Such varying views on this one. It's the story of a striving-to-be utopian commune in western NY in the 60s, where our protagonist, Bit, takes us through his childhood to adulthood-- to a futuristic, dystopian pandemic in the city. My first book by Groff, the writing is lush and poetic, sometimes overwhelmingly so. However, that didn't stop me from caring about Bit and his journey towards peace. I'll read Groff again. ( )

A well-told tale of growing up in a commune in the 1970s, then finding a life in the outside world.

At first, the story seemed a bit of a trudge through details of being a small five year old boy and trying to understand the world. Each detail was interesting, but so many details, so many characters.

But the language kept me reading. There was no time I thought of giving up on this book, which gradually, for me, got better and better, until I couldn't put it down.

Groff has a real talent for getting inside her characters. ( )

This book tells the life story of protagonist Ridley “Bit” Stone. It starts in the 1970’s when Bit was age two in a commune called Arcadia in rural upstate New York. Bit is an idealist, and life never truly beats it out of him. He has a close relationship with his mother. He cares for others, often putting their needs ahead of his own.

It is structured in four parts. The first part follows Bit through his teen years and is set in the commune. The middle two parts take place in Bit’s thirties, after he has moved to New York City where he works as a professor. He is a single parent to daughter after his wife mysteriously vanishes. The final part is set in 2018, when Bit is caretaking for his mother after she is diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

The commune starts as a place of hope and esprit de corps, but gradually gives way to leadership issues, rebellion, and turmoil, eventually leading to its downfall. The former “hippies” must then find a place in the world. The middle parts take place in the 1980s, with its materialistic focus of the “yuppies,” almost diametrically opposed to how Bit had grown up. The later parts include 9/11 and a global pandemic. I had to check the publication date of this novel (2012), well before any inkling of Covid-19, which is amazing foresight on the part of the author! These historic events provide a panoramic backdrop for Bit’s life story.

This is a character-driven novel about life’s ups and downs. It is beautifully written with lush descriptions. The tone is melancholy and philosophical. Bit is a fabulous character. I found it easy to root for him. I enjoyed the inclusion of the Amish neighbors. It explores the importance of community and how it has changed over the decades. Themes include kindness, freedom, friendship, and family. I have two other books written by Lauren Groff, and this one is by far my favorite of the three. ( )

Binge read on an airplane. Quite engaging. ( )

Arcadia is told from the point of view of Bit Stone, who got his name when he was born prematurely into a group of flower children who seemed to be a play on the Deadheads who followed the Grateful Dead around. Bit isn't his real first name, but it's what everyone calls him because he is just a Little Bit of a Hippie.

The first section of the book is set during Bit's childhood, when the traveling band of hippies settles at Arcadia, an upstate New York estate that they turn into a commune. Because we are seeing events through the eyes of a child, many of the undercurrents of tension between adults are understated but Groff still manages to convey what's happening to the reader without betraying her young protagonist's POV. This was my favorite part of the novel, as we see the group settle into its community living and then slowly come apart.

The next section picks up Bit's life as an adult. He's a struggling photographer and university teacher, with a toddler daughter and a missing wife. The final section moves us further on, as Bit struggles with his now-teenage daughter and the increasing fragility of the world around him and his aging hippie parents.

Groff draws some beautiful word pictures, and I was captivated by the situations she created. Even the more minor characters come alive with distinct personalities (whether positive or negative). However, I found the ending, which is set in the immediate future (2018) in the midst of a potential world environmental catastrophe, to be fairly unconvincing and a bit of a letdown after the luminous beginning. Still, it was a worthy read and one I would recommend for readers who love interesting characters. ( )