La mia lettura è stata eccessivamente lenta, penalizzata da troppe soste e inframezzata da molti altri libri. A ogni modo, forse qualche responsabilità appartiene anche al libro stesso, che con la sua struttura che procede per quadri separati invita alle pause. Va comunque detto che la lettura psicologica dei personaggi - e in parte dell'epoca e del mondo del lavoro di allora - è davvero acuta. ( )

Acclaimed as a masterpiece of realistic fiction adapted to screen as well, it fell flat for me as a reader. Life in the suburbs circa 1950s, the characters are dull, plot predictable and emotion missing in action. Obviously my opinion is in the minority but I had high hopes. With our libraries in CA closed, I trudged through it each day hoping for more. Fortunately my neighbor got rid of some books and my Kindle Fire HD 8 arrives tomorrow! Hope everyone is well, safe and smiling! ( )

Ambientada en 1955, la novela se enfoca en las aspiraciones de Frank y April Wheeler, un matrimonio que vive en un suburbio en Connecticut y que se considera sumamente diferentes de sus demás vecinos en el residencial Revolutionary Hill Estates. La novela comienza con la preparación y puesta en escena de una producción amateur de la obra teatral The Petrified Forest, la cual es protagonizada por April. Sin embargo, la producción termina siendo un fracaso. Después del estreno de la producción, Frank y April tienen una pelea al lado de una autopista.

Tratando de salir de sus vidas suburbanas, April convence a Frank de mudarse a París, en donde ella trabajaría para sustentar a la familia mientras él decidía que hacer de su vida. El plan del viaje a Francia ayuda a solucionar los problemas maritales temporalmente. Sin embargo, mientras que April se esfuerza por concretar el plan, Frank no parece estar tan entusiasmado con la idea. Cuando ella descubre que está embarazada por tercera vez, el plan tiene que ser cancelado, aunque Frank parece estar contento con esto porque disfruta de las alabanzas de sus jefes en el trabajo y porque ha empezado a identificarse con su trabajo mundano como oficinista.

April, abrumada por la situación e incapaz de continuar con su vida como ama de casa por un tiempo indefinido, trata de realizarse un aborto, pero comienza a desangrarse y muere después de ser trasladada a un hospital. Frank, cargado de pena y culpa, se aísla dentro de sí mismo y continúa con su trabajo.

An amazing, amazing writer. The story of the main characters, of every character in the book, is so real and so beautiful. The dialogue was written so well. And I adore the humor of this book. And the emotional stakes. And everything. ( )

“Being alone has nothing to do with how many people are around.”
― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

I actually saw the film version before reading the book and I thought both were incredible. The story of Frank and April certainly left it's mark on me. I actually thought the film version should have won the Academy award.

As for the book..well I should warn..there will be SPOILERS THROUGHOUT THIS REVIEW:

There has to be. Rarely have I read a book that inspired so much discussion between myself and people I know. It seems everyone had an opinion on April and the ultimate decision she chose to make. While many judged her, I found myself feeling deeply sorry for both her and Frank. One wonders what it would have been like, had April lived and they had gone to Paris as she wanted. Would they have been happy there?

I feel they may not have been but not for the reason many others have given, that being one can't run away from their problems. While that maybe true..is true.. there is another school of thought that sometimes a change of scenery changes everything! I have known people who DID relocate and then did indeed find they felt happier and more whole.

However in April and Frank's case, their relationship was so frought with problems, so damaged, I do not know that they could have been happy anywhere together. It's a tragic story and a stirring look into a doomed marriage. It is a must read for any fan of Historical fiction and character studies. Even if one does not love the book, it will get you talking for sure. ( )