. Was this material going to resonate with me? As I let Zevin's words take hold of my imagination, I quickly realized that my worries were unwarranted. You see, Zevin has written a novel that, at its core, is about friendship. We follow these characters through three decades of life, feeling companionship, exhilaration, frustration, and heartbreak. By the end, Sam and Sadie are completely known to us, as real as the people we know in our own lives. Zevin shifts perspectives between the main characters, ensuring the plot moves in a way that is authentic and ever-compelling. I was glued to the pages, experiencing the emotions of each moment along with the characters. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a big book filled with big ideas, all grounded through some of the most brilliantly crafted characters that I've ever read. I don't often heap universal praise on a novel, especially one as hyped as this one has been. In this case, though, I feel the praise is warranted. This is a great book.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.  

(2022, 55)