Anna

This is a good book to read when you find yourself in a very specific income bracket (significantly more than you grew up in; slightly more than you'd expected; enough to be morally uncomfortable; not quite enough to take the edge of your moral discomfort via redistribution), which is likely where you are if the synopsis of this book appealed to you enough to read it. Otherwise it might seem a bit self-indulgent.

Loved it. Toews writes with wit and warmth and consistent humour that makes you giggle despite the uber-depressing subject matter. I loved how eloquent the characters were — I kept googling the authors and poems and tunes that they were referencing and added a bunch of books to my to-read list as a result, which always means extra props to the book.

I took a star off for all the parts where characters talked about their dreams — can't deal with this, my eyes immediately glaze over. I have yet to read a book where this is handled well/justified.