“What is a game?” Marx said. “It’s tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It’s the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.”
Title: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Link to book: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
To be fair, the slow burn friendship-romance genre (Normal People, One Day) is not really my thing. But there was so much hype around this book, even Bill Gates had it on his reading list, I had to give it a go!
“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” is a compelling narrative that traverses the intricate landscape of friendship, love, and the complexities of the gaming industry. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s, the story follows the lives of Sam Masur and Sadie Green, two adolescents who find solace and camaraderie in the midst of adversity.
The novel opens in a pediatric hospital where Sam and Sadie first meet. Both grappling with personal tragedies, they forge an unlikely bond that transcends the confines of their shared circumstances. As they navigate the challenges of adolescence, their friendship deepens, offering them a sense of belonging and companionship amidst the uncertainty of their respective futures.
One of the novel’s most compelling aspects is its exploration of the gaming industry and its impact on personal relationships. As Sam and Sadie navigate the challenges of building a successful company, they grapple with questions of creative control, ethical responsibility, and the true meaning of success. Through their journey, the authors offer a thought-provoking commentary on the intersection of art, commerce, and morality in the digital age. I’m not a gamer and neither have I started my own company, so there is a lot I couldn’t empathize with too.
Firstly, I must say, the novel started out really strong. I found myself engrossed in it, so invested in Sam and Sadie and dying to know what happened next! However, it lost its steam towards the middle. Spoiler alert! And I know it’s part of the drama, but I hate it when an author kills off someone for no good reason. Like a car accident. Or someone suddenly has cancer. You get the drift. The chance of that kind of thing happening is so slim, you can do better than that! The middle-end of the story becomes quite soapy and loses the zest it had in the beginning for me.
While the novel ultimately reaches a somewhat satisfying conclusion, it was quite predictable and a bit too unbelievable. After all that has happened?! Adding more complexity or ambiguity to the resolution, perhaps by exploring the lingering consequences of past conflicts or unresolved tensions between the characters, could add depth and nuance to the story’s conclusion.
Giving Zevin credit where it is due, the novel is very well-written and the prose is captivating. Overall, it is still a good read. If you’re a gamer, or you have tried starting your own company, you’d definitely get more out of this. Nonetheless, it does a good job portraying the complexities of friendship and romance over time.
P.s. This is definitely going to be made into a movie.