** spoiler alert ** I wasn't sure what to expect from Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, but I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this story which kept me very engaged. On the surface, it's a tale about two friends making video games together for most of their young adulthood, but it's so much more than that; it's a rich exploration of their lives, relationships, and personal growth.
The characters of Sam and Sadie are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their journeys. I loved how Sam and Sadie met as tweens and was heartbroken over their misunderstanding which resulted in a long break in their initial friendship. There is SO much to unpack here, I can't do this review justice. The story picks up as Sadie and Sam find each other again and their saga takes off as they play, design, and promote games over the course of thirty years.
There are other pieces of their lives woven into the main story: what happened to Sam's foot and the part his disability played on his relationship with Sadie; Sadie's relationships with other men, and how one of her early and impressionable love affairs with her mentor shaped her world as a gaming architect; Sadie's love affair with Sam's roommate Marx, who was not only the producer of the video games they created, but who tried to keep the peace when Sadie and Sam argued and disagreements about the games they were designing and over their own personal friendships. Lastly I enjoyed the other minor but still-meaningful characters throughout their lives that lent insight to all of their complex situations. Messy, just like in real life.
As a child of the 80's (GenX) I also enjoyed how Zevin's use of video games as a platform to explore the human experience added a nostalgic touch for those of us who grew up playing games (Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc). The book also tackles heavy topics like disability, depression, gun violence, death and loss, difficult relationships, and personal identity in a subtle and thoughtful way making for a beautiful and emotional read.
The characters of Sam and Sadie are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become invested in their journeys. I loved how Sam and Sadie met as tweens and was heartbroken over their misunderstanding which resulted in a long break in their initial friendship. There is SO much to unpack here, I can't do this review justice. The story picks up as Sadie and Sam find each other again and their saga takes off as they play, design, and promote games over the course of thirty years.
There are other pieces of their lives woven into the main story: what happened to Sam's foot and the part his disability played on his relationship with Sadie; Sadie's relationships with other men, and how one of her early and impressionable love affairs with her mentor shaped her world as a gaming architect; Sadie's love affair with Sam's roommate Marx, who was not only the producer of the video games they created, but who tried to keep the peace when Sadie and Sam argued and disagreements about the games they were designing and over their own personal friendships. Lastly I enjoyed the other minor but still-meaningful characters throughout their lives that lent insight to all of their complex situations. Messy, just like in real life.
As a child of the 80's (GenX) I also enjoyed how Zevin's use of video games as a platform to explore the human experience added a nostalgic touch for those of us who grew up playing games (Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, etc). The book also tackles heavy topics like disability, depression, gun violence, death and loss, difficult relationships, and personal identity in a subtle and thoughtful way making for a beautiful and emotional read.
