Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

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Feb 23

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin

my review : ✮✮✮✮

Was there a more beloved book in 2022? The “Best Of” in every store I visited featured this gorgeously captivating cover. The premise (at least what I understood it to be) was one I admittedly didn’t think I cared about: two friends making a video game. Video games are about as foreign to me as the rules of soccer and how to make a cheesecake. While I’ve dabbled in video games like Mary Kate & Ashley Sweet Sixteen License to Drive & Barbie Horse Adventure, I am incredibly ignorant when it comes to the world of gaming (this is probably quite obvious to you reading those titles). Yet, I decided to give this book a whirl, and I’m glad I did.
This story is, of course, about so much more than the making of a single video game. It’s about decades of friendship, love, loss, ambition, ego, trauma, and play.

When I heard from people who’ve read this book, they fall into two categories
1. This might be my favorite book, ever
2. I couldn’t get into it… what is the hype all about?

I find myself somewhere in the middle. I found the writing to be superb, the character development to be exceptional, and the world that Sam & Sadie inhabit to be addicting. I couldn’t put this book down, which to me, is a sign of an exceptional novel. I also couldn’t fully get into the technicalities of video gaming.

I think this will be an excellent movie, and I believe it to be an excellent book. I cried from time to time and found myself re-reading some quotes that I found especially profound or moving which doesn’t happen to me often. Overall, I would recommend this to those who are on the fence, but I find the argument some readers make that the impressiveness of the book will be enough for a gaming luddite to get sucked into the story to be a bit misleading.

To me, this is a story of love & passion. At its face, that may sound like a romance novel, but the love in these pages is the purest form of platonic love, and the passion is really for the work the characters get lost in.

I am left with an appreciation for video games, but I did get a bit lost in the weeds at times.

I think this is a fascinating book club book. If you go that route, I’d serve the Donkey Kong Cocktail… 2 oz. Banana Liqueur, 1 oz. Coconut Rum, 6 oz. Coca-cola.. sounds insane but also delicious. 🤪