Overall, what do you think of All the Lonely People? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

Overall, what do you think of All the Lonely People? (no spoilers in this thread, please)

I enjoyed the book, the characters and the overall story. I did get irritated that Hubert always said "me". After all the time in the UK you would think he would of started saying I. That is the only thing I disliked about the book.

I enjoyed it, esp since it was a character-driven story which enriched the overall reading experience for me. And while the use of flashbacks in some novels is a bit disruptive - or even confusing - for me at times, it worked very well here and provided a perspective as to how the main character developed to present day.

This is not the kind of book I normally read, but I really enjoyed it and it gave me a lot to think about. About others and loneliness and how we can help each other. I liked that the characters are all different, yet the same because they are human.

Overall I enjoyed this book, especially the ending. However, I did feel like the middle of this book dragged a bit. I encourage everyone to stick with it though as I couldn't put this book down at the end!

I enjoyed this book. Hubert was easy to like and very relatable in his desire to simultaneously fly under the radar due to racism but continue to pursue his dreams. He had learned to internalize his pain and loss over the years. This story is a beautiful tale of how Hubert learns to open his heart and share his reality with people who genuinely care for him. Along his journey, he finds everyone has their own version of loneliness, and the only way to overcome the isolation, is to take a risk and keep reaching out to others.

Overall, the book was a pleasure to read and it's focus on the strength of being a part of supportive community is salve to the hard times Hubert experienced. It took time getting used to the use of "me" all the time, but I've read that in other books, and have seen that in films as well, so I was adaptable. I would have preferred the book ending on the second to last chapter. The last chapter seemed unnecessary especially since the author artistically displayed the story's true meaning in the telling of Hubert's emotional evolution in life.

The book was overall quite good. Like many other reviewers I did always feel jarred over the use of “me” after knowing Hubert knew better.
The middle of the book almost made me quit because it was so slow moving. I got somewhat bored and wished for the plot to develop more quickly.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel, and by how much depth it had. While it's ostensibly a story about loneliness (how one becomes lonely and how people might overcome it) there are actually quite a few other important topics that the author addresses (racism, addiction, the role grief can play in one's life, etc.). I think I was expecting a lighter book and was delighted that it ended up being so affecting. The characters were all realistic and relatable, even the minor ones, and I appreciated their complexity. I feel that this book will really resonate with most readers since I believe our society has led to more loneliness overall.

I expected a basic “feel good” book and was pleasantly surprised to discover unexpected the twists & turns in the plot. The topic of loneliness is so relevant to today’s society and I was glad to read this different take on the topic.

I did enjoy the book, but was not prepared for all the sadness. I do feel the author really did a good job of exposing loneliness in people. Its a tough subject to talk about and author really delved into the topic.

I actually thought it was a bit long. The characters were interesting and one could certainly understand their loneliness. I didnt' like the unfinished business concerning his son. I'd hoped we'd get closure on that. I also didn't like Hubert still using "me" all the time.

I was truly surprised by this book. I initially thought it would be a light read about a crotchety old man who is brought out of his shell and makes new friends because of a neighbor. The book is so much more than that and deeply and poignantly deals with depression, loneliness, isolation, grief, and racism to name a few of the themes in this truly wonderful book. I highly recommend this especially for book clubs. There are so many aspects of life that it addresses and would make for some wonderful discussions.

I liked the book. At first, I thought it was going to be too much like A Man Called Ove, but that was not at all the case. It was believable, with a strong positive message.

I appreciated this book and applaud the author with focusing on such a timely topic. The pandemic has indeed caused us to hunker down and become a bit reclusive. Ostrich in the sand syndrome. I admired characterization and flow.

When I read on the cover that this was like A Man Called One, I was expecting a remake of a book I loved. I found this a very different book that explored loneliness but racism on so many levels. I continue to think about Hubert and Joyce, but also about Ashleigh, Jan, Maude, Emils, and the others who continue with their lives.

Lynne - me too! Strangely, I also became rather fond of Tony -- the committee member who was always moaning about something or other.

I was loving this book until the major plot twist. That just lost me although I did finish reading it and would give it 3.5-4 stars. In so many ways it was a lovely book and the themes of loneliness, racism and loss resonated with me. It was an interesting mix of being uplifting yet sad.

I loved this book. The characters were a great mix of people and well described. I also enjoyed the story. It was well developed to get the characters to come together. I was sorry to see it end.

Overall, I thought it was just so-so. Any comparison to Ove is not warranted. This book did not have the depth of emotion or character development I felt with Ove. This was supposed to be a character driven book, but I feel as if it fell short. The characters were superficial at best, and the plot was not strong enough to carry the book. Also, Hubert's use of "me" instead of "I" was incredibly annoying!!! The story lagged in the middle, was fairly predictable and unfortunately fell flat for me. Perhaps this is because I just finished Franzen's "Crossroads" which was pure genius. Having said that, I am currently at the beach, and Lonely People made a good beach read, since I didn't have to focus much to get the gist of what was happening.

I found the book enjoyable and touching. I liked the characters, especially Ashleigh as she showed her enthusiasm and ignored Hubert's gruffness. The book shows what a couple of people can do to change a situation such as loneliness. I also had a hard time with the "me" instead of "I".

I felt depressed by this book and feel that it was overwritten.

I am happy I read the book, but agree with others the plot fell short. Some of the characters were interesting, but some lacked detail. The book did give me more to think about regarding loneliness.

Loneliness is a very prevalent human condition. It probably always has been. I was touched by the characters and seeing how loneliness was manifested in them. The portrayal of addiction, grief, and racism added depth to the story. I also liked the way the characters worked together to make a difference in their community as they dealt with the other issues in their lives and seeing how one person can spark action that benefits many others.

I thought this book had great characters that were very relatable and touching in their very human flaws and struggles. The focus on loneliness and the many ways in which people struggle with it and find ways to cope with it was well done and thought provoking. I appreciated that an easy fix was not given and the fact that it is a ongoing process instead where you take steps forward and then often fall and go backwards. The additional issues of racial tensions, personality conflicts and the struggles to build community were also a great addition to the story. I agree with others that I would have liked to know more about David, his relationship with his sister and parents, as well as a better ending.

It is difficult to find a message driven novel that is unique. I think by building Hubert’s history so well, the author gave us an insight into how loneliness can cripple a person after a lifetime of activity. I loved the characters, Ashleigh and Jan were my favorites. I enjoyed this novel and will be recommending it to my book club.

I did not expect to like this book based on the blurb that I read. In fact, I loved it! I was able to relate to so many of the things that happened to Hubert and his family even though I am not a person of color. As stated in another question, the poignancy of the story caught me and kept me interested throughout the story.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Although many were bothered by the use of “me” throughout the book, I feel like it made him more authentic to me. I also loved how cross generational and cross racial were used to show how something like loneliness can be felt and conquered across the the human board. I was sad with the ending, I guess I was hoping that he and Jan would be able to enjoy more time together.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters were likeable and I liked their interaction. Hubert started out a bit like Ove in A Man Called Ove being an ornery old coot. But he was truly a loving and loveable person.

Overall, I found it very thought-provoking. It's a book that has lingered in my head. There were a few twists that kept it interesting. It gave a view of what it's like to be an immigrant, especially the racism, and how hard it can be to fit in. Loneliness is another strong theme, especially for elderly who don't have a support system. Ashleigh was probably my favorite character. She was just a very real person and without really knowing it, made a huge difference in so many lives. She was dealing with her own struggles of poverty, lack of support, and loneliness, but she reached out to perfect strangers, which is very hard to do. This would be a great book club discussion.

As a double immigrant I was enthralled by this story, more particularly because my first husband, a blonde, blue-eyed Jamaican, who, while he was not subjected to overt racism, was sometimes at the receiving end of negative comments about his accent, grammatically correct though his speech was. But not to get ahead of myself, I should record that I first dipped my toes into the often storm-tossed ocean of emigration by travelling from Dublin to London where I stayed for fifteen months. My appetite for far-away places duly whetted, I then sailed on the Empress of Britain to Montreal, proceeding on to Toronto by train. The gorgeous autumn leaves of red, gold and yellow were soon displaced by the bitter ice, snow and wind of my first Canadian winter. Home-sickness almost quenched my venturing spirit, especially following my father's death four months later.
I obviously was not the target of racism or rude comments about my accent, nevertheless I felt alienated. The people with whom I worked in London and Toronto seemed to be willfully unable to intuit what it must have been like to be a young girl, lonely and alone, thousands of miles from home.

A little slow to start, probably because I stumbled on the dialect (which was unnecessary after the first few sentences, but....) but then I got caught up in the story and was enthralled by the characters.