“Less” is an odd little tale of a man turning 50 traveling the world to escape the wedding of his younger lover to another man. Arthur Less has many odd characteristics that make his story endearing, and these were the main reason I continued reading. He is clumsy, oblivious, honest, fearful, self-deprecating, and stubborn. He exemplifies the clueless American traveling the world, and the book does a fine job showcasing the wide variety of countries and cultures he encounters. Less is relatable and innocent in a way I cannot quite describe.

Despite all that, to be honest, I’m not sure if I liked this book or not. It was bizarre, plodding, at times uninteresting, and unlike anything I’ve read before. I felt awkward reading it, which perhaps was the point. Less himself is awkward and bumbling, so my feeling so as I read was maybe by the author’s design. Maybe someone better able to relate to the main character would have a different experience. I am not a gay, 50-year-old, struggling novelist, but maybe you are. If so, please enlighten me on why this book won the Pulitzer, because I just didn’t see it.

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Created Aug 20, 2019 at 8:52pm • Submit your own review...