Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: Book Review

Ultimately it became clear why Gabrielle Zevin is a children’s book writer, but it took a while.

It’s an accomplished book that wants to be more than the sum of its parts and can’t quite reach its lofty ambitions. For a start it chooses one of Macbeth’s most famous soliloquies as its title and that’s bold. Macbeth is grieving the death of his wife and wondering what’s the point. It’s all just another day.

That’s kind of the point of this novel. Unrequited love between the two central characters, Sam and Sophie who are gamers turned celebrated game-makers. They both love one another but neither can find it in themselves to declare that love and so tomorrows follow tomorrows as their lives gradually unfold, alone and apart.

It’s nearly a masterpiece, but it falls sadly short by believing its better than it really is and the characters become caricatures of themselves and eventually outstay their welcome so that, in the end, it becomes a bit of a drag to complete. There’s also a bizarre penultimate chapter that is so up itself its laughable.

But, it’s a good read. It’s fun and it’s fresh. It’s just not as good as it wants to be.

And no, it’s not Shakespeare.

(But it will be a smash hit movie.)